Infusion pump device with venting feature

• US 9,539,385 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ypsomed AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Mathys, Ren
• Primary Examiner(s): MEDWAY, SCOTT J
• Application Number:
  US14/506,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31 Details

Abstract

An infusion device for infusion of a fluid from a reservoir into a body, the infusion device being connectable to an infusion set adaptor at a connecting site, the infusion device comprising: a drive mechanism to operatively couple with at least a portion of the reservoir; a housing being sized to contain at least a portion of the reservoir, wherein the drive mechanism is at least partially or fully contained within the housing; a sealing device that permits the passage of air into and out of the housing or a housing compartment and inhibits the passage of liquids into the housing or a housing compartment through the sealing device; wherein the sealing device is arranged at the drive mechanism or at a location between a part of the drive mechanism and the connecting site of the infusion set adaptor or at the connecting site of the infusion set adaptor.

Claims

1. An infusion device for infusion of a fluid from a reservoir into a body, the infusion device being connectable to an infusion set adaptor, the infusion device comprising:

a drive mechanism for operatively coupling with at least a portion of the reservoir;

a housing comprising two or more compartments, at least one being configured to contain at least a portion of the reservoir and another configured to at least partially or fully contain the drive mechanism;

a sealing device configured to permit passage of air into and out of a first compartment of or within the housing and to inhibit passage of liquids through the sealing device between the first compartment and a neighboring compartment of or within the housing;

a connecting site for operatively coupling the infusion set adaptor;

wherein the sealing device is arranged at a location between the first compartment and the neighboring compartment and such location is part of a path for movement of air between compartments of or within the housing whereby such movement equalizes pressure between such compartments.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device is arranged inside the housing between a compartment containing at least a portion of the reservoir and a compartment at least partially or fully containing the drive mechanism.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sealing device is arranged between an inner area of the infusion device and a carpule compartment or a reservoir area of the infusion device.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the inner area comprises the drive mechanism or an enclosed compartment partially or fully containing the drive mechanism.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing does not contain a vent port.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device comprises at least one of a hydrophobic material, a lipophobic material, or an oleophobic material.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sealing device is formed from one or more of a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer, a high-density polyethylene polymer, a polyethersulfon polymer, a ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene polymer, a polyurethane foam or a porous plastic.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device is joined to its location by one or more of an adhesive bond, a form fit, sonic welding, heat welding or molding.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device is part of an internal path that allows air pressure within the housing to equalize with air pressure outside of the housing.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device is formed as at least one of a seal ring, a gasket ring or an O-ring.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a drive housing compartment that is part of the drive mechanism and at least a portion of the sealing device is in contact with and arranged between the drive housing compartment and a neighboring compartment of the infusion device.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the sealing device separates a carpule compartment of the infusion device from an enclosed compartment partially or fully containing the drive mechanism.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising a sealing element arranged on an inner wall of the carpule compartment and configured to be in contact with a housing of the infusion set adaptor when connected to the infusion device.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device comprises two or more sealing elements or sealing rings.

15. A method of equalizing pressure in an infusion device for infusion of a fluid from a reservoir into a body, the infusion device being connectable to an infusion set adaptor at a connecting site, the infusion device comprising a drive mechanism to operatively couple with at least a portion of the reservoir and a compartment sized to contain at least a portion of the drive mechanism and a carpule compartment for the reservoir, the method comprising:

providing a seal in a path from one compartment of an interior of the housing to another neighboring compartment of the interior of the housing, arranged at a location between such compartments, wherein the seal permits passage of air between the one and the neighboring compartments and inhibits passage of liquids between them, thereby equalizing air pressure in the interior of the housing and said path includes a further seal allowing equalizing with air pressure at the exterior of the housing.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing a seal in a path from one compartment of an interior of the housing to another neighboring compartment of the interior of the housing, arranged at a location between such compartments, comprises providing at least one of a seal ring, a gasket ring or an O-ring placed between a carpule compartment and a device compartment partially or fully containing the drive mechanism.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a seal comprises joining a sealing device to its location by one or more of an adhesive bond, a form fit, sonic welding, heat welding or molding.

18. An infusion device for infusion of a fluid from a reservoir into a body, the infusion device being connectable to an infusion set adaptor, the infusion device comprising:

a drive mechanism for operatively coupling with at least a portion of the reservoir;

a housing configured to contain at least a portion of the reservoir and to at least partially or fully contain the drive mechanism;

a sealing device configured to permit passage of air into and out of a first compartment of or within the housing and to inhibit passage of liquids through the sealing device between the first compartment and a neighboring compartment of or within the housing;

a connecting site for operatively coupling the infusion set adaptor;

wherein the sealing device is arranged at a location on a path for movement of air between two neighboring compartments, the two being selected from the group comprising;

a compartment partially or fully containing the drive mechanism, a battery compartment, a carpule compartment, or a compartment containing electronic control circuitry a function key or a display.