EXTERNAL DRUG PUMP

• US 20090093792A1
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Pharma. Services IL, Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medimop Medical Projects Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi, Cabiri, Oz
• Granted Patent: US 9,173,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/518
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1426 with means for preventing access to the needle after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14533 cam actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31596 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/12 with reciprocation along the axis of rotation, e.g. gearings with helical grooves and automatic reversal or cams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18576 including screw and nut

Abstract

Apparatus is described for administering a substance to a subject. A vial contains the substance and a stopper is disposed within the vial and is slidably coupled to the vial. A first threaded element is (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element. A second threaded element is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element. At least a distal end of the second threaded element is substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element defines a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper. The first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advances the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, comprising:

a vial that contains the substance;

a stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial;

a first threaded element (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element; and

a second threaded element that is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element,

at least a distal end of the second threaded element substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial,

the distal end of the second threaded element defining a coupling portion that couples the second threaded element to the stopper, and

the first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the second threaded element is disposed at least partially within the stopper.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vial comprises a circular barrel having an inner surface that is smooth.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1,

further comprising a dividing stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial;

wherein the vial comprises a distal compartment and a proximal compartment, the distal compartment containing a powder and the proximal compartment containing a liquid, the dividing stopper reversibly inhibiting fluid communication between the distal compartment and the proximal compartment, and

wherein the first threaded element, by rotating, mixes the powder and the liquid by advancing the dividing stopper toward the distal end of the vial.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the second threaded element is configured to remain proximal to a distal end of the stopper at all times during the rotating of the first threaded element.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vial housing unit that houses the vial and the threaded elements;

a needle housing unit coupled to the vial housing unit and not rigidly connected to the housing unit;

a needle housed within the needle housing unit; and

a cannula at least partially disposed around the needle,

wherein the apparatus is configured to administer the substance to the subject via the cannula.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein friction between the stopper and an inner surface of the vial impedes rotation of the second threaded element.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein friction between the stopper and an inner surface of the vial impedes rotation of the second threaded element while allowing distal motion of the second threaded element.

39. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first threaded element comprises a screw, and wherein the second threaded element comprises a nut disposed at least partially around the screw.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the screw comprises a telescopic screw, and wherein the screw is configured to advance a distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial by extending the telescopic screw toward the distal end of the vial.

43. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the nut comprises a telescopic nut, and wherein the screw is configured to advance a distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial by extending the telescopic nut toward the distal end of the vial.

46. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first threaded element comprises. a nut, and wherein the second threaded element comprises a screw disposed at least partially inside the nut.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the screw comprises a telescopic screw, and wherein the nut is configured to advance a distal end of the screw toward the distal end of the vial by extending the telescopic screw toward the distal end of the vial.

50. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the nut comprises a telescopic nut, and wherein the nut is configured to advance a distal end of the screw toward the distal end of the vial by extending the telescopic nut toward the distal end of the vial.

2. (canceled)

4-5. -5. (canceled)

7-8. -8. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

15-38. -38. (canceled)

41-42. -42. (canceled)

44-45. -45. (canceled)

48-49. -49. (canceled)

51-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A method, comprising:

providing;

a vial that contains a substance, and is sealed by a stopper, and

first and second threaded elements for placement within the vial, the first and second threaded elements being threadedly coupled to each other, a distal end of the second threaded element being for coupling to the stopper;

inserting the vial into a housing base, the threaded elements having been inserted into the vial, and the distal end of the second threaded element having been coupled to the stopper; and

pushing the substance out of the vial by advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial, the advancing being performed by;

rotating the first threaded element with respect to the vial,

impeding proximal linear motion of the first threaded element with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element, and

impeding rotational motion of at least the distal end of the second threaded element with respect to the vial.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein providing the second threaded element comprises providing a second threaded element, a distal end of which is disposed at least partially within the stopper.

59. The method according to claim 53, wherein advancing the distal and of the second threaded element comprises maintaining the distal end of the second threaded element proximal to a distal end of the stopper at all times during the rotating of the first threaded element.

61. The method according to claim 53,

wherein the vial includes a vial having a distal compartment and a proximal compartment,

the distal compartment containing a powder and the proximal compartment containing a liquid,

a dividing stopper within the vial reversibly inhibiting fluid communication between the distal compartment and the proximal compartment, and

wherein pushing the substance out of the vial comprises mixing the powder and the liquid by advancing the dividing stopper toward the distal end of the vial by rotating the first threaded element with respect to the vial.

63. The method according to claim 53, wherein impeding rotational motion of the second threaded element with respect to the vial comprises impeding rotational motion of the second threaded element with respect to the vial using friction between the stopper and an inner surface of the vial.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein impeding rotational motion of the second threaded element with respect to the vial comprises impeding rotational motion of the second threaded element with respect to the vial using friction between the stopper and the inner surface of the vial, while the friction between the stopper and the inner surface of the vial allows distal motion of the second threaded element.

83. The method according to claim 53, wherein the first threaded element includes a nut, wherein the second threaded element includes a screw, and wherein pushing the substance out of the vial comprises advancing at least a distal end of the screw toward the distal end of the vial by rotating the nut with respect to the vial.

84. The method according to claim 83, wherein the screw includes a telescopic screw, and wherein advancing the distal end of the screw toward the distal end of the vial comprises extending the telescopic screw toward the distal end of the vial.

85. The method according to claim 83, wherein the nut includes a telescopic nut, and wherein advancing the distal end of the screw toward the distal end of the vial comprises extending the telescopic nut toward the distal end of the vial.

86. The method according to claim 53, wherein the first threaded element includes a screw, wherein the second threaded element includes a nut, and wherein pushing the substance out of the vial comprises advancing at least a distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial by rotating the screw with respect to the vial.

87. The method according to claim 86, wherein the nut includes a telescopic nut, and wherein advancing the distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial comprises extending the telescopic nut toward the distal end of the vial.

88. The method according to claim 86, wherein the screw includes a telescopic screw, and wherein advancing the distal end of the nut toward the distal end of the vial comprises extending the telescopic screw toward the distal end of the vial.

55-58. -58. (canceled)

60. (canceled)

62. (canceled)

65-82. -82. (canceled)

89. Apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, comprising:

a vial that contains the substance;

a stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial;

a shaft within the vial, a distal portion of the shaft being coupled to the stopper; and

a rotation mechanism disposed proximally to the vial, coupled to the shaft and configured to linearly advance the stopper toward a distal end of the vial by rotating the shaft,

wherein at all times during the rotating of the shaft,

(a) a distal end of the shaft is configured to remain proximal to a distal end of the stopper, and

(b) a proximal end of the shaft is configured to remain distal to a proximal end of the rotation mechanism.

90. (canceled)

91. Apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, comprising:

a vial that contains the substance;

a stopper within the vial, slidably coupled to the vial;

a first threaded element (a) rotatable with respect to the vial and (b) substantially immobile proximally with respect to the vial during rotation of the first threaded element; and

a second threaded element that is threadedly coupled to the first threaded element,

at least a distal end of the second threaded element substantially non-rotatable with respect to the vial,

the distal end of the second threaded element remaining proximal to a distal end of the stopper at all times during rotation of the first threaded element, and

the first threaded element, by rotating, linearly advancing the stopper and at least the distal end of the second threaded element toward a distal end of the vial.

92. (canceled)