Reservoir plunger head systems and methods

• US 9,089,637 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Chong, Colin A., Lorenzen, Eric M., Bikovsky, Rafael, Luan, Truong Gia, Ibranyan, Arsen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/533,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20090326458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,188 Days
• Field of Search: 604/503, 604/93.01, 604/890.1, 604/155, 604218-231, 604/181, 604/187
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14573 with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1726 the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• 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: A61M 5/31501 Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston A61M5/5013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A plunger head moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media may have a first portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir, the first portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir, a second portion located on an opposite side of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the second portion connectable to a plunger arm, and a third portion located between the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head, at least one of the first portion, second portion, and the third portion is made of a material that comprises one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer.

Claims

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

a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media, the plunger head comprising;

a first portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir;

a second portion located on an opposite side of the first portion of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the second portion connectable to a plunger arm; and

a third portion located between the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head;

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the plunger head are supported for moving together in the axial direction within the reservoir; and

at least one seal member positioned between the reservoir and the plunger head;

wherein the at least one seal member is positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head;

wherein the first portion of the plunger head has an outer diameter, the second portion of the plunger head has an outer diameter and the third portion of the plunger head between the first portion and the second portion has an outer diameter that is reduced relative to the outer diameters of the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head, and wherein the at least one seal member comprises a seal located around the third portion of the plunger head; and

wherein the first portion comprises at least one protrusion arranged along an outer surface defined by the outer diameter of the first portion, the at least one protrusion is configured for at least one of stabilizing the plunger head and controlling the compression of the at least one seal member.

2. The system according to claim 1,

a first seal member of the at least one seal member positioned between the first portion and the third portion of the plunger head;

and

a second seal member of the at least one seal member positioned between the second portion and the third portion of the plunger head.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the third portion of the plunger head is configured to connect the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head together.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the third portion of the plunger head is configured to receive a portion from each of the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head to connect the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head together.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the third portion comprises one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second material is incompatible with fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a space is provided between each of the protrusions and the reservoir.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the entire plunger head, including the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion, is located inside of the interior volume of the reservoir.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the plunger head are fixed with respect to each other.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising of the plunger arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the plunger arm is connected to the second portion of the plunger head, and wherein the plunger arm operatively engages, at a point between the first end and the second end, a drive member that is movable by a motor.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the plunger head are positioned between the first end of the plunger arm and a port through which fluidic media is expelled.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one protrusion comprises two protrusions; and

the seal is between the two protrusions.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one seal member further comprises a secondary seal, wherein one of the at least one protrusion is between the seal and the secondary seal.

14. The system according claim 1, wherein the seal is located around a portion of the third portion having the reduced outer diameter.

15. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

providing a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media, the plunger head comprising;

a first portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir;

a second portion located on an opposite side of the first portion of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the second portion connectable to a plunger arm; and

a third portion located between the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head;

supporting the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the plunger head for moving together in the axial direction within the reservoir; and

providing at least one seal member at a position between the reservoir and the plunger head, the position of the at least one seal member being between the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head;

wherein the first portion of the plunger head has an outer diameter, the second portion of the plunger head has an outer diameter and the third portion of the plunger head between the first portion and the second portion has an outer diameter that is reduced relative to the outer diameters of the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head, and wherein the at least one seal member comprises a seal located around the third portion of the plunger head; and

wherein the first portion comprises at least one protrusion arranged along an outer surface defined by the outer diameter of the first portion, the at least one protrusion is configured for at least one of stabilizing the plunger head and controlling the compression of the at least one seal member.

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

a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media, the plunger head comprising;

a first portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir, the first portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir;

a second portion located on an opposite side of the first portion of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the second portion connectable to a plunger arm; and

a third portion located between the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head;

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the plunger head are supported for moving together in the axial direction within the reservoir;

wherein at least one of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion is made of a material that comprises one of a cyclic olefin copolymer and a cyclic olefin polymer; and

wherein the second portion comprises a second material different from the first material; and

at least one seal member positioned between the reservoir and the plunger head;

wherein the at least one seal member is positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the plunger head; and

a first diameter of the first portion, a second diameter of the second portion, and a third diameter of the third portion, wherein the first diameter and the second diameter are equal.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the third diameter is less than the first diameter and the second diameter.