Reservoir pressure equalization systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for controlling pressure in a fluid reservoir, the system comprising:
- a housing structure having an opening and an interior volume through which a portion of a base assembly may be inserted and received;
a pierceable member having a hollow interior volume, a first end and a second end, the pierceable member arranged in the interior volume of the housing structure, for movement relative to the housing structure from a first position to a second position, the pierceable member arranged to receive a force from the portion of a base assembly to move the pierceable member from the first position to the second position, when the portion of the base assembly is inserted through the opening and received within the interior volume of the housing; and
a hollow needle arranged to be connected in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir, the hollow needle having a longitudinal dimension and a piercing end arranged within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position, the piercing end of the hollow needle piercing through the first end of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is moved from the first position to the second position;
the interior volume of the pierceable member configured to receive fluid from the hollow needle in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the fluid reservoir before the hollow needle pierces through the first end 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.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for controlling pressure in a fluid reservoir, the system comprising:
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a housing structure having an opening and an interior volume through which a portion of a base assembly may be inserted and received; a pierceable member having a hollow interior volume, a first end and a second end, the pierceable member arranged in the interior volume of the housing structure, for movement relative to the housing structure from a first position to a second position, the pierceable member arranged to receive a force from the portion of a base assembly to move the pierceable member from the first position to the second position, when the portion of the base assembly is inserted through the opening and received within the interior volume of the housing; and a hollow needle arranged to be connected in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir, the hollow needle having a longitudinal dimension and a piercing end arranged within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position, the piercing end of the hollow needle piercing through the first end of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is moved from the first position to the second position; the interior volume of the pierceable member configured to receive fluid from the hollow needle in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the fluid reservoir before the hollow needle pierces through the first end of the pierceable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling pressure in a fluid reservoir, the method comprising:
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providing a housing structure having an opening and an interior volume through which a portion of a base assembly may be inserted and received; supporting a pierceable member in the interior volume of the housing structure for movement relative to the housing structure from a first position to a second position, the pierceable member having a hollow interior volume, a first end and a second end, wherein supporting the pierceable member includes arranging the pierceable member to receive a force from the portion of a base assembly to move the pierceable member from the first position to the second position, when the portion of the base assembly is inserted through the opening and received within the interior volume of the housing; arranging a hollow needle to be connected in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir, the hollow needle having a longitudinal dimension and a piercing end, wherein arranging the hollow needle further includes arranging the piercing end of the hollow needle within the hollow interior volume of the pierceable member when the pierceable member is in the first position; piercing through the first end of the pierceable member with the piercing end of the hollow needle when the pierceable member is moved from the first position to the second position; and receiving fluid in the interior volume of the pierceable member from the hollow needle, in response to an increase in fluid pressure within the fluid reservoir before the hollow needle pierces through the first end of the pierceable member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification