Pump with venting

• US 7,905,859 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Faust, Mark Henry, Johnson, Jay Gregory, Vilks, Clinton S., Harm, William H., Bynum, Gail Beth
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell; Theodore J
• Application Number:
  US11/680,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20070161955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93.01, 604/131, 604151-155, 604/199
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/75 with filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/82 Internal energy supply devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16859 Evaluation of pressure response, e.g. to an applied pulse

Abstract

A medication pump includes a housing including an external wall and a plurality of internal adjoining housings, including a first housing enclosing a cartridge. The pump includes a primary vent for venting the medication pump to atmosphere, the primary vent including a primary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough. The pump includes a secondary vent on the first housing, the secondary vent including a secondary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough to an interior of the housing while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.

Claims

1. A medication pump, comprising:

a housing including an external wall and a plurality of internal adjoining housings, including a first housing enclosing a cartridge and a second housing;

a primary vent for venting gas between the medication pump and atmosphere outside the medication pump, the primary vent including a primary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough; and

a secondary vent on the first housing for internally venting gas between the first housing and the second housing, the secondary vent including a secondary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough to an interior of the housing while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.

2. The medication pump of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a third housing enclosing a battery.

3. The medication pump of claim 1, wherein the primary liquid barrier is attached to the housing a pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. The medication pump of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is replaceable.

5. The medication pump of claim 1, wherein the first housing is liquid sealed from a remainder of the medication pump.

6. A medication pump, comprising:

an outer housing defining an interior with one or more walls coupled to the housing that divide the interior into at least first and second chambers, the first chamber being a cartridge chamber including a drive rod extending therein, the drive rod configured to couple to a plunger of a cartridge; and

an interior vent formed between the first and second chambers, the interior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas between the first and second chambers while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.

7. The medication pump of claim 6, wherein the housing includes an exterior vent formed on the housing for venting to atmosphere, the exterior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.

8. The medication pump of claim 7, wherein the first chamber is a cartridge chamber sized to receive a cartridge containing a medication, and the second chamber forms an open interior of the outer housing.

9. The medication pump of claim 8, wherein the exterior vent is formed between the open interior and the atmosphere.

10. The medication pump of claim 6, wherein the cartridge is replaceable.

11. The medication pump of claim 6, wherein the cartridge chamber is liquid sealed with respect to the second chamber of the housing.

12. The medication pump of claim 6, further comprising a battery chamber positioned in the housing, the battery chamber being sized to enclose a battery.

13. The medication pump of claim 6, wherein the liquid barrier of the interior vent is attached to the first chamber using a pressure sensitive adhesive.

14. A method of venting a medication pump, the method comprising:

forming an interior vent between first and second chambers defined by a wall in an interior of a housing of the medication pump, the interior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas between the first and second chambers while preventing passage of liquid therethrough;

forming the first chamber as a cartridge chamber including a drive rod extending therein, the drive rod configured to couple to a plunger of a cartridge; and

allowing gas to pass through the interior vent from the first chamber to the second chamber.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

forming an exterior vent in the housing of the medication pump, the exterior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough; and

allowing gas to pass through the exterior vent to atmosphere.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

forming the first chamber as a cartridge chamber sized to receive a cartridge containing a medication, and the second chamber as an open interior of the housing; and

allowing gas to pass from the open interior through the exterior vent and to the atmosphere.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising sealing the cartridge chamber from the second chamber of the housing.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching the liquid barrier of the interior vent to the second chamber using a pressure sensitive adhesive.