Liquid transport device

• US 9,492,609 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Momose, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): LANDRY II, GERALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US14/639,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20150250942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 604131-155, 604/180, 604/539
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1586 Holding accessories for holding infusion needles on the body holding devices for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type

Abstract

A liquid transport device is attachable to a living body and transports a liquid to the living body. The liquid transport device includes a pump unit that includes a storage portion for storing the liquid and a pumping portion for transporting the liquid in the storage portion to the living body, and a seal portion that attaches the pump unit to the living body. A portion of a surface of the living body side of the pump unit is separated from an upper surface of the seal portion. In the liquid transport device, the pump unit is easily fixed to a flexible surface of the living body and a load on the living body is reduced while securing areas for the lower surface of the pump unit and the sealing surface of the seal portion.

Claims

1. A liquid transport device which is attachable to a living body and transports a liquid into the living body, the device comprising:

a pump unit that includes a storage portion for storing the liquid and a pumping portion for transporting the liquid in the storage portion into the living body; and

an adhesive seal portion that attaches the pump unit to the living body,

wherein the pump unit is capable of being attached and detached from the seal portion and wherein a portion of a surface of the living body side of the pump unit is separated from an upper surface of the seal portion when the pump unit is attached to the seal portion such that an observable open air gap is formed between the seal portion and the pump unit when the liquid transport device is attached to the living body.

2. The liquid transport device according to claim 1,

wherein a portion of the surface of the living body side of the pump unit protrudes in a direction along the surface of the living body from the seal portion.

3. The liquid transport device according to claim 1,

wherein the pump unit is detachably provided in an injection set including the seal portion.

4. The liquid transport device according to claim 1,

wherein the seal portion is disposed on the periphery of an injection portion for injecting the liquid which is transported by the pump unit to the living body.

5. The liquid transport device according to claim 4,

wherein the pump unit is detachably provided with respect to the injection set including the seal portion and the injection portion,

wherein the injection set includes a pedestal portion supporting the pump unit, and

wherein the seal portion which is positioned under the pedestal portion is disposed on the periphery of the injection portion.

6. The liquid transport device according to claim 1,

wherein the storage portion is formed into a circular arc shape having a width, and

wherein a discharge port for discharging the liquid in the storage portion to the pump unit is disposed at one end of the storage portion having the circular arc shape.

7. The liquid transport device according to claim 6,

wherein the discharge port is disposed at a position which is closer to an inner periphery which swells inside and has the circular arc shape than an outer periphery which swells outside and has the circular arc shape.

8. The liquid transport device according to claim 7,

wherein an injection port for injecting the liquid into the storage portion is disposed at the other end which is on the side opposite to the one end at which the discharge port of the storage portion having the circular arc shape is provided.

9. The liquid transport device according to claim 8,

wherein the injection port is disposed at a position which is closer to the outer periphery than the inner periphery.

10. The liquid transport device according to claim 7,

wherein the curvature of the outer periphery is smaller than the curvature of the inner periphery.

11. The liquid transport device according to claim 6,

wherein the width in the center portion of the storage portion is greater than the width in the end portion of the storage portion.

12. The liquid transport device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a liquid feeding port for sending the liquid transported by the pump unit to the outside,

wherein a filter is provided in the feed liquid port, which allows a gas to pass through but does not allow the liquid to pass through at the time of injecting the liquid to the storage portion.