Reservoir pressure equalization systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for equalizing pressure within a reservoir, the system comprising:
- a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; and
a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
a structure having a chamber, the structure supported by one of the first and second housing portions;
a needle connectable to the reservoir for allowing fluidic media contained in the reservoir to flow through the needle when the needle is connected to the reservoir, the needle having a piercing end; and
a pierceable member moveable, relative to the piercing end of the needle and the reservoir when the needle is connected to the reservoir, within the chamber of the structure in a direction along a longitudinal dimension of the needle, the pierceable member pierceable by the piercing end of the needle, the pierceable member having an interior volume extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal dimension of the needle before the pierceable member is pierced by the needle, the pierceable member having a first end for engaging the other of the first and second housing portions when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged, the pierceable member having a second end located on an opposite side of the pierceable member from the first end;
the structure configured to expel the fluidic media contained in the reservoir through the needle and out of the structure when the needle is connected to the reservoir and the pierceable member is pierced by the piercing end of the needle and as pressure within the reservoir is increased relative to pressure within the interior volume of the pierceable member;
wherein the pierceable member is arranged for movement in a first direction to a piercing position in which the piercing end of the needle pierces through the pierceable member, and in a second direction from the piercing position to a retracted position in which the piercing end of the needle is located inside the interior volume of the pierceable member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to equalizing pressure in a reservoir containing fluidic media, possibly due to imperfect installation of the reservoir or an external influence such as an altitude or a temperature change. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled from the reservoir through a needle and contained in an interior volume of a pierceable member before the needle pierces the pierceable member to establish a flow path to a user. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a port of the reservoir into a chamber. In further embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a channel in a plunger head and out a passage in the reservoir when the channel and passage are aligned. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a valve, and the valve may be pierceable by a needle to establish a flow path to the user.
32 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for equalizing pressure within a reservoir, the system comprising:
- a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; and
a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
a structure having a chamber, the structure supported by one of the first and second housing portions;
a needle connectable to the reservoir for allowing fluidic media contained in the reservoir to flow through the needle when the needle is connected to the reservoir, the needle having a piercing end; and
a pierceable member moveable, relative to the piercing end of the needle and the reservoir when the needle is connected to the reservoir, within the chamber of the structure in a direction along a longitudinal dimension of the needle, the pierceable member pierceable by the piercing end of the needle, the pierceable member having an interior volume extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal dimension of the needle before the pierceable member is pierced by the needle, the pierceable member having a first end for engaging the other of the first and second housing portions when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged, the pierceable member having a second end located on an opposite side of the pierceable member from the first end;
the structure configured to expel the fluidic media contained in the reservoir through the needle and out of the structure when the needle is connected to the reservoir and the pierceable member is pierced by the piercing end of the needle and as pressure within the reservoir is increased relative to pressure within the interior volume of the pierceable member;
wherein the pierceable member is arranged for movement in a first direction to a piercing position in which the piercing end of the needle pierces through the pierceable member, and in a second direction from the piercing position to a retracted position in which the piercing end of the needle is located inside the interior volume of the pierceable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; and
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18. A method for equalizing a pressure within a reservoir, the method comprising:
providing a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; and
providing a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
providing a structure having a chamber, the structure supported by one of the first and second housing portions;
locating a needle connectable to the reservoir for allowing fluidic media contained in the reservoir to flow through the needle when the needle is connected to the reservoir, the needle having a piercing end;
locating a pierceable member that is moveable, relative to the piercing end of the needle and the reservoir when the needle is connected to the reservoir, within the chamber of the structure in a direction along a longitudinal dimension of the needle, the pierceable member pierceable by the piercing end of the needle, the pierceable member having an interior volume extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal dimension of the needle before the pierceable member is pierced by the needle, the pierceable member having a first end for engaging the other of the first and second housing portions when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged, the pierceable member having a second end located on an opposite side of the pierceable member from the first end; and
configuring the structure to expel the fluidic media contained in the reservoir through the needle and out of the structure when the needle is connected to the reservoir and the pierceable member is pierced by the piercing end of the needle and as pressure within the reservoir is increased relative to pressure within the interior volume of the pierceable member supporting the pierceable member for movement within the chamber of the structure in a first direction to a piercing position in which the piercing end of the needle pierces through the pierceable member, and in a second direction from the piercing position to a retracted position in which the piercing end of the needle is located inside the interior volume of the pierceable member.
Specification