Controlled delivery drive mechanisms for drug delivery pumps
First Claim
1. A controlled delivery drive mechanism comprising:
- a drug container having a plunger seal disposed to translate within a barrel;
a drive housing;
a piston including an interface surface and being disposed to translate axially, the piston configured to bear upon the plunger seal and disposed adjacent, spaced apart and mechanically decoupled from the plunger seal in an initial position;
a biasing member configured to bear upon the interface surface of the piston, wherein the biasing member is retained in an energized state between the interface surface of the piston and the housing when the piston is in the initial position;
a delivery control mechanism including a gear assembly coupled to the piston by a tether to restrain the free expansion of the biasing member from its energized state and restrain the free axial translation of the piston, upon which the biasing member is configured to bear, the gear assembly having a plurality of gears wherein at least one of the plurality of gears is a status gear;
an encoder operatively associated with the status gear providing positional feedback of the piston; and
a status reader disposed adjacent the tether, the status reader interacting directly with the tether and providing a signal in response to a change of position of the tether, wherein the status reader rotates about a fulcrum when the tether goes slack.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controlled delivery drive mechanism includes a drive housing, a piston, and a biasing member initially retained in an energized state and is configured to bear upon an interface surface of the piston. The piston is configured to translate a plunger seal and a barrel. A tether is connected between the piston and the winch drum to restrain the free expansion of the biasing member and the free axial translation of the piston upon which the biasing member bears upon. The drive mechanism may further include a gear assembly having a motor configured to drive the gear assembly to release the tether from the winch drum. The metering of the tether by the motor controls the rate or profile of drug delivery to a user. A drug delivery pump includes such a controlled delivery drive mechanism. A control system may be utilized to control the desired drug delivery rate/profile.
73 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A controlled delivery drive mechanism comprising:
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a drug container having a plunger seal disposed to translate within a barrel; a drive housing; a piston including an interface surface and being disposed to translate axially, the piston configured to bear upon the plunger seal and disposed adjacent, spaced apart and mechanically decoupled from the plunger seal in an initial position; a biasing member configured to bear upon the interface surface of the piston, wherein the biasing member is retained in an energized state between the interface surface of the piston and the housing when the piston is in the initial position; a delivery control mechanism including a gear assembly coupled to the piston by a tether to restrain the free expansion of the biasing member from its energized state and restrain the free axial translation of the piston, upon which the biasing member is configured to bear, the gear assembly having a plurality of gears wherein at least one of the plurality of gears is a status gear; an encoder operatively associated with the status gear providing positional feedback of the piston; and a status reader disposed adjacent the tether, the status reader interacting directly with the tether and providing a signal in response to a change of position of the tether, wherein the status reader rotates about a fulcrum when the tether goes slack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A controlled delivery drive mechanism comprising:
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a drug container having a plunger seal disposed to translate within a barrel; a drive housing; a piston including an interface surface and being disposed to translate axially, the piston configured to bear upon the plunger seal and disposed adjacent, spaced apart and mechanically decoupled from the plunger seal in an initial position; a biasing member configured to bear upon the interface surface of the piston, wherein the biasing member is retained in an energized state between the interface surface of the piston and the housing when the piston is in the initial position; a delivery control mechanism including a gear assembly coupled to the piston by a tether to restrain the free expansion of the biasing member from its energized state and restrain the free axial translation of the piston, upon which the biasing member is configured to bear, the gear assembly having a plurality of gears wherein at least one of the plurality of gears is a status gear; an encoder operatively associated with the status gear providing positional feedback of the piston; and a status reader disposed adjacent the tether, the status reader interacting directly with the tether and providing a signal in response to a change of position of the tether, wherein the status reader is adapted to read or recognize one or more corresponding status triggers incrementally spaced on the tether, wherein, during operation of the drive mechanism, interaction between the status reader and the status triggers transmit a signal to a power and control system to provide feedback to a user.
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Specification