Medical device with membrane keypad sealing element, and related manufacturing method

• US 9,231,617 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cheney, Paul S. II, Bazargan, Afshin, Nguyen, Andrew B., Law, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US14/072,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20140066851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173, 294/28, 604/151
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 medical device comprising:

a housing having a front face, a keypad mounting cavity on the front face, and a sealing rim on the front face, the sealing rim surrounding the keypad mounting cavity;

a membrane keypad assembly coupled to the housing and positioned inside the keypad mounting cavity, the membrane keypad assembly comprising a plurality of actuation components integrated therein;

a sealing element comprising a perimeter area, the sealing element overlying the membrane keypad assembly such that the perimeter area extends beyond the membrane keypad assembly, and the perimeter area coupled to the sealing rim to form a fluid resistant seal with the housing; and

a graphic keypad overlay removably adhered to the sealing element to be replaceable with a different graphic keypad overlay, the graphic keypad overlay comprising graphical representations corresponding to the actuation components.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the graphical representations are overlying and aligned with the actuation components.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises an actuator layer for the membrane keypad assembly, the actuator layer having protrusions corresponding to the actuation components.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the protrusions are overlying and aligned with the actuation components.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the graphic keypad overlay comprises a clear plastic film having a top surface and a bottom surface, and graphics printed on the bottom surface, wherein the graphic keypad overlay is adhered to the sealing element such that the bottom surface and the graphics face the sealing element and such that the top surface is exposed.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the housing is formed from plastic;

the sealing element is formed from plastic; and

the sealing element is coupled to the sealing rim using a polyester thermoplastic adhesive.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sealing element completely covers the membrane keypad assembly.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is non-decorative, non-cosmetic, and free of printed graphics.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the medical device is an infusion pump; and

the membrane keypad assembly is actuated to control operation of the infusion pump.

10. A case assembly for a medical device, the case assembly comprising:

a plastic housing having a keypad mounting cavity and a sealing rim integrally formed therein, the sealing rim located outside and around the keypad mounting cavity;

a membrane keypad assembly positioned inside the keypad mounting cavity, the membrane keypad assembly comprising a plurality of actuation elements; and

a plastic actuator layer overlying the membrane keypad assembly and comprising a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the actuation elements and further comprising a perimeter area that extends beyond the membrane keypad assembly, the perimeter area attached to the sealing rim to form a fluid resistant seal between the plastic housing and the plastic actuator layer; and

a graphic keypad overlay removably adhered to the plastic actuator layer with a temporary bond, the graphic keypad overlay comprising graphical representations corresponding to the actuation elements, wherein the graphical representations are aligned with the protrusions, and wherein the protrusions are aligned with the actuation elements,

wherein the graphic keypad overlay comprises a clear plastic film having a top surface and a bottom surface, and graphics printed on the bottom surface such that the bottom surface and the graphics face the plastic actuator layer and such that the top surface is exposed.

11. The case assembly of claim 10, wherein the perimeter area of the plastic actuator layer is bonded to the sealing rim of the plastic housing using a polyester thermoplastic adhesive.

12. The case assembly of claim 10, wherein the plastic actuator layer is non-decorative, non-cosmetic, and free of printed graphics.

13. The case assembly of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of graphic keypad overlays, each having a visually distinct set of graphical features corresponding to the actuation elements, and each being configured for removable adhesion to the plastic actuator layer.

14. A medical device comprising:

a housing having a front face, a keypad mounting cavity integrally formed in the front face, and a sealing rim integrally formed on the front face, wherein the sealing rim is located outside and around the keypad mounting cavity, and wherein an upper surface of the sealing rim resides above a base of the keypad mounting cavity;

a membrane keypad assembly coupled to the housing and positioned inside the keypad mounting cavity, the membrane keypad assembly comprising a plurality of actuation components integrated therein;

an actuator layer for the membrane keypad assembly, the actuator layer comprising a perimeter area adhered to the sealing rim to form a fluid resistant seal with the housing, and the actuator layer comprising protrusions overlying and aligned with the actuation components; and

a graphic keypad overlay removably adhered to the actuator layer to be replaceable with a different graphic keypad overlay, the graphic keypad overlay comprising graphical representations corresponding to the actuation components.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the sealing rim has a depth that allows the actuator layer to sit recessed within the housing.

16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the graphic keypad overlay comprises a clear plastic film having a top surface and a bottom surface, and graphics printed on the bottom surface, wherein the graphic keypad overlay is adhered to the actuator layer such that the bottom surface and the graphics face the actuator layer and such that the top surface is exposed.

17. The medical device of claim 14, wherein:

the housing is formed from plastic;

the actuator layer is formed from plastic; and

the actuator layer is coupled to the sealing rim using a polyester thermoplastic adhesive.

18. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the actuator layer is non-decorative, non-cosmetic, and free of printed graphics.

19. The medical device of claim 14, wherein:

the medical device is an infusion pump; and

the membrane keypad assembly is actuated to control operation of the infusion pump.