Device and method employing shape memory alloy
First Claim
1. A diabetes management system for treating a patient, comprising:
- a blood glucose monitor for collecting blood glucose levels in the patient;
an insulin pump having a plunger being disposed adjacent a displacement cavity, the displacement cavity having a diaphragm with a wetted surface and a non-wetted surface, the plunger being in contact with the non-wetted surface of the diaphragm;
a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger to impart reciprocating movement to the plunger;
a timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including an electrical energy storage device for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire;
a reservoir containing a fluid and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory wire imparts movement to the plunger, the diaphragm reacts to the movement of the plunger to expand and thereby pull a predetermined volume of fluid from the reservoir into the cavity; and
a remote unit for wirelessly communicating with the blood glucose monitor and the insulin pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for the metering and delivery of small discrete volumes of liquid is comprised of a small or minimal number of inexpensive components. One such component is a movable member, such as a miniature precision reciprocating displacement pump head, which is driven by an actuator that comprises a shape memory alloy material. The operating mechanism of the system is of little or minimal complexity. The system facilitates the precise metering and delivery of the small discrete volumes of liquid. Potential applications for the system include subcutaneous, long-term, automated drug delivery, for example, the delivery of insulin to a person with diabetes. In such an application, the small, simple and inexpensive nature of the invention would allow for its use as both a portable and a disposable system.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A diabetes management system for treating a patient, comprising:
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a blood glucose monitor for collecting blood glucose levels in the patient; an insulin pump having a plunger being disposed adjacent a displacement cavity, the displacement cavity having a diaphragm with a wetted surface and a non-wetted surface, the plunger being in contact with the non-wetted surface of the diaphragm; a shape memory alloy wire attached to the plunger to impart reciprocating movement to the plunger; a timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including an electrical energy storage device for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire; a reservoir containing a fluid and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory wire imparts movement to the plunger, the diaphragm reacts to the movement of the plunger to expand and thereby pull a predetermined volume of fluid from the reservoir into the cavity; and a remote unit for wirelessly communicating with the blood glucose monitor and the insulin pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A diabetes management system for treating a patient, comprising:
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a blood glucose monitor for collecting blood glucose levels in the patient; an insulin pump having a plunger being disposed adjacent a displacement cavity, the displacement cavity having a diaphragm with a wetted surface and a non-wetted surface, the plunger being in contact with the non-wetted surface of the diaphragm; a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy wire having a high transition temperature for transforming to a high temperature phase, and a low transition temperature for transforming to a low temperature phase, wherein the wire is attached to the plunger to impart reciprocating movement to the plunger via phase transformations; a timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including an electrical energy storage device for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire to thermally transform the wire from the low temperature phase to the high temperature phase; a reservoir containing a fluid and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory wire imparts movement to the plunger, the diaphragm reacts to the movement of the plunger to expand and thereby pull a predetermined volume of fluid from the reservoir into the cavity; and a remote control unit wirelessly communicating with the blood glucose monitor and the insulin pump. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A diabetes management system for treating a patient, comprising:
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a blood glucose monitor for collecting blood glucose levels in the patient; an insulin pump having a plunger being disposed adjacent a displacement cavity, the displacement cavity having a diaphragm with a wetted surface and a non-wetted surface, the plunger being in contact with the non-wetted surface of the diaphragm; a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy wire having a high temperature phase and a low temperature phase attached to the plunger, wherein the phase changes impart reciprocating movement to the plunger; a timing circuit for activating the shape memory alloy wire including an electrical energy storage device for providing electrical energy to the shape memory alloy wire to thermally transform the shape memory alloy wire from the low temperature phase to the high temperature phase; a battery and capacitor for powering the timing circuit; a reservoir containing a fluid and being in fluid communication with the displacement cavity so that as the shape memory wire imparts movement to the plunger, the diaphragm reacts to the movement of the plunger to expand and thereby pull a predetermined volume of fluid from the reservoir into the cavity; and a remote unit for wirelessly communicating with the blood glucose monitor and the insulin pump.
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Specification