Infusion device and driving mechanism and process for same with actuator for multiple infusion uses
First Claim
1. A drive mechanism for an infusion device, the drive mechanism comprising:
- a first housing having an inlet, the first housing defining an interior volume for receiving fluidic media from the inlet, the interior volume having a width dimension;
a coil arranged to be selectively energized;
an armature moveable in the interior volume of the first housing at least between a retracted position and an advanced position in response to energizing the coil, the armature having a first pair of pole surfaces;
a coil housing containing the coil, the coil housing composed of a magnetizable material and providing a second pair of pole surfaces in a magnetic flux path with the first pair of pole surfaces when the coil is energized;
a second housing containing the coil housing, the second housing defining a piston channel extending through at least a portion of the second housing;
a piston moveable along the piston channel in conjunction with movement of the armature at least between a retracted position and an advanced position to convey fluidic media from the interior volume of the first housing and out the piston channel in a case where the interior volume of the first housing contains fluidic media and the coil is energized to move the armature and the piston to the advanced position, the piston channel having a length dimension along which the piston moves between the retracted position and the advanced position; and
a barrier member arranged between the armature and the coil housing, the barrier member defining an opening through which the piston extends into the piston channel, the opening having a width dimension that is less than the width dimension of the interior volume, the width dimension of the opening and the width dimension of the interior volume transverse the length dimension of the piston channel;
wherein the armature comprises an armature body having a cavity and a magnetic material located within the cavity.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drive mechanism for delivery of infusion medium a coil capable of being electrically activated to provide an electromagnetic field. The coil surrounds a piston channel extending in an axial direction. An armature is located adjacent the coil, on one side of the axial channel. The armature is moveable toward a forward position, in response to the electromagnetic field produced by activation of the coil. A piston is located within the piston channel and is moveable axially within the channel to a forward position, in response to movement of the armature to its forward position. The armature and piston are moved toward a retracted position, when the coil is not energized. The armature may be configured with a reduced diameter by including a coil cup for supporting the coil including a shelf portion defining at least a portion of a pole surface of the coil cup.
-
Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A drive mechanism for an infusion device, the drive mechanism comprising:
-
a first housing having an inlet, the first housing defining an interior volume for receiving fluidic media from the inlet, the interior volume having a width dimension; a coil arranged to be selectively energized; an armature moveable in the interior volume of the first housing at least between a retracted position and an advanced position in response to energizing the coil, the armature having a first pair of pole surfaces; a coil housing containing the coil, the coil housing composed of a magnetizable material and providing a second pair of pole surfaces in a magnetic flux path with the first pair of pole surfaces when the coil is energized; a second housing containing the coil housing, the second housing defining a piston channel extending through at least a portion of the second housing; a piston moveable along the piston channel in conjunction with movement of the armature at least between a retracted position and an advanced position to convey fluidic media from the interior volume of the first housing and out the piston channel in a case where the interior volume of the first housing contains fluidic media and the coil is energized to move the armature and the piston to the advanced position, the piston channel having a length dimension along which the piston moves between the retracted position and the advanced position; and a barrier member arranged between the armature and the coil housing, the barrier member defining an opening through which the piston extends into the piston channel, the opening having a width dimension that is less than the width dimension of the interior volume, the width dimension of the opening and the width dimension of the interior volume transverse the length dimension of the piston channel; wherein the armature comprises an armature body having a cavity and a magnetic material located within the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
13. A method for making a drive mechanism for an infusion device, the method comprising:
-
providing a first housing having an inlet, the first housing defining an interior volume for receiving fluidic media from the inlet, the interior volume having a width dimension; arranging a coil to be selectively energized; supporting an armature for movement in the interior volume of the first housing at least between a retracted position and an advanced position in response to energizing the coil, the armature having an armature body and a first pair of pole surfaces; containing the coil in a coil housing composed of a magnetizable material; providing a second housing containing the coil housing, the second housing defining a piston channel extending through at least a portion of the second housing supporting a piston in the piston channel for movement in conjunction with movement of the armature in response to energizing the coil to convey fluidic media from the interior volume of the first housing and out the piston channel in a case where the interior volume of the first housing contains fluidic media and the coil is energized to move the armature and the piston to the advanced position, the piston channel having a length dimension along which the piston moves between the retracted position and the advanced position; arranging the coil housing such that a second pair of pole surfaces on the coil housing are in a magnetic flux path with the first pair of pole surfaces when the coil is energized; arranging a barrier member between the armature and the coil housing, the barrier member defining an opening through which the piston extends into the piston channel, the opening having a width dimension that is less than the width dimension of the interior volume, the width dimension of the opening and the width dimension of the interior volume transverse the length dimension of the piston channel; and supporting a magnetic material within a cavity in the armature body for completing the flux path when the coil is energized. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification