Reservoir pressure equalization systems and methods

• US 8,366,666 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Chong, Colin A., Kavazov, Julian D., Lorenzen, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Jr., Bradley G
• Application Number:
  US13/411,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20120160848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 604/118, 604/122, 604/148, 604/520, 604/513, 604/533, 604/200, 604/201, 604/244, 604/890.1, 604/131, 604/151, 604/153
• US Class Current: 604/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7527 liquophilic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1633 whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/02 opening on surplus pressure on one side; closing on insufficient pressure on one side check valves F16K15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control

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.

Claims

1. A system for equalizing pressure, the system comprising:

a reservoir having a port and an interior volume for containing fluidic media;

a plug positioned relatively offset to the port of the reservoir, the plug for closing the port of the reservoir when the plug is in a closed position; and

a structure having a chamber in flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir, the chamber for collecting fluidic media expelled from the interior volume of the reservoir through the port in a case where a pressure difference exists between the interior volume of the reservoir and the chamber before the plug is held in the closed position;

the system further 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;

the reservoir supported by one of the first and second housing portions; and

wherein the plug is positioned to close the port of the reservoir when the first housing and second housing portions are operatively engaged.

2. The system according to claim 1,

the other of the first and second housing portions from said one of the first and second housing portions having a first surface for moving and holding the plug in the closed position when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged.

3. The system according to claim 1, the system further comprising:

a needle supported by the other of the first and second housing portions from said one of the first and second housing portions, the needle for piercing a portion of the reservoir and entering the interior volume of the reservoir when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged, the needle for allowing fluidic media contained in the interior volume of the reservoir to flow through the needle when the needle is in the interior volume of the reservoir.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the reservoir pierced by the needle when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged is a septum.

5. The system according to claim 1, the structure comprising:

a membrane configured to expand to increase the volume of the chamber in a case where the chamber sufficiently fills with fluidic media.

6. The system according to claim 5,

wherein the membrane comprises an elastomeric membrane.

7. The system according to claim 1, the structure comprising:

one of a hydrophobic filter and a hydrophilic filter.

8. The system according to claim 1,

the chamber located within the reservoir.

9. The system according to claim 1,

the chamber located outside of the reservoir.

10. The system according to claim 1,

the structure having an opening that communicates with the chamber, the opening for allowing fluidic media to be purged from the chamber.

11. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the plug comprises one of a flapper valve and a disc valve.

12. A method for equalizing pressure, the method comprising:

providing a reservoir having a port and an interior volume for containing fluidic media;

locating a plug positioned relatively offset to the port of the reservoir, the plug for closing the port of the reservoir when the plug is in a closed position; and

locating a structure having a chamber in flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir, the chamber for collecting fluidic media expelled from the interior volume of the reservoir through the port in a case where a pressure difference exists between the interior volume of the reservoir and the chamber before the plug is held in the closed position;

providing a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;

providing a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion; and

supporting the reservoir by one of the first and second housing portions; and

arranging the plug in a position to close the port of the reservoir when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising providing the other of the first and second housing portions from said one of the first and second housing portions with a first surface for moving and holding the plug in the closed position when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising supporting a needle by the other of the first and second housing portions from said one of the first and second housing portions, and arranging the needle for piercing a portion of the reservoir and entering the interior volume of the reservoir when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged, the needle for allowing fluidic media contained in the interior volume of the reservoir to flow through the needle when the needle is in the interior volume of the reservoir.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the portion of the reservoir pierced by the needle when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged is the plug.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising arranging a membrane configured to expand to increase the volume of the chamber in a case where the chamber sufficiently fills with fluidic media.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising providing one of a hydrophobic filter and a hydrophilic filter in fluid flow on the structure, in fluid flow communication with at least one of the port of the reservoir and the chamber.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising arranging an opening in the structure in fluid flow communication with the chamber, the opening for allowing fluidic media to be purged from the chamber.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the plug comprises one of a flapper valve and a disc valve.