Systems for managing reservoir chamber pressure

• US 9,839,753 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Alderete, Jr., Juan M., Weaver, Andrew E., Yavorsky, Matthew William, Grover, Benjamin A., Vazquez, Pablo
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/497,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20160089505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 604131, 604151, 600578, 600573
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/385 using hydrophobic filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/482 Varying injection pressure, e.g. by varying speed of injection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/484 Regulating injection pressure

Abstract

Systems for managing pressure in a fluid reservoir chamber of a fluid infusion device are provided. For example, a fluid infusion device comprises a housing having a chamber for receiving a fluid reservoir. The fluid infusion device also comprises a drive system contained within the housing. A portion of the drive system is movable for dispensing fluid from the fluid reservoir. The fluid infusion device comprises a pressure management system at least partially defined in the portion of the drive system to vent air from the chamber.

Claims

1. A fluid infusion device, comprising:

a housing having a reservoir chamber that receives a fluid reservoir and a pump chamber;

a drive system contained within the pump chamber of the housing and a slide of the drive system is movable relative to the fluid reservoir for dispensing fluid from the fluid reservoir;

a seal disposed between the reservoir chamber and the pump chamber that defines an opening and the slide is movable relative to the seal through the opening; and

a pressure management system at least partially defined in the slide of the drive system, the pressure management system including at least one air conduit that cooperates with the opening of the seal to vent air from the reservoir chamber into the pump chamber.

2. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the at least one air conduit comprises at least one dimple defined in the slide and the movement of the slide relative to the opening creates an airflow path to vent the reservoir chamber.

3. The fluid infusion device of claim 2, wherein the at least one dimple comprises a plurality of dimples defined in an exterior surface of the slide so as to be spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the slide.

4. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the at least one air conduit comprises at least one slot defined in the slide and the movement of the slide relative to the opening creates an airflow path to vent air from the reservoir chamber.

5. The fluid infusion device of claim 4, wherein the at least one slot comprises a plurality of slots defined in an exterior surface of the slide so as to be spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the slide.

6. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, further comprising the fluid reservoir and a connector body coupled to the housing and the fluid reservoir to define a fluid path from the housing, the connector body including one or more vents to vent air from the chamber.

7. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the fluid infusion device is an insulin infusion device.

8. A fluid infusion device, comprising:

a housing having a reservoir chamber and a pump chamber;

a fluid reservoir contained within the reservoir chamber of the housing;

a connector body coupled to the housing and the fluid reservoir to define a fluid flow path out of the housing, the connector body including one or more vents to vent air from the reservoir chamber;

a drive system contained within the pump chamber of the housing and coupled to the fluid reservoir, the drive system including a slide movable relative to the fluid reservoir to dispense fluid from the fluid reservoir;

a seal disposed between the reservoir chamber and the pump chamber that defines an opening and the slide is movable relative to the seal through the opening; and

a pressure management system at least partially defined in the slide of the drive system, the pressure management system including at least one air conduit that cooperates with the opening of the seal to vent air from the reservoir chamber into the pump chamber.

9. The fluid infusion device of claim 8, wherein the at least one air conduit comprises a plurality of recesses defined in an exterior surface of the slide so as to be spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the slide.

10. The fluid infusion device of claim 8, wherein the at least one air conduit comprises a plurality of slots defined in an exterior surface of the slide so as to be spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the slide.

11. The fluid infusion device of claim 8, wherein the fluid infusion device is an insulin infusion device.