RESERVOIR PLUNGER HEAD SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090259198A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lorenzen, Eric M., Chong, Colin A., Bikovsky, Rafael, Ibranyan, Arsen
• Granted Patent: US 9,295,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14865 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14573 with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1726 the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• 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 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31501 Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston A61M5/5013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A casing may be configured to envelop at least a portion of a plunger arm attached to a plunger head located in a reservoir. A plunger head moveable in a reservoir may have a front portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic media in an interior volume of the reservoir. A seal member having a first end and a second end that taper to a mid-portion may be positioned between a reservoir and a plunger head. A bias member may be configured to force a plunger arm operatively connected to a plunger head against a drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member. A plunger head moveable in a reservoir may have a first ridge, a second ridge, a seal member adjacent at least one of the ridges, and protrusions arranged around at least one of the ridges.

Claims

1. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a reservoir body having an interior volume for containing fluidic media;

a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir body;

a plunger arm operatively connected to the plunger head; and

a casing extending from the reservoir body for allowing the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the reservoir body to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir body.

2. The system of claim 1, the plunger arm having at least one side adjacent the casing and at least partially supported by the casing to align the plunger arm for movement in the axial direction relative to the reservoir body.

3. The system of claim 1, the plunger arm having an arm portion for operatively engaging a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head relative to the reservoir body when the arm portion is operatively engaged to the drive member.

4. The system of claim 3, the casing having an opening for allowing the arm portion of the plunger arm to operatively engage the drive member through the opening.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protuberances positioned on a surface of the plunger arm, the protuberances on the surface of the plunger arm for contacting an interior surface of the casing.

6. The system of claim 1, the plunger arm having a surface having concavities and convexities, the convexities on the surface of the plunger arm for contacting an interior surface of the casing.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protuberances positioned on an interior surface of the casing, the protuberances on the interior surface of the casing for contacting the plunger arm.

8. The system of claim 1, the casing having an interior surface having concavities and convexities, the convexities on the interior surface of the casing for contacting the plunger arm.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a support flange having a first side and a second side, the first side of the support flange connected to a side of the plunger arm, the second side of the support flange connected to a surface of the plunger head that is operatively connected to the plunger arm.

10. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

providing a reservoir body having an interior volume for containing fluidic media;

locating a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir body;

operatively connecting a plunger arm to the plunger head; and

extending a casing from the reservoir body to allow the plunger arm to move in the axial direction relative to the reservoir body to move the plunger head in the axial direction within the reservoir body.

11. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media;

a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger head comprising;

a front portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir, the front portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir;

a rear portion located on an opposite side of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the rear portion connectable to a plunger arm, the rear portion comprising a second material different from the first material.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a seal member positioned between the reservoir and the plunger head.

13. The system according to claim 12, the seal member positioned between the front portion and the rear portion of the plunger head.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a connection structure that removably attaches the front portion of the plunger head to the rear portion of the plunger head and allows removal of the front portion of the plunger head from the rear portion of the plunger head.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second material is incompatible with fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir.

16. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

providing a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media;

locating a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger head having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion in contact with fluidic media when fluidic media is in the interior volume of the reservoir, the front portion comprising a first material compatible with fluidic media in the interior volume of the reservoir, the rear portion located on an opposite side of the plunger head from the interior volume of the reservoir, the rear portion connectable to a plunger arm, the rear portion comprising a second material different from the first material.

17. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir for containing fluidic media;

a seal member arrangeable between the reservoir and the plunger head for movement with the plunger head, the seal member having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the seal member tapering to a mid-portion.

18. The system of claim 17, the mid-portion of the seal member having a narrower dimension relative to each of the first and second ends of the seal member.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first end and the second end of the seal member are substantially round.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first end and the second end of the seal are aligned with each other in the axial direction.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein a space is formed between the mid-portion of the seal member and the reservoir.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the first end and the second end of the seal are in contact with the reservoir.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first end and the second end of the seal are in contact with the reservoir as the plunger head moves in the axial direction within the reservoir body.

24. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

locating a plunger head moveable in an axial direction within a reservoir for containing fluidic media;

positioning a seal member between the reservoir and the plunger head for movement with the plunger head, the seal member having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the seal member tapering to a mid-portion.

25. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger arm operatively connectable to a plunger head that is moveable within a reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion that is configured for operative engagement to a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head when the arm portion of the plunger arm is operatively engaged to the drive member; and

a bias member configured to force the plunger arm against the drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a casing configured to support the plunger arm and to envelop at least a portion of the plunger arm.

27. The system of claim 26, the bias member positioned between the casing and the plunger arm.

28. The system of claim 26, the casing having an opening for allowing the arm portion of the plunger arm to operatively engage the drive member.

29. The system of claim 25, further comprising an outer casing configured to enclose at least a portion of the drive member and at least a portion of the plunger arm.

30. The system of claim 29, the bias member positioned between the outer casing and the plunger arm.

31. A method of making a system for transferring fluidic media, the method comprising:

providing a plunger arm operatively connectable to a plunger head that is moveable within a reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion that is configured for operative engagement to a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head when the arm portion of the plunger arm is operatively engaged to the drive member; and

providing a bias member configured to force the plunger arm against the drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member.

32. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

a plunger head moveable in an axial direction of a reservoir for containing fluidic media, the plunger head having a first ridge and a second ridge;

a seal member arranged adjacent at least one of the first ridge and the second ridge, the seal member in contact with the reservoir;

a plurality of protrusions arranged around at least one of the first ridge and the second ridge.

33. The system of claim 32, the protrusions for limiting lateral movement of the plunger head relative to the reservoir.

34. The system of claim 32, the seal member arranged between the first ridge and the second ridge.

35. The system of claim 32, the plunger head having a groove for containing at least a portion of the seal member.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein a space is provided between each of the protrusions and the reservoir.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the first ridge and the second ridge are separate and spaced apart.