CONTROLLED DELIVERY DRIVE MECHANISMS FOR DRUG DELIVERY PUMPS

• US 20150297827A1
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UNL Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Unitract Syringe Pty Limited (Unilife Corp.)
• Inventors: HANSON, Ian B., BENTE, Paul F. IV, MAJETTE, Mark, BEAVER, Scott, BOKELMAN, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 10,092,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers

Abstract

A controlled delivery drive mechanism includes a drug container having a barrel and a plunger seal; a drive housing within which at least initially partially resides a piston having an interface surface and a drive rack; and a power spring. The piston is configured to contact and axially translate the plunger seal within barrel. The mechanism may be configured to convert rotational movement of a drive pinion to axial translation of the drive rack, or to convert axial force of a linear power spring into torsional motion of a drive pinion. A regulating mechanism meters the drive pinion such that the piston is axially translated at a controlled rate. The drug container may contain a drug fluid within a drug chamber for drug delivery at a controlled rate. The regulating mechanism may be an escapement regulating mechanism. A drug delivery pump includes such controlled delivery drive mechanisms.

Claims

1. A controlled delivery drive mechanism comprises:

a drug container having a barrel and a plunger seal;

a drive housing within which at least initially partially resides a piston having an interface surface and a drive rack;

a power spring coupled, directly or indirectly, to a drive pinion which interfaces with drive rack of the piston to convert rotational movement of power spring and the drive pinion to axial translation of the drive rack, wherein the piston is configured to contact and axially translate the plunger seal within barrel, and wherein a regulating mechanism meters the drive pinion such that the piston is axially translated at a controlled rate.

2. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drug container contains a drug fluid within a drug chamber for drug delivery at a controlled rate.

3. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the regulating mechanism is an escapement regulating mechanism coupled to the power spring, a gear train having one or more gears rotation shaft, and a gear transmission having one or more gears, wherein at least one gear of the gear transmission is capable of engaging the drive pinion such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the drive pinion to engage and axially translate the drive rack of the piston to convert rotational movement of the drive pinion to axial translation of the drive rack.

4. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the escapement regulating element further comprises a lever and an escape wheel configured to engage and meter the rotational movement of the gear train.

5. The drive mechanism of claim 4, wherein the lever has pins and a prong, wherein the prong movably engages a post and is configured to removably engage an impulse pin of a balance wheel, and wherein the balance wheel engages and is capable of oscillating around a post in combination with a hair spring.

6. The drive mechanism of claim 4, wherein the escape wheel is a compound gear having escape teeth around the circumference of a large diameter escape gear and a small diameter gear configured to engage and meter the gear train.

7. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the metering of the drive pinion and/or the gear train by an escapement regulating mechanism controls the rate or profile of drug delivery to a user.

8. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein a status reader may be configured to read or recognize one or more corresponding status triggers, 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.

9. The drive mechanism of claim 8, wherein the status reader is an optical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are gear teeth of a drive gear.

10. The drive mechanism of claim 8, wherein the status reader is a mechanical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are gear teeth of the drive gear.

11. The drive mechanism of claim 8, wherein the status reader is a mechanical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are external features of the piston and/or drive rack.

12. The drive mechanism of claim 8, wherein the status reader is an optical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are external features of the piston and/or drive rack.

17. The drive mechanism of claim 4, wherein the lever has pins and a prong, wherein the prong movably engages a post and is configured to removably engage an impulse pin of a balance wheel, and wherein the balance whee1 engages and is capable of oscillating around a post in combination with a hair spring.

25. A drug delivery pump with a controlled delivery mechanism comprises a housing and an assembly platform, upon which an activation mechanism, an insertion mechanism, a fluid pathway connection, a power and control system, and the controlled delivery drive mechanism of claim 1 is mountable.

26. The drug delivery pump of claim 25, wherein the drug container contains a drug fluid within a drug chamber for drug delivery at a controlled rate.

27. The drug delivery pump of claim 25, wherein the regulating mechanism is an escapement regulating mechanism having the power spring, a gear train having one or more gears, a rotation shaft, and a gear transmission having one or more gears, wherein at least one gear of the gear transmission is capable of engaging the drive pinion such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the drive pinion to engage and axially translate the drive rack of the piston to convert rotational movement of the drive pinion to axial translation of the drive rack.

28. The drug delivery pump of claim 26, wherein the escapement regulating element further comprises a lever and an escape wheel configured to engage and meter the rotational movement of the gear train.

29. The drug delivery pump of claim 28, wherein the lever has pins and a prong, wherein the prong movably engages a post and is configured to removably engage an impulse pin of a balance wheel, and wherein the balance wheel engages and is capable of oscillating around a post in combination with a hair spring.

30. The drug delivery pump of claim 28, wherein the escape wheel is a compound gear having escape teeth around the circumference of a large diameter escape gear and a small diameter gear configured to engage and meter the gear train.

31. The drug delivery pump of claim 25, wherein the metering of the drive pinion and/or the gear train by an escapement regulating mechanism controls the rate or profile of drug delivery to a user.

32. The drug delivery pump of claim 25, wherein a status reader may be configured to read or recognize one or more corresponding status triggers, 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.

33. The drug delivery pump of claim 32, wherein the status reader is an optical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are gear teeth of a drive gear.

34. The drug delivery pump of claim 32, wherein the status reader is a mechanical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are gear teeth of the drive gear.

35. The drug delivery pump of claim 32, wherein the status reader is a mechanical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are external features of the piston and/or drive rack.

36. The drug delivery pump of claim 32, wherein the status reader is an optical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are external features of the piston and/or drive rack.

13. A controlled delivery drive mechanism comprises:

a drug container having a barrel and a plunger seal;

a drive housing within which at least initially partially resides a linear power spring and a piston having an interface surface and a drive rack, wherein the linear power spring is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the piston to convert axial force of the linear power spring into torsional motion of a drive pinion and a regulating mechanism;

wherein the piston is configured to contact and axially translate the plunger seal within barrel, and wherein the regulating mechanism meters the drive pinion such that the piston is axially translated by the linear power spring at a controlled rate.

14. The drive mechanism of claim 13, wherein the drug container contains a drug fluid within a drug chamber for drug delivery at a controlled rate.

15. The drive mechanism of claim 13, wherein the regulating mechanism is an escapement regulating mechanism having a gear train having one or more gears, a rotation shaft, and a gear transmission having one or more gears, wherein at least one gear of the gear transmission is capable of engaging the drive pinion;

wherein the escapement regulating element is configured to act on the linear power spring.

16. The drive mechanism of claim 13, wherein the escapement regulating element further comprises a lever and an escape wheel configured to engage and meter the rotational movement of the gear train.

18. The drive mechanism of claim 16, wherein the escape wheel is a compound gear having escape teeth around the circumference of a large diameter escape gear and a small diameter gear configured to engage and meter the gear train.

19. The drive mechanism of claim 13, wherein the metering of the drive pinion and/or the gear train by an escapement regulating mechanism controls the rate or profile of drug delivery to a user.

20. The drive mechanism of claim 13, wherein a status reader may be configured to read or recognize one or more corresponding status triggers, 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.

21. The drive mechanism of claim 20, wherein the status reader is an optical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are gear teeth of a drive gear.

22. The drive mechanism of claim 20, wherein the status reader is a mechanical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are gear teeth of the drive gear.

23. The drive mechanism of claim 20, wherein the status reader is a mechanical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are external features of the piston and/or drive rack.

24. The drive mechanism of claim 20, wherein the status reader is an optical status reader and the corresponding status triggers are external features of the piston and/or drive rack.