Reservoir systems and methods

• US 8,613,725 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kavazov, Julian D., Hanson, Ian B., Chong, Colin A., Lorenzen, Eric M., Bikovsky, Rafael, Luan, Truong Gia, Lee, Mike Teang, Miller, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOHR, LEAH C
• Application Number:
  US13/083,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 604/221, 604/222, 604151-155, 604121-127
• US Class Current: 604/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/38 using hydrophilic or hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 17/04 characterised by the nature of the material involved or the kind of product independently of its shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A reservoir includes a reservoir body portion and a collecting portion. The reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume for containing fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume as a plunger is moved within the reservoir. The collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir.

Claims

1. A reservoir having an axis and a plunger head moveable along the axis within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media, the reservoir comprising:

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head having a shape that is asymmetric about the axis of the reservoir and comprising a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion of the plunger head extending toward the collecting portion of the reservoir;

wherein the volume of the collecting portion has a size such that when the plunger head is fully advanced within the reservoir, the protruding portion extends into the volume of the collecting portion.

2. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the first port and the second port are located to a same side of the interior volume of reservoir body portion.

3. The reservoir of claim 1,

the reservoir having an axis along which the plunger head moves to expel fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion through the first port;

wherein the reservoir is shaped to be asymmetric about its axis.

4. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the second port is arranged further from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion than the first port.

5. The reservoir of claim 1, the reservoir having a channel leading from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion to the first port of the reservoir.

8. The reservoir of claim 1,

the reservoir body portion having a length dimension extending from a rear end of the reservoir body portion to a front end of the reservoir body portion, the first port arranged on the front end of the reservoir body portion;

the reservoir having a length dimension extending from the rear end of the reservoir body portion to a front end of the collecting portion, the second port arranged on the front end of the collecting portion;

wherein the length dimension of the reservoir is greater than the length dimension of the reservoir body.

9. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the collecting portion protrudes from the reservoir body portion.

10. The reservoir of claim 1, wherein the second port is for expelling gas collected in the volume of the collecting portion.

11. The reservoir of claim 1, the reservoir shaped such that in order for the fluidic media to flow from the volume of the collecting portion to the first port of the reservoir, the fluidic media must flow through the interior volume of the reservoir body portion.

12. The reservoir of claim 1, the collecting portion having a first portion that extends from the reservoir body portion away from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, and a second portion that returns toward the interior volume of the reservoir body portion.

13. The reservoir of claim 1, the collecting portion having a first portion that extends from the reservoir body portion away from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, and a second portion that extends from the first portion toward the interior volume of the reservoir body portion.

17. The reservoir of claim 1, the reservoir further comprising:

at least one of a surface treatment and a material on at least a portion of a surface of the wall of the collecting portion that causes the at least a portion of the surface to be hydrophobic.

18. The reservoir of claim 1, the reservoir further comprising:

at least one of a surface treatment and a material on at least a portion of a surface of the wall of the collecting portion that causes the at least a portion of the surface to be hydrophilic.

19. The reservoir of claim 1, the reservoir further comprising:

at least one of a first surface treatment and a first material on at least a first portion of the wall of the collecting portion that causes the at least a first portion to be hydrophobic; and

at least one of a second surface treatment and a second material on at least a second portion of the wall of the collecting portion that causes the at least a second portion to be hydrophilic.

20. The reservoir of claim 19, wherein the at least a second portion of the wall of the collecting portion is located closer to the interior volume of the reservoir body portion than the at least a first portion is to the interior volume of the reservoir body portion.

6. A reservoir having a plunger head moveable within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media, the reservoir comprising:

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

a channel leading from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion to the first port of the reservoir;

wherein at least a portion of the reservoir is arranged between the channel and the volume of the collecting portion.

7. A reservoir having a plunger head moveable within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media, the reservoir comprising:

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the reservoir having a channel leading from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion to the second port of the reservoir;

wherein the volume of the collection portion surrounds the channel.

14. A reservoir having a plunger head moveable within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media, the reservoir comprising:

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the wall of the collecting portion comprising a curved surface, the curved surface having a first end region, a second end region, and a middle region between the first end region and the second end region, the first end region and the second end region extending from the middle region toward the interior volume of the reservoir body portion such that the first end region and the second end region are located closer to the interior volume of the reservoir body portion than the middle region is to the interior volume of the reservoir body portion.

15. The reservoir of claim 14, wherein the second port is arranged in the middle region.

16. The reservoir of claim 14,

wherein the first end region is in contact with the wall of the reservoir body portion;

and

wherein the second end region is located adjacent the interior volume of the reservoir body portion.

21. A method of manufacturing a reservoir having an axial dimension and a plunger head moveable along the axial dimension within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media, the method comprising:

providing a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir;

providing a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir; and

arranging the plunger head within the interior volume of the reservoir body for movement in the axial dimension of the reservoir, the plunger head having a shape that is asymmetric about the axial dimension of the reservoir and comprising a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion of the plunger head extending toward the collecting portion of the reservoir;

wherein the volume of the collecting portion has a size such that when the plunger head is fully advanced within the reservoir, the protruding portion extends into the volume of the collecting portion.

22. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head; and

a reservoir, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head moveable with the reservoir along a length dimension of the reservoir body portion to expel the fluidic media through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion; and

the reservoir having an axis along which the plunger head moves to expel fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion through the first port;

wherein the plunger head is shaped to be asymmetric about the axis of the reservoir.

23. The system of claim 22, the plunger head having a contour that substantially matches an inner contour of the wall of the collecting portion.

24. A system of claim 22, for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head; and

a reservoir, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head moveable with the reservoir along a length dimension of the reservoir body portion to expel the fluidic media through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion; and

the plunger head having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side having a length dimension, the second side having a length dimension greater than the length dimension of the first side.

25. The system of claim 22, the plunger head comprising a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion extending toward the collecting portion.

26. The system of claim 25, the protruding portion having a contour that substantially matches an inner contour of the wall of the collecting portion.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the protruding portion is wedge shaped so as to direct gas in the fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir body portion into the volume of the collecting portion.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the protruding portion is shaped such that the protruding portion fills less than all of the volume of the collecting portion when the plunger head is fully advanced within the reservoir, so that one or more pockets of gas exist between the protruding portion and an inner surface of the wall of the collecting portion when the plunger head is fully advanced within the reservoir.

32. The system of claim 25, the protruding portion positioned and shaped such that the protruding portion extends at least partially into the volume of the collecting portion when the plunger head is sufficiently advanced within the reservoir.

33. The system of claim 22, the system further comprising:

at least one of a surface treatment and a material on at least a portion of a surface of the plunger head that causes the at least a portion of the surface to be hydrophobic.

34. The system of claim 22, the system further comprising:

at least one of a surface treatment and a material on at least a portion of a surface of the plunger head that causes the at least a portion of the surface to be hydrophilic.

35. The system of claim 22, the plunger head comprising a seal member arranged to provide a seal between the plunger head and the wall of the reservoir body portion.

27. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head; and

a reservoir, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head moveable with the reservoir along a length dimension of the reservoir body portion to expel the fluidic media through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion;

the plunger head comprising a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion extending toward the collecting portion; and

the protruding portion arranged to be aligned with the second port in a direction parallel to the length dimension of the reservoir body portion.

29. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head; and

a reservoir, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head moveable with the reservoir along a length dimension of the reservoir body portion to expel the fluidic media through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion;

the plunger head comprising a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion extending toward the collecting portion; and

wherein the protruding portion of the plunger has a concavity for collecting gas bubbles as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port.

30. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head; and

a reservoir, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head moveable with the reservoir along a length dimension of the reservoir body portion to expel the fluidic media through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion;

the plunger head comprising a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion extending toward the collecting portion; and

wherein the protruding portion has a size such that when the plunger head is fully advanced within the reservoir, the protruding portion substantially fills the volume of the collecting portion.

36. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head; and

a reservoir, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head moveable with the reservoir along a length dimension of the reservoir body portion to expel the fluidic media through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion;

the plunger head comprising a seal member arranged to provide a seal between the plunger head and the wall of the reservoir body portion; and

the plunger head having a recess for receiving the seal member, the plunger head having a channel from the recess to the interior volume of the reservoir body portion through which fluidic media may enter the recess from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion.

37. A method of manufacturing a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

providing a plunger head; and

providing a reservoir, the reservoir comprising;

a reservoir body portion having a wall defining an interior volume, the interior volume for containing the fluidic media, the reservoir having a first port in the reservoir body portion to be in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the first port for expelling fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion as the plunger is moved within the reservoir; and

a collecting portion having a wall defining a volume in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the volume of the collecting portion for collecting gas bubbles in the fluidic media as the fluidic media is expelled through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion, the reservoir having a second port in the collecting portion to be in fluid flow communication with the volume of the collecting portion, the second port for receiving fluidic media into the reservoir;

the plunger head moveable with the reservoir along a length dimension of the reservoir body portion to expel the fluidic media through the first port from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion; and

the reservoir having an axis along which the plunger head moves to expel fluidic media from the interior volume of the reservoir body portion through the first port;

wherein the plunger head is shaped to be asymmetric about the axis of the reservoir.

38. A reservoir system comprising a plunger head and a reservoir, the plunger head moveable along an axial dimension of the reservoir to expel fluidic media from an interior volume of the reservoir through a port of the reservoir;

wherein the plunger head is asymmetric about the axial dimension of the reservoir, the plunger head comprising at least one of a surface treatment and a material on at least a portion of a surface of the plunger head that causes the at least a portion of the surface to be one of hydrophobic or hydrophilic.

39. The plunger head of claim 38,

the plunger head having an axial dimension;

wherein the plunger head is asymmetric about the axial dimension of the plunger head.

40. The plunger head of claim 38, the plunger head having a contour that substantially matches an inner contour of the reservoir.

41. The plunger head of claim 38, the plunger head having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side having a length dimension parallel the axial dimension of the reservoir, the second side having a length dimension parallel the axial dimension of the reservoir, the length dimension of the second side greater than the length dimension of the first side.

42. The plunger head of claim 38, the plunger head comprising a body portion and a protruding portion, the protruding portion extending from the body portion along the axial dimension of the reservoir in a direction of movement that the plunger moves to expel fluidic media from the reservoir.

43. The plunger head of claim 42, wherein the protruding portion of the plunger has a concavity for collecting gas bubbles from the reservoir.

44. The plunger head of claim 42, wherein as the plunger head is moved in the reservoir, the protruding portion is aligned with a second port of the reservoir through which fluidic media is received into the reservoir in a direction parallel to the axial dimension of the reservoir.

45. The plunger head of claim 44, wherein as the plunger head is moved in the reservoir, the protruding portion is not aligned with the port of the reservoir through which fluidic media is expelled from the reservoir in a direction parallel to the axial dimension of the reservoir.

46. The plunger head of claim 44, the plunger head comprising a seal member arranged to provide a seal between the plunger head and the reservoir.

47. The plunger head of claim 46, the plunger head having a recess for receiving the seal member, the plunger head having a channel from the recess to the interior volume of the reservoir through which fluidic media may enter the recess from the interior volume of the reservoir.