Automated filling systems and methods

• US 9,089,641 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): SU, SUSAN SHAN
• Application Number:
  US13/961,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 604411-414
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/20 Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2051 having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2065 having aligning and guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2068 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2072 for internal venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2075 for external venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/341 angularly adjustable or angled away from the axis of the injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• 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 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/165 Filtering accessories, e.g. blood filters, filters for infusion liquids A61M1/14 , A61M1/34, A61M1/3627, A61M1/3679, A61M1/3687 take precedence; needle sets with incorporated air inlet filters A61M5/162
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to transferring fluidic media from a vial to a reservoir. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir by moving a housing portion to move a plunger head located in the reservoir to draw fluidic media from the vial to the reservoir. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir while the reservoir is held by a holding unit and vibrated by a vibrator to remove air from the fluidic media. In some embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir by moving a handle operatively connected to a bias member for assisting with the transfer of fluidic media. In other embodiments, the transfer of fluidic media may be assisted by a bias member and a needle connecting atmosphere and the vial.

Claims

1. A system for automated pressure equalization, the system comprising:

a transfer guard, the transfer guard comprising;

a first needle having a fluid path for transferring fluidic media from an interior volume of a vial to an interior volume of a reservoir;

a second needle having a fluid path for communicating between atmosphere and the interior volume of the vial; and

a bias member connected between an end of the reservoir and a plunger head positioned in the reservoir, the bias member for providing a force behind the plunger head as the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir;

the bias member and the transfer guard configured to equalize pressure relative to atmosphere in the interior volume of the vial in a case where the second needle communicates between atmosphere and the interior volume of the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

2. The system according to claim 1, the system further comprising:

a membrane located in the fluid path of the second needle, the membrane for substantially preventing addition of water vapor through the second needle to the interior volume of the vial.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the membrane comprises one of a hydrophobic membrane and a hydrophilic membrane.

4. The system according to claim 1, the system further comprising:

a filter located in the fluid path of the first needle, the filter for degassing fluidic media transferred from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the filter comprises one of a hydrophobic filter and a hydrophilic filter.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises a spring.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer guard comprises a body having a first end connectable to the vial and a second end connectable to the end of the reservoir, the transfer guard body holding the first needle in a position in which a first end of the first needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the vial while a second end of the first needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the reservoir in a case where the first end of the transfer guard body is connected to the vial and the second end of the transfer body is connected to the end of the reservoir.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the transfer guard body holds the second needle in a position in which a first end of the second needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the vial while a second end of the second needle extends outside of the vial and the reservoir in a case where the first end of the transfer guard body is connected to the vial and the second end of the transfer body is connected to the end of the reservoir.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer guard body holds the second needle in a position in which a first end of the second needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the vial while a second end of the second needle extends outside of the vial and the reservoir in a case where the first end of the transfer guard body is connected to the vial and the second end of the transfer body is connected to the end of the reservoir.

10. A method for automated pressure equalization, the method comprising:

providing a transfer guard, said providing comprising;

locating a first needle having a fluid path for transferring fluidic media from an interior volume of a vial to an interior volume of a reservoir;

locating a second needle having a fluid path for communicating between atmosphere and the interior volume of the vial;

locating a bias member connected between an end of the reservoir and a plunger head positioned in the reservoir, the bias member for providing a retaining force behind the plunger head as the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir; and

configuring the bias member and the transfer guard to equalize pressure relative to atmosphere in the interior volume of the vial in a case where the second needle communicates between atmosphere and the interior volume of the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising locating a membrane in the fluid path of the second needle, the membrane for substantially preventing addition of water vapor through the second needle to the interior volume of the vial.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the membrane comprises one of a hydrophobic membrane and a hydrophilic membrane.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising locating a filter in the fluid path of the first needle, the filter for degassing fluidic media transferred from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the filter comprises one of a hydrophobic filter and a hydrophilic filter.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the bias member comprises a spring.

16. A system for automated pressure equalization, the system comprising:

a transfer guard, the transfer guard comprising;

a first needle having a fluid path for transferring fluidic media from an interior volume of a vial to an interior volume of a reservoir;

a second needle having a fluid path for communicating between atmosphere and the interior volume of the vial; and

a membrane located in the fluid path of the second needle, the membrane for substantially preventing addition of water vapor through the second needle to the interior volume of the vial;

a filter located in the fluid path of the first needle, the filter for degassing fluidic media transferred from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

17. A system according to claim 16, further comprising a bias member connected between an end of the reservoir and a plunger head positioned in the reservoir, the bias member for providing a force behind the plunger head as the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir;

the bias member and the transfer guard configured to equalize pressure relative to atmosphere in the interior volume of the vial in a case where the second needle communicates between atmosphere and the interior volume of the vial and the plunger head is moved within the reservoir to transfer fluidic media from the interior volume of the vial to the interior volume of the reservoir.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer guard comprises a body having a first end connectable to the vial and a second end connectable to the end of the reservoir, the transfer guard body holding the first needle in a position in which a first end of the first needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the vial while a second end of the first needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the reservoir in a case where the first end of the transfer guard body is connected to the vial and the second end of the transfer body is connected to the end of the reservoir.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the transfer guard body holds the second needle in a position in which a first end of the second needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the vial while a second end of the second needle extends outside of the vial and the reservoir in a case where the first end of the transfer guard body is connected to the vial and the second end of the transfer body is connected to the end of the reservoir.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein the transfer guard body holds the second needle in a position in which a first end of the second needle extends at least partially into the interior volume of the vial while a second end of the second needle extends outside of the vial and the reservoir in a case where the first end of the transfer guard body is connected to the vial and the second end of the transfer body is connected to the end of the reservoir.