Battery shock absorber for a portable medical device

• US 8,841,012 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Fonacier, EJMar, Allen, Kirk A., Srisathapat, Chad, Bazargan, Afshin
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/025,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20140017543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604/131, 604/151, 429/181, 429/185, 429/53, 429/82, 429/96, 362/204, 362/205
• US Class Current: 429/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/58 Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/04 Coding of multifunction keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2811 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A device for delivering fluid to a user includes a housing, a drive motor assembly in the housing, other internal components in the housing, and a keypad external to the housing. The device includes a number of features and elements that enhance its operation, manufacturability, reliability, and user-friendliness. These features and elements include a shock absorbing element for a battery of the device, a keypad actuator layer that overlies a keypad assembly and forms a water resistant seal with the housing, and an offset element for a piezoelectric speaker that is located inside the housing.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing element for a battery of a medical device having a battery receptacle for the battery and having an electrical contact for the battery, the electrical contact residing within the battery receptacle, the shock absorbing element composed of a resilient material and comprising:

a circumference sized and shaped to accommodate placement in the battery receptacle;

a through hole defined through the shock absorbing element to accommodate the electrical contact;

a first side opposite a second side;

a plurality of first shock absorbing features formed in an alternating pattern about the circumference on the first side; and

a plurality of second shock absorbing features formed in an alternating pattern about the circumference on the second side,

wherein the plurality of first shock absorbing features and the plurality of second shock absorbing features extend in a radial direction.

2. The shock absorbing element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first shock absorbing features further comprise a first plurality of angled outer depressions.

3. The shock absorbing element of claim 2, wherein the plurality of second shock absorbing features further comprise a second plurality of angled outer depressions.

4. The shock absorbing element of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of angled outer depressions on the first side are offset from the second plurality of angled outer depressions on the second side.

5. The shock absorbing element of claim 4, wherein the plurality of first shock absorbing features further comprise a first plurality of angled inner depressions that alternate with the first plurality of angled outer depressions on the first side.

6. The shock absorbing element of claim 5, the plurality of second shock absorbing features further comprise a second plurality of angled inner depressions that alternate with the second plurality of angled outer depressions on the second side.

7. The shock absorbing element of claim 6, wherein the first plurality of angled inner depressions on the first side are aligned with the second plurality of angled outer depressions on the second side.

8. The shock absorbing element of claim 6, wherein the first plurality of angled outer depressions on the first side are aligned with the second plurality of angled inner depressions on the second side.

9. The shock absorbing element of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of shock absorbing elements comprise a plurality of substantially longitudinal channels.

10. A shock absorbing assembly for a battery of a medical device, the shock absorbing assembly comprising:

a battery sleeve to house the battery, the battery sleeve having a base end;

an electrical contact for the battery, the electrical contact residing within the battery sleeve near the base end; and

a shock absorbing element coupled to the base end of the battery sleeve to dissipate energy associated with motion of the battery towards the base end, the shock absorbing element composed of a resilient material and including a first side opposite a second side, the first side and the second side each including a plurality of shock absorbing features spaced about a perimeter of the first side and the second side, and the plurality of shock absorbing features of the first side are offset from the plurality of shock absorbing features of the second side.

11. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of shock absorbing features further comprise a plurality of angled outer depressions and a plurality of angled inner depressions.

12. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of angled outer depressions on the first side are aligned with the plurality of angled inner depressions on the second side.

13. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of angled outer depressions on the first side are offset from the plurality of angled outer depressions on the second side.

14. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of angled outer depressions extend outwardly from a surface of each of the first side and the second side, and each has a downward slope towards the perimeter.

15. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 14, wherein the shock absorbing element has a circumference, and the plurality of angled outer depressions each have a downward slope towards the circumference.

16. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 11, wherein the shock absorbing element includes a through hole to receive the electrical contact and the plurality of angled inner depressions each has a downward slope towards the through hole.

17. A shock absorbing assembly for a battery of a medical device, the shock absorbing assembly comprising:

a battery sleeve to house the battery, the battery sleeve having a base end;

an electrical contact for the battery, the electrical contact residing within the battery sleeve near the base end; and

a shock absorbing element coupled to the base end of the battery sleeve to dissipate energy associated with motion of the battery towards the base end, the shock absorbing element having a circumference and including a first side opposite a second side, the first side including a first plurality of angled outer depressions spaced about the circumference and the second side including a second plurality of angled inner depressions spaced about the circumference, with the first plurality of angled outer depressions aligned with the second plurality of angled inner depressions.

18. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 17, wherein the first side further comprises a first plurality of angled inner depressions spaced about the circumference so as to alternate with the first plurality of angled outer depressions.

19. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 17, wherein the second side further comprises a second plurality of angled outer depressions spaced about the circumference so as to alternate with the second plurality of angled inner depressions.

20. The shock absorbing assembly of claim 19, wherein each of the first plurality of angled outer depressions and the second plurality of angled outer depressions has a downward slope towards the circumference.