Medical device with membrane keypad sealing element, and related manufacturing method

• US 8,603,032 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cheney, Paul S. II, Bazargan, Afshin, Nguyen, Andrew B., Law, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US12/905,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-173, 294/28, 604/151
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/58 Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 11/04 Coding of multifunction keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2811 for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A device for delivering fluid to a user includes a housing, a drive motor assembly in the housing, other internal components in the housing, and a keypad external to the housing. The device includes a number of features and elements that enhance its operation, manufacturability, reliability, and user-friendliness. These features and elements include a shock absorbing element for a battery of the device, a keypad actuator layer that overlies a keypad assembly and forms a water resistant seal with the housing, and an offset element for a piezoelectric speaker that is located inside the housing.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a medical device, the method comprising:

providing a plastic housing having a keypad mounting area and a sealing rim positioned outside the keypad mounting area;

affixing a membrane keypad assembly on the keypad mounting area, the membrane keypad assembly comprising a plurality of actuation elements; and

sealing a perimeter area of a plastic actuator layer to the sealing rim to form a fluid resistant seal between the plastic housing and the plastic actuator layer, wherein the plastic actuator layer overlies the membrane keypad assembly, and wherein protrusions formed on the plastic actuator layer are aligned with the actuation elements of the membrane keypad assembly;

wherein sealing the perimeter area of the plastic actuator layer to the sealing rim comprises;

applying an adhesive to the sealing rim;

placing the plastic actuator layer overlying the membrane keypad assembly such that the perimeter area of the plastic actuator layer is aligned with the sealing rim; and

applying heat and pressure to the perimeter area overlying the sealing rim such that the adhesive bonds the plastic actuator layer to the sealing rim.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adhering a graphic keypad overlay to the plastic actuator layer such that graphical features on the graphic keypad overlay are aligned with the protrusions formed on the plastic actuator layer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the adhesive is a polyester thermoplastic adhesive; and

the method further comprises applying heat and pressure to facilitate activation of the polyester thermoplastic adhesive.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the graphic keypad overlay comprises a clear plastic film having a top surface and a bottom surface, and graphics printed on the bottom surface, wherein the graphic keypad overlay is adhered to the plastic actuator layer such that the bottom surface and the graphics face the plastic actuator layer and such that the top surface is exposed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plastic actuator layer is non-decorative, non-cosmetic, and free of printed graphics.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the graphic keypad overlay is removably adhered to the plastic actuator layer to allow replacement of the graphic keypad overlay with a different graphic keypad overlay.