Drive system for use with an insulin delivery device

• US 8,517,991 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LifeScan IP Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Animas Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Clemente, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, QUYNH-NHU HOANG
• Application Number:
  US12/751,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 604/121, 604/131, 604134-136, 604151-152, 604154-155, 604/218, 604/246, 128/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 604/154
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00576 characterised by the construction of a piston as pressure exerting means, or of the co-operating container
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0103 with electrically actuated piston or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0113 the piston rod being flexible or articulated B05C17/0109 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical drive system for a medical infusion device. The disclosed drive system employs a flexible tape with recesses or holes that are configured to mate with tabs or protrusions on a gear to advance the rotation of the gear at a rate determined by the pattern of recesses or holes on the flexible tape.

Claims

1. A liquid infusion device, comprising:

a flexible drive tape having a plurality of holes therethrough and aligned essentially linearly along the length of the drive tape, the plurality of holes spaced apart at a fixed increment, the flexible drive tape comprising a striated polymer, wherein the flexible tape drive is flexible in a longitudinal direction and rigid in an axial direction, and the flexible drive tape comprises at least one rubber strip disposed on each edge of a longitudinal axis of the flexible drive tape;

a drive shaft comprising at least one gear, the at least one gear comprising a plurality of teeth that align and engage the holes in the flexible drive tape;

a piezoelectric motor for advancing and retracting the flexible drive tape;

a plunger attached to or in communication with at least one end of the flexible drive tape; and

a cartridge having a substantially elliptical geometry for containing a liquid medication for receiving the plunger and expelling the liquid medication upon movement of the plunger in the cartridge and wherein elliptical geometry of the cartridge provides a single channel at its widest diameter through which the plunger and drive tape have restricted travel,

wherein the piezoelectric motor turns the drive shaft and is configured for both advancing and retracting the flexible drive tape and, thereby, driving the plunger into or withdrawing the plunger out of the cartridge in an increment correlating to the fixed increment between holes.