Wearable, self-contained drug infusion device
First Claim
1. A wearable self-contained device for delivering a liquid medication by continuous infusion into a patient, comprising:
- a disposable portion comprising a housing, a reservoir in said housing for containing a supply of said liquid medication and for delivering said liquid medication under pressure wherein said reservoir comprises at least one Belleville spring element for pressurizing the liquid medication contained in said reservoir, a delivery cannula carried by said housing, and a flow channel for conducting said liquid medication from said reservoir to said delivery cannula;
a reusable portion removably connected to said disposable portion, said reusable portion comprising a closed loop control circuit for maintaining a predetermined flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel;
a flow control valve in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for controlling the flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel from said reservoir to said delivery cannula;
an actuator in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for actuating said flow control valve, said actuator being electrically connectable to said closed loop control circuit; and
a flow sensor in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for sensing the flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel, said flow sensor being electrically connectable to said closed loop control circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wearable, self contained drug infusion device is disclosed that is capable of achieving the precise flow rate control needed for dose-critical drugs such as insulin. In preferred embodiments of the device, piezoelectrically-actuated valve or pump structures are used in combination with thermal flow sensors and closed-loop control circuits for providing the desired flow rate control. The device has a two-part construction in which the more expensive electronic components are housed in a reusable portion and the fluid delivery components are housed in a separable disposable portion. The invention may also utilize a wireless unit for controlling the operation of the drug infusion device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wearable self-contained device for delivering a liquid medication by continuous infusion into a patient, comprising:
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a disposable portion comprising a housing, a reservoir in said housing for containing a supply of said liquid medication and for delivering said liquid medication under pressure wherein said reservoir comprises at least one Belleville spring element for pressurizing the liquid medication contained in said reservoir, a delivery cannula carried by said housing, and a flow channel for conducting said liquid medication from said reservoir to said delivery cannula;
a reusable portion removably connected to said disposable portion, said reusable portion comprising a closed loop control circuit for maintaining a predetermined flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel;
a flow control valve in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for controlling the flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel from said reservoir to said delivery cannula;
an actuator in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for actuating said flow control valve, said actuator being electrically connectable to said closed loop control circuit; and
a flow sensor in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for sensing the flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel, said flow sensor being electrically connectable to said closed loop control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wearable, self-contained device for delivering a liquid medication by continuous infusion into a patient, comprising:
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a disposable portion comprising a housing, a reservoir in said housing for containing a supply of said liquid medication, a deli very cannula carried by said housing, and a flow channel for conducting said liquid medication from said reservoir to said delivery cannula;
a reusable portion removably connected to said disposable portion, said reusable portion comprising a closed loop control circuit for maintaining a predetermined flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel;
a pump in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for pumping said liquid medication through said flow channel from said reservoir to said delivery cannula, said pump being electrically connectable to said closed loop control circuit; and
a flow sensor in at least one of said disposable and reusable portions for sensing the flow of said liquid medication through said flow channel, said flow sensor being electrically connectable to said closed loop control circuit wherein said flow sensor comprises a thermal emitter and a thermal detector in thermal contact with the liquid medication flowing in said flow channel, said thermal emitter being located upstream of said thermal detector relative to the direction of liquid flow in said flow channel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for delivering a liquid medication by continuous infusion into the skin of a patient, comprising:
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a disposable portion comprising a housing, a reservoir in said housing for containing a supply of said liquid medication wherein said reservoir comprises at least one Belleville spring element for pressurizing the liquid medication contained in said reservoir, a delivery cannula carried by said housing, and a flow channel for conducting said liquid medication from said reservoir to said delivery cannula;
a reusable portion removably connected to said disposable portion, said reusable portion containing electrical flow control circuitry for controlling the flow of said liquid medication in said flow channel in response to wireless control signs, said reusable and disposable portions when connected to each other constituting a wearable, self-contained infusion device; and
a wireless unit separate from said reusable and disposable portions for transmitting wireless control signals to said reusable portion to control the flow of said liquid medication in said flow channel of said disposable portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification