FLUID INFUSION DEVICE AND RELATED SEALING ASSEMBLY FOR A NEEDLELESS FLUID RESERVOIR

• US 20120215180A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Halili, Edgardo C., Lorenzen, Eric M., Yavorsky, Matthew William
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/248
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1623 Details of air intake
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0072 Means for increasing tightness of the septum, e.g. compression rings, special materials, special constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0081 Means for facilitating introduction of a needle in the septum, e.g. guides, special construction of septum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/248 Ball-valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/266 where the valve comprises venting channels, e.g. to insure better connection, to help decreasing the fluid space upon disconnection, or to help the fluid space to remain the same during disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/267 having a sealing sleeve around a tubular or solid stem portion of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/07 Proteins
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/00 Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• 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 5/158 : Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 : Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 : Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31 : Details

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a fluid infusion device of the type that delivers medication fluid to the body of a patient. The device includes or cooperates with a fluid reservoir, and the device has a sealing assembly to receive and form a fluid seal with the fluid reservoir. A retractable sealing element surrounding a hollow fluid delivery needle may be used to seal a port of the fluid reservoir. The port may include a pressure vent that is sealed by the retractable sealing element. In one variation, the reservoir includes a moving valve sleeve that holds a septum. The septum moves to allow the reservoir to vent, and to form a seal with the port when the needle pierces the septum. In another variation, the device includes a needleless sealing assembly. In yet other variations, the device uses a needled fluid reservoir.

Claims

1. A fluid infusion device that delivers a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:

a fluid reservoir comprising a main body section that defines a fluid chamber for the medication fluid, and comprising a fluid delivery port coupled to and extending from the main body section, the fluid delivery port comprising a fluid conduit that communicates with the fluid chamber, and the fluid delivery port terminating at an unsealed port opening; and

a self-sealing reservoir port receptacle for the fluid delivery port, comprising an inlet to receive the fluid delivery port, a valve chamber in fluid communication with the inlet, a valve element located in the valve chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with the valve chamber;

wherein;

the valve element is biased toward the inlet into a sealed position to form a fluid seal between the valve element and the inlet;

the outlet provides a fluid flow path for the medication fluid; and

engagement of the fluid delivery port with the inlet causes an end of the fluid delivery port to move the valve element from the sealed position to an opened position to accommodate flow of the medication fluid into the valve chamber.

2. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the medication fluid comprises insulin.

3. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, further comprising a resilient compression element located in the valve chamber to bias the valve element toward the inlet.

4. The fluid infusion device of claim 3, wherein the resilient compression element comprises a spring.

5. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the valve element comprises a ball valve.

6. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the port opening comprises at least one flow path that allows the medication fluid to flow from the fluid conduit and into the valve chamber when the valve element is in the opened position.

7. The fluid infusion device of claim 6, wherein the at least one flow path comprises a channel formed in a rim of the fluid delivery port.

8. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, further comprising a sealing element to form a seal between the fluid delivery port and the inlet when the fluid delivery port is engaged with the inlet.

9. The fluid infusion device of claim 8, wherein the sealing element is incorporated into the inlet.

10. The fluid infusion device of claim 8, wherein the sealing element is incorporated into the fluid delivery port.

11. A sealing assembly for a fluid infusion device that delivers a medication fluid to a body, the sealing assembly comprising:

a reservoir port receptacle;

an inlet formed in the reservoir port receptacle to receive a fluid delivery port of a fluid reservoir that contains the medication fluid;

a valve chamber formed in the reservoir port receptacle, wherein the valve chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet;

a valve element located in the valve chamber;

a resilient compression element located in the valve chamber to bias the valve element toward the inlet; and

an outlet formed in the reservoir port receptacle to provide a fluid flow path for the medication fluid.

12. The sealing assembly of claim 11, wherein the resilient compression element biases the valve element toward the inlet into a sealed position to form a fluid seal between the valve element and the inlet.

13. The sealing assembly of claim 11, wherein engagement of the fluid delivery port with the inlet causes an end of the fluid delivery port to move the valve element from the sealed position to an opened position to accommodate flow of the medication fluid into the valve chamber.

14. The sealing assembly of claim 11, wherein the resilient compression element comprises a spring.

15. The sealing assembly of claim 11, wherein the valve element comprises a ball valve.

16. The sealing assembly of claim 11, further comprising a sealing element to form a seal between the fluid delivery port and the inlet when the fluid delivery port is engaged with the inlet.

17. A fluid infusion device that delivers a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:

a base plate;

a delivery conduit coupled to the base plate, wherein the delivery conduit provides the medication fluid to the body; and

a self-sealing reservoir port receptacle located on the base plate, the self-sealing reservoir port receptacle comprising an inlet to receive a fluid delivery port of a fluid reservoir, a valve chamber in fluid communication with the inlet, a valve element located in the valve chamber, and an outlet between the valve chamber and the delivery conduit;

wherein;

when the fluid delivery port is disengaged from the self-sealing reservoir port receptacle, the valve element is biased toward the inlet into a sealed position to form a fluid seal between the valve element and the inlet;

the outlet provides a fluid flow path for the medication fluid; and

when the fluid delivery port is engaged with the self-sealing reservoir port receptacle, an end of the fluid delivery port moves the valve element from the sealed position to an opened position to accommodate flow of the medication fluid from the fluid reservoir into the valve chamber.

18. The fluid infusion device of claim 17, further comprising a resilient compression element located in the valve chamber to bias the valve element toward the inlet.

19. The fluid infusion device of claim 17, wherein the valve element comprises a ball valve.

20. The fluid infusion device of claim 17, further comprising a sealing element to form a seal between the fluid delivery port and the inlet when the fluid delivery port is engaged with the inlet.