Insulin infusion device

• US 4,601,707 A
• Filed: 05/22/1981
• Issued: 07/22/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony M. Albisser, Bernard Zinman
• Original Assignee: Anthony M. Albisser, Bernard Zinman
• Inventors: Zinman, Bernard, Albisser, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/267,364
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 128/213 R, 128/214 E, 128/214 F, 128/260, 128/261, 128/273, 128/DIG. 12, 604/131, 604/151, 604/153, 604/154, 604/155, 222/101, 222/102
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

The invention provides an improved device for the injection of medicament such as insulin subcutaneously. The device provides discrete regular injections from an end of a tube containing medicament. The discrete amounts of the injections are programmed to provide a basal injection rate and additional discrete injections can be provided at the user'"'"'s discretion so that the user has sufficient flexibility to control sudden demands for medicament while nevertheless leaving the basal injection schedule essentially uninteruppted.

Claims

1. A portable device for the subcutaneous administration of liquid medicament, said device comprising:

a flexible tube for containing the entire supply of a predetermined quantity of liquid medicament to be administered during a predetermined period of operation of the device, said flexible tube being in fluid communication with catheter means for effecting subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament;

housing means for containing said flexible tube;

roller means coupled to said housing means, said roller means cooperating with said housing means to form a nip, said roller means and said housing means being movable relative to each other for squeezing said flexible tube in said nip for expelling said predetermined quantity of liquid medicament through said catheter means;

drive means for effecting said relative movement between said housing means and said roller means for forcing said liquid medicament out through said catheter means;

control means for operating said drive means, said medicament being expelled from said flexible tube at a rate sufficient to effect said subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament.

2. A portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said roller means is coupled to said housing means such that said nip is permitted to move in an arcuate path.

3. A portable device as claimed in claim 1, in which said flexible tube has first and second ends, said catheter means being in fluid communication with said first end, said second end being vented.

4. A portable device for the subcutaneous administration of liquid medicament, said device comprising:

a flexible tube for containing the entire supply of a predetermined quantity of liquid medicament to be administered during a predetermined period of operation of said device, said flexible tube being in fluid communication with catheter means for effecting subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament;

housing means for containing said flexible tube, said housing means having an arcuate wall;

roller means coupled to said housing means, said roller means cooperating with said arcuate wall to define a nip, said roller means and said arcuate wall being movable relative to each other for squeezing said flexible tube in said nip for expelling said predetermined quantity of liquid medicament through said catheter means;

drive means for effecting said relative movement between said arcuate wall and said roller means for forcing said liquid medicament out through said catheter means;

control means for operating said drive means, said medicament being expelled from said flexible tube at a rate sufficient to effect said subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament.

5. A portable device for the subcutaneous administration of liquid medicament, said device comprising:

a flexible tube for containing the entire supply of a predetermined quantity of liquid medicament to be administered during a predetermined period of operation of the device, said flexible tube being in fluid communication with a needle at one end of said flexible tube;

a housing disposed about an axis and defining a cavity having an arcuate wall disposed at a substantially constant radial distance from said axis, said housing retaining said flexible tube containing said entire supply of predetermined quantity of liquid medicament;

roller means rotatably mounted about said axis, said roller means and said wall defining a nip, said roller means and said wall being movable relative to each other for squeezing said tube in said nip for expelling said predetermined quantity of liquid medicament through said needle;

signal generation means for producing timing signals; and

means responsive to said timing signals for effecting said relative movement between said roller means and said wall to expel said medicament from said flexible tube at a rate sufficient to effect said subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament.

6. A portable device for the subcutaneous administration of liquid medicament, said device comprising:

an electronic timer providing timed pulses;

a clockwork drive mechanism;

escapement means responsive to said timed pulses for releasing mechanical energy pulses from said clockwork drive mechanism;

a flexible tube for containing the entire supply of a predetermined quantity of liquid medicament to be administered during a predetermined period of operation of said device, said flexible tube being in fluid communication with catheter means for effecting subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament;

housing means containing said flexible tube, said housing means having an arcuate wall;

roller means coupled to said housing means, said roller means and said arcuate wall defining a nip, said roller means and said arcuate wall being movable relative to each other for squeezing said tube in said nip for expelling said predetermined quantity of liquid medicament through said catheter means;

drive means coupled to said escapement means for effecting said relative movement between said arcuate wall and said roller means for forcing said liquid medicament out through said catheter means, said drive means effecting said relative movement over a discrete distance in response to each energy pulse;

means coupled to said escapement means for overriding said electronic timer to provide additional mechanical energy pulses, thereby causing additional discrete amounts of medicament to be expelled from said flexible tube on demand by the user.

7. A method for subcutaneously delivering a fluid medication to a patient, said method comprising:

providing catheter means and a device for the subcutaneous administration of liquid medicament, said device comprising a flexible tube for containing the entire supply of a predetermined quantity of liquid medicament to be administered during a predetermined period of operation of the device, said flexible tube being in fluid communication with the catheter means for effecting subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament, housing means containing said flexible tube, roller means coupled to said housing means, said roller means cooperating with said housing means to form a nip, said roller means and said housing means being movable relative to each other for squeezing said flexible tube in said nip for expelling said predetermined quantity of liquid medicament through said catheter means, drive means for effecting said relative movement between said housing means and said roller means for forcing said liquid medicament out through said catheter means, and control means for operating said drive means, said medicament being expelled from said flexible tube at a rate sufficient to effect said subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament;

connecting the catheter means subcutaneously to the patient and restraining the device on the patient adjacent the catheter means; and

actuating said control means to operate said drive means, whereby said drive means effects said relative movement between said housing means and said roller means to force said liquid medicament out through said catheter means to effect subcutaneous administration of said liquid medicament to said patient.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising the steps of selectively overriding said control means and actuating said drive means to expel a further predetermined volume of medication in response to demand by the user.