Infusion device having gear assembly initialization
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An infusion device comprising:
- a housing to receive a shaft coupled to a plunger disposed in a reservoir;
a gear assembly including a first gear to engage the shaft and a worm gear coupled to the first gear, the first gear having rotational freedom in a direction opposite a delivery direction, the worm gear exhibiting axial displacement in a first direction in response to rotation of the first gear in the direction opposite the delivery direction;
a force sensor aligned with an axle of the worm gear;
a motor having a rotor coupled to the gear assembly; and
a control module coupled to the motor to operate the motor to displace the axle of the worm gear in a second direction opposite the first direction and away from the force sensor in response to the reset condition.
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Abstract
Apparatus are provided for infusion devices and related operating methods. An exemplary infusion device includes a housing to receive a shaft coupled to a plunger disposed in a reservoir and a gear assembly including a first gear to engage the shaft, wherein the first gear exhibits rotational freedom in a direction opposite a delivery direction. One exemplary method of operating the infusion device comprises identifying a reset condition and in response to the reset condition, operating a motor having a rotor coupled to the gear assembly to provide the rotational freedom for the first gear.
250 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An infusion device comprising:
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a housing to receive a shaft coupled to a plunger disposed in a reservoir; a gear assembly including a first gear to engage the shaft and a worm gear coupled to the first gear, the first gear having rotational freedom in a direction opposite a delivery direction, the worm gear exhibiting axial displacement in a first direction in response to rotation of the first gear in the direction opposite the delivery direction; a force sensor aligned with an axle of the worm gear; a motor having a rotor coupled to the gear assembly; and a control module coupled to the motor to operate the motor to displace the axle of the worm gear in a second direction opposite the first direction and away from the force sensor in response to the reset condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An infusion device comprising:
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a housing to receive a shaft coupled to a plunger disposed in a reservoir; a gear assembly including a first gear to engage the shaft and a worm gear coupled to the first gear, the worm gear exhibiting axial displacement in a first direction in response to rotation of the first gear in the direction opposite the delivery direction; a force sensor aligned with an axle of the worm gear; a motor having a rotor coupled to the gear assembly; and a control module coupled to the motor to operate the motor to provide rotational freedom for the first gear in a direction opposite a delivery direction for the plunger by operating the motor to displace the axle of the worm gear in a second direction opposite the first direction and away from the force sensor in response to a reset condition. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An infusion device comprising:
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a housing to receive a shaft coupled to a plunger of a reservoir; a gear assembly including a first gear to engage the shaft and a worm gear coupled to the first gear, the worm gear exhibiting axial displacement in a first direction in response to rotation of the first gear in the direction opposite the delivery direction; a mechanical element coupled to the first gear, the mechanical element applying force to an axle of the worm gear in a second direction opposite the first direction resulting in the first gear exhibiting rotational freedom in a direction opposite a delivery direction of the plunger; a force sensor aligned with an axle of the worm gear; a motor having a rotor coupled to the gear assembly; and a control module coupled to the motor to operate the motor to displace the axle of the worm gear in the second direction and away from the force sensor in response to the reset condition. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification