Plunger assembly for patient infusion device
First Claim
1. A device for delivering fluid to a patient, comprising:
- an exit port assembly;
a reservoir including an outlet connected to the exit port assembly, and a side wall extending along a longitudinal axis towards the outlet; and
a plunger assembly received in the reservoir and movable along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir towards the outlet of the reservoir, the plunger assembly including, a first lateral segment extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and contacting the side wall of the reservoir, a second lateral segment positioned between the first lateral segment and the outlet of the reservoir, the second lateral segment extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and contacting the side wall of the reservoir, and longitudinally spaced from the first lateral segment, and a shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, connecting the first and the second lateral segments, and comprising two-way shape memory material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for delivering fluid, such as insulin, to a patient. The device includes an exit port assembly, a syringe-like reservoir including a side wall extending along a longitudinal axis towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly, and a plunger assembly received in the reservoir. The plunger assembly includes a two-way shape memory element connecting first and second lateral segments, and having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element. Successively applying a charge and removing the charge from the two-way shape memory element causes longitudinal movement of the plunger assembly towards the outlet of the reservoir in order to cause fluid to be dispensed from the reservoir to the exit port assembly.
879 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device for delivering fluid to a patient, comprising:
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an exit port assembly;
a reservoir including an outlet connected to the exit port assembly, and a side wall extending along a longitudinal axis towards the outlet; and
a plunger assembly received in the reservoir and movable along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir towards the outlet of the reservoir, the plunger assembly including, a first lateral segment extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and contacting the side wall of the reservoir, a second lateral segment positioned between the first lateral segment and the outlet of the reservoir, the second lateral segment extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and contacting the side wall of the reservoir, and longitudinally spaced from the first lateral segment, and a shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, connecting the first and the second lateral segments, and comprising two-way shape memory material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
a local processor electrically connected to the shape memory element of the plunger assembly and programmed to provide electrical charges to the shape memory element based upon flow instructions;
a wireless receiver connected to the local processor for receiving flow instructions from a separate, remote control device and delivering the flow instructions to the local processor; and
a housing containing the reservoir, the exit port assembly, the plunger assembly, the local processor and the wireless receiver, and wherein the housing is free of user input components for providing flow instructions to the local processor.
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14. A system including a fluid delivery device according to claim 13, and further comprising a remote control device separate from the fluid delivery device and including:
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a remote processor;
user interface components connected to the remote processor for allowing a user to provide flow instructions to the remote processor; and
a transmitter connected to the remote processor for transmitting the flow instructions to the receiver of the fluid delivery device.
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15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir contains a therapeutic fluid.
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16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the therapeutic fluid is insulin.
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17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the exit port assembly includes a transcutaneous patient access tool.
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18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the transcutaneous patient access tool comprises a needle.
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19. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a local processor connected to ends of the shape memory element through conductive wires and programmed to provide charges to the shape memory element based upon flow instructions.
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20. A device according to claim 19, further comprising a power supply connected to the local processor.
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21. A device according to claim 1, wherein:
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the side wall of the reservoir includes a first section extending from the outlet of the reservoir parallel with the longitudinal axis and a second section extending from the first section parallel with the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first section of the side wall has an internal cross-sectional dimension that is unequal to an internal cross-sectional dimension of the second section of the side wall; and
the first and the second lateral segments of the plunger assembly are received in the second section of the side wall of the reservoir, and the plunger assembly further includes strut extending from the second lateral segment and slidingly received in the first section of the side wall of the reservoir, wherein the strut is sized and shaped to provided a substantially fluid-tight seal between the first section of the side wall and the strut.
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22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the internal cross-sectional dimension of the first section of the side wall of the reservoir is smaller than the internal cross-sectional dimension of the second section of the side wall.
Specification