EXTERNAL DRUG PUMP

• US 20150119798A1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Published: 04/30/2015
• 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 9,782,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• 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. An apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a housing including a housing base and a housing top, the housing base having a bottom surface configured to adhere to the subject'"'"'s skin with an adhesive, the bottom surface defining a base plane;

a substantially cylindrical vial within the housing, the vial having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, at least a portion of the substance being located within the vial;

a stopper slidably mounted within the vial and configured to move along the longitudinal vial axis, the longitudinal vial axis being substantially parallel to the base plane;

a first threaded element rotatably mounted within the housing;

a second threaded element coupled to the stopper and threadably coupled to the first threaded element, the second threaded element being telescopically movable relative to the first threaded element to urge the stopper toward the distal end and drive the substance out of the distal end;

a motor mounted within the housing, the motor including a rotatable motor shaft;

a motor cog secured for rotation with the motor shaft and rotatably coupled to the first threaded element such that rotational motion of the motor shaft causes the motor cog to rotate, which causes the first threaded element to rotate;

a control unit within the housing, the control unit being in communication with the motor;

a sensor in communication with the control unit and configured to detect a parameter and transmit a signal to the control unit responsive to the detection of the parameter to control the operation of the motor; and

a needle apparatus mounted at least partially within the housing, the needle apparatus including a needle in fluid communication with the vial, the needle being movable from an initial position, wherein a tip of the needle is positioned within the housing to an extended position, wherein the tip extends out of the housing through a hole in the base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable button connected to the needle apparatus, the button configured such that application of a force on the button that exceeds a threshold force causes the needle to move from the initial position to the extended position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second cog threadably engaging the motor cog, the second cog being threadably connected to the first threaded element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery within the housing, the battery being electrically connected to the control unit and the motor and configured to provide electrical power to the control unit and the motor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable button associated with the housing, the button connected to the needle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle apparatus includes a holding portion, a movable button and a spring, the needle being operatively connected to the button.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the needle and button are biased toward the initial position by the spring.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the holding portion includes a force receiving element, the movable button and a structural element movable within the holding portion.

9. An apparatus for administering a substance to a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a housing including a housing base and a housing top, the housing base having a bottom surface, the bottom surface defining a base plane;

an adhesive secured to the bottom surface of the housing base, the adhesive configured to secure the housing base to the subject'"'"'s skin in a mounted configuration;

a substantially cylindrical vial within the housing having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, at least a portion of the substance located within the vial;

a stopper slidably mounted within the vial, the stopper configured for movement along the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to the base plane;

a first threaded element secured to the stopper;

an activation mechanism within the housing, the activation mechanism including a movable button, a needle having a needle tip and a spring, the needle being in communication with the vial and operatively connected to the button, the button movable between an initial position, wherein the needle tip is positioned within the housing and an extended position, wherein the needle tip extends out of the housing beyond the base plane, the button being biased toward the initial position by the spring;

a motor within the housing having a motor shaft and a motor cog secured to the motor shaft, the motor, the motor cog and first threaded element configured such that rotational motion of the motor shaft causes distal advancement of the first threaded element and the stopper to push at least a portion of the substance out of the vial and through the needle;

a battery within the housing to power the motor;

a control unit within the housing, the control unit being in communication with the motor and the activation mechanism, the control unit configured to signal the motor to operate when the button moves from the initial position to the extended position; and

a sensor configured to detect a parameter and transmit a signal to the control unit responsive to the parameter to control the rotation of the motor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a physiological parameter of the subject and the signal transmitted to the control unit relates to the detected physiological parameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor is configured to be implanted in the subject'"'"'s body.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a second threaded element positioned at least partially within the vial;

a second cog secured to an end of the second threaded element;

a first cog rotatably secured to the housing, the second threaded element being in threaded engagement with the first threaded element, the second cog being in threaded engagement with the first cog, the first cog in threaded engagement with the motor cog, the apparatus configured such that activation of the motor causes the motor shaft to rotate, the motor cog to rotate, the first cog to rotate, the second cog to rotate, the second threaded element to rotate and the first threaded element and the stopper to translate along the longitudinal axis to administer at least a portion of the substance to the subject.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensor is comprised of a wireless sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a vial piercing mechanism within the housing, the vial having a seal at a distal end that is pierced by the vial piercing mechanism when the vial is inserted into the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a tube connected to the vial piercing mechanism, the tube configured to fluidly connect the vial piercing mechanism to the activation mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a second threaded element threadingly received within the first threaded element and positioned on the longitudinal axis, the second threaded element and the first threaded element being at least partially positioned within the vial, the second threaded element and the first threaded element moving telescopically relative to each other when the motor is activated.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a holding portion mounted to the housing and associated with the activation mechanism; and

a structural element slidably mounted to the holding portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the structural element includes a protrusion, the protrusion assisting in maintaining the button in the initial position.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the needle is oriented substantially perpendicular to the base plane.

20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the vial includes a protrusion protruding from an inner surface and the first threaded element includes groove in an outer surface, the protrusion positioned in the groove to limit rotation of the first threaded element relative to the vial.