Reservoir plunger head systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
- a reservoir body having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and an opening;
a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir body;
a plunger arm operatively connected to the plunger head, the plunger arm having an arm portion extending out of the opening of the reservoir body for operatively engaging a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head relative to the reservoir body when the arm portion is operatively engaged to the drive member;
a reservoir cover covering at least a portion of the opening of the reservoir body; and
a casing concentrically surrounding the plunger arm for supporting or aligning the plunger arm, wherein the casing is fixed to the reservoir cover so as to extend from the reservoir cover along the axial direction to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the casino and the reservoir body to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A casing may be configured to envelop at least a portion of a plunger arm attached to a plunger head located in a reservoir. A plunger head moveable in a reservoir may have a front portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic media in an interior volume of the reservoir. A seal member having a first end and a second end that taper to a mid-portion may be positioned between a reservoir and a plunger head. A bias member may be configured to force a plunger arm operatively connected to a plunger head against a drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member. A plunger head moveable in a reservoir may have a first ridge, a second ridge, a seal member adjacent at least one of the ridges, and protrusions arranged around at least one of the ridges.
92 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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a reservoir body having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and an opening; a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir body; a plunger arm operatively connected to the plunger head, the plunger arm having an arm portion extending out of the opening of the reservoir body for operatively engaging a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head relative to the reservoir body when the arm portion is operatively engaged to the drive member; a reservoir cover covering at least a portion of the opening of the reservoir body; and a casing concentrically surrounding the plunger arm for supporting or aligning the plunger arm, wherein the casing is fixed to the reservoir cover so as to extend from the reservoir cover along the axial direction to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the casino and the reservoir body to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:
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providing a reservoir body having an interior volume for containing fluidic media; locating a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir body; operatively connecting a plunger arm to the plunger head, the plunger arm having an arm portion extending out of an opening of the reservoir body for operatively engaging a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head relative to the reservoir body when the arm portion is operatively engaged to the drive member; and supporting concentrically the plunger arm for movement in an interior of a casing and relative to the casing, the casing supporting or aligning the plunger arm, wherein the casing is fixed to a reservoir cover covering at least a portion of the opening of the reservoir body so as to extend from the reservoir cover along the axial direction to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the casing and the reservoir body to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir body.
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19. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and an opening; a reservoir cover covering at least a portion of the opening; a plunger head enclosed within the reservoir, the plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger head comprising; a front portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir, the front portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir; a rear portion located on an opposite side of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the rear portion connectable to a plunger arm, the rear portion comprising a second material different from the first material, the second material incompatible with the fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir, wherein the plunger arm extends out of the opening of the reservoir and is concentrically surrounded by a casing, which is fixed to the reservoir cover, the casing for supporting or aligning the plunger arm, the plunger arm being moveable relative to the casing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:
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providing a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and an opening, wherein the opening is covered by a reservoir cover; locating a plunger head enclosed within the reservoir, the plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger head having a front portion and a rear portion, the from portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir, the front portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic, media in the interior volume of the reservoir, the rear portion located on an opposite side of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the rear portion connectable to a plunger arm, the rear portion comprising a second material different from the first material, the second material incompatible with the fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir, wherein the plunger arm extends out of the opening of the reservoir and is concentrically surrounded by a casing, which is fixed to the reservoir cover, the casing for supporting or aligning the plunger arm, the plunger arm being moveable relative to the casing.
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28. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:
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a plunger arm operatively connectable to a plunger head that is moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion extending out of an opening of the reservoir body and that is configured for operative engagement to a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head when the arm portion of the plunger arm is operatively engaged to the drive member; a casing concentrically surrounding the plunger arm for supporting or aligning the plunger arm, wherein the casing is fixed to a reservoir cover covering at least a portion of a reservoir opening so as to extend from the reservoir cover along the axial direction to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the casing and the reservoir body to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir body; and a bias member operatively engaged with the casing, the bias member configured to force the plunger arm against the drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:
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providing a plunger arm operatively connectable to a plunger head that is moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion extending out of an opening of the reservoir body and that is configured liar operative engagement to a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head when the arm portion of the plunger arm is operatively engaged to the drive member; providing a casing concentrically surrounding the plunger arm for supporting or aligning the plunger arm, wherein the casing is fixed to a reservoir cover covering at least a portion of an opening of the reservoir so as to extend from the reservoir cover along the axial direction to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the casing and the reservoir body to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir body; and providing a bias member operatively engaged with the casing, the bias member configured to force the plunger arm against the drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member.
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Specification