Flexible piston rod
First Claim
1. An infusion pump device for dispensing medication, comprising:
- a pump housing defining a cavity to receive a medicine;
a flexible push rod disposed in the pump housing to longitudinally advance into the cavity, the push rod comprising a plurality of rod segments hingedly connected in serial so that at least a portion of the flexible push rod is adjustable from a curved shape to a noncurved shape, each rod segment including an exterior thread pattern along at least one generally cylindrical surface portion; and
a rotatable element mounted for rotation in the housing and having an interior screw thread to mate with the exterior thread pattern of the flexible push rod, wherein the rotatable element advances the flexible push rod into the cavity to cause dispensation of the medicine when the medicine is received in the cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible piston rod includes a piston and a row of elements, the top surface of one element being connected to the bottom surface of an adjacent element by a hinge that allows the two adjacent elements to pivot from a first position, where a portion of the top surface of one element abuts a corresponding portion of the bottom surface of the adjacent element and corresponding to a rectilinear, relatively stiff configuration of the piston rod, to a second position wherein the top surface of one element is spaced from the bottom surface of the adjacent element and corresponding to a curved configuration of the piston rod. Each element has cylindrical surface portions incorporating a thread for meshing with a corresponding thread of an actuator for displacing the piston rod longitudinally.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An infusion pump device for dispensing medication, comprising:
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a pump housing defining a cavity to receive a medicine; a flexible push rod disposed in the pump housing to longitudinally advance into the cavity, the push rod comprising a plurality of rod segments hingedly connected in serial so that at least a portion of the flexible push rod is adjustable from a curved shape to a noncurved shape, each rod segment including an exterior thread pattern along at least one generally cylindrical surface portion; and a rotatable element mounted for rotation in the housing and having an interior screw thread to mate with the exterior thread pattern of the flexible push rod, wherein the rotatable element advances the flexible push rod into the cavity to cause dispensation of the medicine when the medicine is received in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification