One piece sealing reservoir for an insulin infusion pump

• US 8,603,034 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fifty 50 Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Applied Diabetes Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Lynch, George R., Brandenburg, Allen E., Price, Bret
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, WENG WAH
• Application Number:
  US11/231,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,002 Days
• Field of Search: 604/155, 604/154
• US Class Current: 604/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• 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 5/165 Filtering accessories, e.g. blood filters, filters for infusion liquids A61M1/14 , A61M1/34, A61M1/3627, A61M1/3679, A61M1/3687 take precedence; needle sets with incorporated air inlet filters A61M5/162

Abstract

A novel one-piece fluid reservoir assembly for use in conjunction with an insulin infusion pump. The single piece fluid reservoir assembly includes a barrel body, a male luer fitting integral with the barrel body, a sealing surface integral with the barrel body, the sealing surface for sealing against the pump housing when the fluid reservoir assembly is inserted into the pump housing. Further, the barrel includes, as part of the one-piece fluid reservoir assembly, threads for engagement with threads on an opening in the fluid pump so that the fluid assembly can be inserted into the fluid pump, engage the threads and rotation therewith will locate the fluid reservoir assembly within the pump. Thereafter, a piston in the pump may be incrementally advanced to act upon a plunger in the barrel assembly to force a fluid within the barrel assembly through the male luer fitting and through a conduit engaged therewith to a remote infusion set.

Claims

1. A fluid reservoir assembly for engaging a pump, the pump having a housing, a reservoir chamber, a threaded, cylindrical reservoir housing chamber opening having a sealing member, and a piston to act on the fluid reservoir assembly when the fluid reservoir assembly is in the reservoir chamber, the fluid reservoir assembly comprising:

a one-piece barrel, the one-piece barrel including a cylindrical barrel portion having a barrel diameter and having a first open end and a second end, a male luer fitting integral with the second end of the barrel portion, the male luer fitting having an opening at a removed end thereof, the one piece barrel including a neck portion integral with the barrel portion, the neck portion including integral threads dimensioned to engage the threads of the reservoir housing chamber opening, the one piece barrel including a cylindrical sealing surface radially outward of the neck portion threads and configured to lay adjacent the interior of the reservoir housing chamber opening of the pump housing and engage the sealing member, the cylindrical sealing surface integral with the neck;

a plunger dimensioned for slideable receipt into the open end of the one-piece barrel;

wherein the one-piece barrel further includes walls, the walls defining a port, the port dimensioned and located on the one-piece barrel such that the interior of said housing is vented when said fluid reservoir assembly is engaged therewith and said cylindrical sealing surface is laying adjacent in fluid sealing relation to the housing chamber opening in airtight engagement;

wherein the port is substantially covered with a filter medium capable of filtering water from a gas and allowing the passage of the gas therethrough; and

further comprising a wall extending from an external surface of the port and substantially surrounding the port, wherein the port is covered with the filter medium adjacent the external surface.

2. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking assembly for releasably securing the cylindrical barrel portion in the housing.

3. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 2, wherein the locking assembly includes detents on the walls of the cylindrical sealing surface for engaging walls defining the reservoir housing chamber opening.

4. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger includes a threaded interior portion and further including a rod having a handle, the rod with a threaded portion, the threaded portion of the rod engageable with the threaded interior portion of the plunger.

5. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 4, wherein the threads of the plunger include a flat removed end and the threads of the rod include a similarly dimensioned flat removed end adapted to be received flush against the flat removed end of the plunger threads.

6. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening of the removed end of the luer fitting is between 0.003 and 0.020 inches in diameter.

7. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the barrel portion is less than the diameter of the threaded, cylindrical reservoir housing chamber opening.

8. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical sealing surface of the one-piece barrel is dimensioned to contact an “

O”

ring on the cylindrical reservoir chamber opening.

9. A fluid reservoir assembly for engaging a pump, the pump having a housing, a reservoir chamber, a threaded, cylindrical reservoir housing chamber opening with a sealing member, and a piston to act on the fluid reservoir assembly when the fluid reservoir is in the reservoir chamber, the fluid reservoir assembly comprising:

a one-piece barrel, the one-piece barrel including;

a cylindrical barrel portion having a barrel diameter and having a first open end and a second end, a male luer fitting integral with the second end of the barrel portion, the male luer fitting having an opening at a removed end thereof, the one piece barrel including;

a neck portion integral with the barrel portion, the neck portion including threads dimensioned to engage the threads of the reservoir housing chamber opening, the one piece barrel including;

a cylindrical sealing surface radially outward of the neck portion threads and configured to lay adjacent the interior of the reservoir housing chamber opening of the pump housing and engage the sealing member, the cylindrical sealing surface integral with the neck, wherein the one-piece barrel further includes;

a plunger dimensioned for slideable receipt into the open end of the one-piece barrel, the plunger including a threaded interior portion, the plunger adapted to receive “

O”

rings;

a locking assembly wherein the locking assembly includes detents on the walls of the cylindrical sealing surface for engaging walls defining the reservoir housing chamber opening;

a rod having a handle, the rod with a threaded portion, the threaded portion of the rod engageable with the threaded interior portion of the plunger;

walls defining a port, the port dimensioned and located on the one-piece barrel such that the interior of said housing is vented when said fluid reservoir assembly is engaged therewith and said cylindrical sealing surface is laying adjacent in fluid sealing relation to the housing chamber opening in airtight engagement, wherein the port is substantially covered with a filter medium capable of filter water from a gas and allowing the passage of the gas therethrough, wherein the filter medium is hydrophobic, wherein the opening of the removed end of the luer fitting is between 0.003 and 0.020 inches in diameter, wherein the cylindrical sealing surface of the one-piece barrel is dimensioned to contact an “

O”

ring on the cylindrical reservoir chamber opening; and

further comprising a wall extending from an external surface of the port and substantially surrounding the port, wherein the port is covered with the filter medium adjacent the external surface.

10. A kit for providing insulin to a patient through an infusion set engaged with the patient, the kit comprising:

a container having insulin therein, the container including a sealing septum;

a needle assembly having a female luer fitting and a needle dimensioned to puncture the sealing septum of the container; and

a pump having a reservoir chamber and a reservoir chamber opening, the reservoir chamber opening with a sealing member therein;

a one-piece barrel, the one-piece barrel including a cylindrical barrel portion having a barrel diameter and having a first open end and a second end, a male luer dimensioned to receive the female luer fitting of the needle assembly and fitting integral with the second end of the barrel portion, the male luer fitting having an opening at a removed end thereof, the one piece barrel including a neck portion integral with the barrel portion, the neck portion including integral threads dimensioned to engage the threads of the reservoir housing chamber opening, the one piece barrel including a cylindrical sealing surface radially outward of the neck portion threads and configured to lay adjacent the interior of the reservoir housing chamber opening of the pump housing and engage the sealing member, the cylindrical sealing surface integral with the neck;

a plunger dimensioned for slideable receipt into the open end of the one-piece barrel;

wherein the one-piece barrel further includes walls, the walls defining a port, the port dimensioned and located on the one-piece barrel such that the interior of said housing is vented when said fluid reservoir assembly is engaged therewith and said cylindrical sealing surface is laying adjacent in fluid sealing relation to the housing chamber opening in airtight engagement;

wherein the port is substantially covered with a filter medium capable of filtering water from a gas and allowing the passage of the gas therethrough; and

further comprising a wall extending from an external surface of the port and substantially surrounding the port, wherein the port is covered with the filter medium adjacent the external surface.

11. An assembly for the delivery of insulin to a diabetic patient, the assembly comprising:

a pump, the pump having a reservoir chamber, a drive piston, and a threaded reservoir chamber opening with a sealing member;

a one-piece barrel, the one-piece barrel including a cylindrical barrel portion having a barrel diameter and having a first open end and a second end, a male luer fitting integral with the second end of the barrel portion, the male luer fitting having an opening at a removed end thereof, the one piece barrel including a neck portion integral with the barrel portion, the neck portion including integral threads dimensioned to engage the threads of the reservoir housing chamber opening, the one piece barrel including a cylindrical sealing surface radially outward of the neck portion threads and configured to lay adjacent the interior of the reservoir housing chamber opening of the pump housing and engage the sealing member, the cylindrical sealing surface integral with the neck;

a plunger dimensioned for slideable receipt into the open end of the one-piece barrel;

wherein the one-piece barrel further includes walls, the walls defining a port, the port dimensioned and located on the one-piece barrel such that the interior of said housing is vented when said fluid reservoir assembly is engaged therewith and said cylindrical sealing surface is laying adjacent in fluid sealing relation to the housing chamber opening in airtight engagement;

wherein the port is substantially covered with a filter medium capable of filtering water from a gas and allowing the passage of the gas therethrough; and

further comprising a wall extending from an external surface of the port and substantially surrounding the port, wherein the port is covered with the filter medium adjacent the external surface.

12. A fluid delivery system, the system comprising:

a pump including a housing, a reservoir chamber, a threaded, cylindrical reservoir housing chamber opening having a sealing member, and a piston to act on a one piece barrel when the one piece barrel is in the reservoir chamber;

the one-piece barrel including a cylindrical barrel portion having a barrel diameter and having a first open end and a second end, a male luer fitting integral with the second end of the barrel portion, the male luer fitting having an opening at a removed end thereof, the one piece barrel including a neck portion integral with the barrel portion, the neck portion including integral threads dimensioned to engage the threads of the reservoir housing chamber opening, the one piece barrel including a cylindrical sealing surface configured to lay adjacent the interior reservoir housing chamber opening of the pump housing and engaging the sealing member, the cylindrical sealing surface integral with the neck; and

a plunger dimensioned for slideable receipt into the open end of the one-piece barrel;

wherein the one-piece barrel further includes walls, the walls defining a port, the port dimensioned and located on the one-piece barrel such that the interior of said housing is vented when said fluid reservoir assembly is engaged therewith and said cylindrical sealing surface is laying adjacent in fluid sealing relation to the housing chamber opening in airtight engagement;

wherein the port is substantially covered with a filter medium capable of filtering water from a gas and allowing the passage of the gas therethrough; and

further comprising a wall extending from an external surface of the port and substantially surrounding the port, wherein the port is covered with the filter medium adjacent the external surface.