Medicine delivery device having detachable pressure sensing unit

• US 9,022,972 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CeQur SA
• Original Assignee: CeQur SA
• Inventors: Gravesen, Peter, Arndt, Heiko, Chiriaev, Serguei
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYMAN, IMANI N
• Application Number:
  US14/218,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 604/506, 604/505, 604/65, 604/67, 604/174, 604/890.1, 604/111, 604/180, 340/603, 340/522, 340/573.1, 340/606, 141/1, 737/14
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3358 Measuring barometric pressure, e.g. for compensation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16859 Evaluation of pressure response, e.g. to an applied pulse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

A fluid medicament delivery device includes a patient attachment unit and a separate indicator unit. The patient attachment unit includes a housing and a fluid channel located therein, wherein at least a portion of the fluid channel includes a flexible member substantially coterminous with the housing. The separate indicator unit is adapted to be detachably coupled to the housing of the patient attachment unit and includes a first sensing element for contacting the flexible member when the indicator unit is coupled to the housing to sense a flexure of the flexible member.

Claims

1. A fluid medicament delivery device comprising:

a patient attachment unit comprising a housing and a fluid channel located therein, wherein at least a portion of the fluid channel comprises a flexible member; and

a separate indicator unit adapted to be detachably coupled to the housing of the patient attachment unit, the indicator unit comprising a first sensing element adapted to detect pressure in the fluid channel via pressure transmitted through at least one of a fluid and a gel disposed in the indicator unit due to deflection of the flexible member.

2. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the patient attachment unit further comprises an adhesive adapted for adhesion to a skin surface of a patient.

3. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a reservoir adapted to be pressurized when filled with fluid.

4. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the flexible member comprises a sensor membrane.

5. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 4, wherein the sensor membrane and a meniscus of the gel are aligned when the indicator unit is coupled to the patient attachment unit.

6. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 5, wherein the sensor membrane and the meniscus of the gel are in direct contact.

7. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 5, wherein the meniscus of the gel is exposed when the indicator unit is uncoupled from the patient attachment unit.

8. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first sensing element comprises a pressure sensor.

9. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the separate indicator unit defines a well for containing at least one of the fluid and the gel.

10. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 9, wherein the indicator unit comprises a raised lip surrounding the well.

11. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 10, wherein the raised lip is adapted to contact the housing of the patient attachment unit.

12. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the patient attachment unit and the indicator unit define an ambient air channel when coupled.

13. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a second sensing element.

14. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 13, wherein the second sensing element is disposed in the indicator unit.

15. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 13, wherein the second sensing element comprises a pressure sensor adapted to sense ambient air pressure.

16. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a processor adapted for interpreting a signal from the first sensing element.

17. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 16, wherein the processor is disposed in the indicator unit.

18. The fluid medicament delivery device of claim 1, wherein the separate indicator unit is characterized by an absence of fluid flow control components.

19. A method of monitoring pressure within a fluid channel of a patient attachment unit of a fluid medicament delivery device, the method comprising:

measuring a pressure of fluid within the fluid channel across a flexible member of the fluid channel using a first sensing element disposed in a separate indicator unit;

wherein the pressure of fluid within the channel is transmitted to the first sensing element in the indicator unit via at least one of a fluid and a gel disposed in the indicator unit; and

wherein the indicator unit is adapted to be detachably coupled to the patient attachment unit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the flexible member comprises a sensor membrane.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the sensor membrane and a meniscus of the gel are aligned when the indicator unit is coupled to the patient attachment unit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensor membrane and the meniscus of the gel are in direct contact.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the first sensing element comprises a pressure sensor.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the separate indicator unit defines a well for containing at least one of the fluid and the gel.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the separate indicator unit is characterized by an absence of fluid flow control components.

26. A method of using a fluid medicament delivery device, the method including the steps of:

providing a patient attachment unit comprising a housing and a fluid channel located therein, wherein at least a portion of the fluid channel comprises a flexible member;

providing a separate indicator unit comprising a sensing element adapted to detect pressure in the fluid channel via pressure transmitted through at least one of a fluid and a gel disposed in the indicator unit; and

detachably coupling the indicator unit to the patient attachment unit.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the patient attachment unit is adapted to be disposable.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the indicator unit is adapted to be reusable.