Transcutaneous conduit insertion mechanism with a living hinge for use with a fluid infusion patch pump device
First Claim
1. An insertion mechanism for actuating a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit and a needle, wherein at least a portion of the needle is initially inside the fluid conduit, the insertion mechanism comprising:
- a first sliding block coupled to the fluid conduit to move the fluid conduit in an insertion direction;
a second sliding block coupled to the needle to move the needle in the insertion direction and in a retraction direction, wherein movement of the second sliding block in the insertion direction pushes the first sliding block in the insertion direction;
a torsion spring; and
a living hinge coupled between the torsion spring and the second sliding block, wherein rotation of the torsion spring during an insertion action actuates the living hinge to move the second sliding block in the insertion direction and, thereafter, in the retraction direction, and wherein;
the living hinge comprises N living hinge segments integrally formed with N−
1 flexible junction segments;
each of the flexible junction segments serves as a hinge for two adjacent living hinge segments; and
N is an integer greater than one.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid infusion device and an insertion mechanism are disclosed. The insertion mechanism actuates an assembly having a fluid conduit and a needle. An embodiment of the insertion mechanism includes a first sliding block, a second sliding block, a torsion spring, and a living hinge. The first block is coupled to the conduit to move the conduit in an insertion direction. The second block is coupled to the needle to move the needle in the insertion direction and in a retraction direction, wherein movement of the second block in the insertion direction pushes the first block in the insertion direction. The living hinge is coupled between the torsion spring and the second block. Rotation of the torsion spring during an insertion action actuates the living hinge to move the second block in the insertion direction and, thereafter, in the retraction direction.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An insertion mechanism for actuating a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit and a needle, wherein at least a portion of the needle is initially inside the fluid conduit, the insertion mechanism comprising:
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a first sliding block coupled to the fluid conduit to move the fluid conduit in an insertion direction; a second sliding block coupled to the needle to move the needle in the insertion direction and in a retraction direction, wherein movement of the second sliding block in the insertion direction pushes the first sliding block in the insertion direction; a torsion spring; and a living hinge coupled between the torsion spring and the second sliding block, wherein rotation of the torsion spring during an insertion action actuates the living hinge to move the second sliding block in the insertion direction and, thereafter, in the retraction direction, and wherein; the living hinge comprises N living hinge segments integrally formed with N−
1 flexible junction segments;each of the flexible junction segments serves as a hinge for two adjacent living hinge segments; and N is an integer greater than one. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:
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a housing; a fluid pump mechanism within the housing; an inlet conduit assembly in fluid communication with a fluid inlet of the fluid pump mechanism, the inlet conduit assembly comprising structure compatible with a removable fluid cartridge module; a transcutaneous conduit assembly in fluid communication with a fluid outlet of the fluid pump mechanism, the transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit and a needle; and an insertion mechanism for actuating the transcutaneous conduit assembly, the insertion mechanism comprising; a first sliding block coupled to the fluid conduit to move the fluid conduit in an insertion direction; a second sliding block coupled to the needle to move the needle in the insertion direction and in a retraction direction, wherein movement of the second sliding block in the insertion direction pushes the first sliding block in the insertion direction; a torsion spring; and a living hinge coupled between the torsion spring and the second sliding block, wherein rotation of the torsion spring during an insertion action actuates the living hinge to move the second sliding block in the insertion direction and, thereafter, in the retraction direction, wherein; the living hinge comprises N living hinge segments integrally formed with N−
1 flexible junction segments;each of the flexible junction segments serves as a hinge for two adjacent living hinge segments; and N is an integer greater than one. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:
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a housing that receives a removable fluid cartridge module; a transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit and a needle; an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body, the insertion mechanism comprising; a first sliding block coupled to the fluid conduit to move the fluid conduit in an insertion direction; a second sliding block coupled to the needle to move the needle in the insertion direction and in a retraction direction, wherein movement of the second sliding block in the insertion direction pushes the first sliding block in the insertion direction; a torsion spring; and a living hinge coupled between the torsion spring and the second sliding block, wherein rotation of the torsion spring during an insertion action actuates the living hinge to move the second sliding block in the insertion direction and, thereafter, in the retraction direction; and a lock mechanism to maintain the first sliding block and the second sliding block in an initial position and to maintain the torsion spring in a loaded state, wherein the lock mechanism is automatically released to activate the insertion mechanism when the removable fluid cartridge module is installed in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:
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a housing; a fluid pump mechanism within the housing; an inlet conduit assembly in fluid communication with a fluid inlet of the fluid pump mechanism, the inlet conduit assembly comprising structure compatible with a removable fluid cartridge module; a transcutaneous conduit assembly in fluid communication with a fluid outlet of the fluid pump mechanism, the transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit and a needle; an insertion mechanism for actuating the transcutaneous conduit assembly, the insertion mechanism comprising; a first sliding block coupled to the fluid conduit to move the fluid conduit in an insertion direction; a second sliding block coupled to the needle to move the needle in the insertion direction and in a retraction direction, wherein movement of the second sliding block in the insertion direction pushes the first sliding block in the insertion direction; a torsion spring; and a living hinge coupled between the torsion spring and the second sliding block, wherein rotation of the torsion spring during an insertion action actuates the living hinge to move the second sliding block in the insertion direction and, thereafter, in the retraction direction; and a lock mechanism to maintain the first sliding block and the second sliding block in an initial position and to maintain the torsion spring in a loaded state, wherein the lock mechanism is automatically released to activate the insertion mechanism in response to installation of the removable fluid cartridge module.
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Specification