Automated filling systems and methods

• US 9,980,879 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kavazov, Julian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SU, SUSAN SHAN
• Application Number:
  US14/927,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20160045395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/20 Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/201 having one piercing end
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2013 having two piercing ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2051 having tap means, e.g. tap means activated by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2065 having aligning and guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2068 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2072 for internal venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2075 for external venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/341 angularly adjustable or angled away from the axis of the injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• 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 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to transferring fluidic media from a vial to a reservoir. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir by moving a housing portion to move a plunger head located in the reservoir to draw fluidic media from the vial to the reservoir. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir while the reservoir is held by a holding unit and vibrated by a vibrator to remove air from the fluidic media. In some embodiments, fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir by moving a handle operatively connected to a bias member for assisting with the transfer of fluidic media. In other embodiments, the transfer of fluidic media may be assisted by a bias member and a needle connecting atmosphere and the vial.

Claims

1. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

first and second housing portions operatively connected to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion;

the first and second housing portions having an opening through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the first and second housing portions being configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

wherein the second housing portion has a moveable door that is selectively moveable to open and close the opening to allow the reservoir to pass through opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in an open state, and to inhibit passing the reservoir through the opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in a closed state.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the door is hingedly connected to a body of the second housing portion, and pivotal about a hinge axis that is in the first direction to selectively open and close the opening defined by the first and second housing portions.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the door is hingedly connected to a body of the second housing portion, the door being pivotally movable in a direction transverse to the first direction, to selectively open and close the opening defined by the first and second housing portions.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a clasp for selectively holding the door in a closed state.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions.

6. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

first and second housing portions operatively connected to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion;

the first and second housing portions having an opening through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and

wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open on one end for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.

7. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

first and second housing portions operatively connected to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion;

the first and second housing portions having an opening through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and

wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open in a direction facing transverse to the first direction, for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.

8. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

first and second housing portions, each having a lengthwise dimension extending in a first direction, the second housing portion being operatively connected to the first housing portion and being moveable relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

the first housing portion removably connectable to a transfer guard that provides a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir;

the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume that contains the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion, the first and second housing portions having an opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

wherein the second housing portion has a moveable door that is selectively moveable to open and close the opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions and configured to allow the reservoir to pass through opening when the door is in an open state and to inhibit the passable the reservoir through the opening when the door is in a closed state.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the door is hingedly connected to a body of the second housing portion, and pivotal about a hinge axis in the first direction to selectively open and close the opening defined by the first and second housing portions.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions.

11. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

first and second housing portions, each having a lengthwise dimension extending in a first direction, the second housing portion being operatively connected to the first housing portion and being moveable relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

the first housing portion removably connectable to a transfer guard that provides a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir;

the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume that contains the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion, the first and second housing portions having an opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and

wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open on one end for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.

12. A system for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

first and second housing portions, each having a lengthwise dimension extending in a first direction, the second housing portion being operatively connected to the first housing portion and being moveable relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

the first housing portion removably connectable to a transfer guard that provides a fluid path from a vial to a reservoir;

the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume that contains the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion, the first and second housing portions having an opening along at least a portion of their lengthwise dimensions through which the reservoir may be passed in a direction transverse to the first direction to be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the second housing portion being operatively engageable to a plunger head in the reservoir when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

the first and second housing portions configured such that fluidic media is transferred between the vial and the reservoir in a case where the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions, and the second housing portion is moved relative to the first housing portion, in the first direction;

wherein the second housing portion has a receptacle for receiving a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions; and

wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open in a direction facing transverse to the first direction, for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.

13. A method for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

operatively connecting first and second housing portions to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion,

passing a reservoir through an opening in the first and second housing portions, in a direction transverse to the first direction to insert the reservoir into the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

operatively engaging a plunger head in the reservoir with the second housing portion when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

moving the second housing portion relative to the first housing portion in the first direction to transfer fluidic media between the vial and the reservoir while the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

selectively moving a moveable door that is connected to the second housing portion to open the opening to allow the reservoir to pass through the opening in a direction transverse to the first direction when the door is in an open state.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising selectively holding the door in a closed state with a clasp, while the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions.

15. The method according to claim 13, receiving in a receptacle of the second housing portion, a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions.

16. A method for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

operatively connecting first and second housing portions to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion;

passing a reservoir through an opening in the first and second housing portions, in a direction transverse to the first direction to insert the reservoir into the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

operatively engaging a plunger head in the reservoir with the second housing portion when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

moving the second housing portion relative to the first housing portion in the first direction to transfer fluidic media between the vial and the reservoir while the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

receiving in a receptacle of the second housing portion, a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open on one end for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.

17. A method for transferring fluidic media, the system comprising:

operatively connecting first and second housing portions to each other to be moveable relative to each other in a first direction, the first housing portion being selectively connectable with a transfer guard that provides a fluid flow path between a reservoir and a vial, the first and second housing portions defining an interior volume for containing the reservoir when the transfer guard is connected to the first housing portion;

passing a reservoir through an opening in the first and second housing portions, in a direction transverse to the first direction to insert the reservoir into the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

operatively engaging a plunger head in the reservoir with the second housing portion when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

moving the second housing portion relative to the first housing portion in the first direction to transfer fluidic media between the vial and the reservoir while the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

receiving in a receptacle of the second housing portion, a handle that is connected to the plunger head, when the reservoir is contained in the interior volume defined by the first and second housing portions;

wherein the receptacle has a recess that is open in a direction facing transverse to the first direction, for receiving the handle as the reservoir is passed through the opening defined by the first and second housing portions in the direction transverse to the first direction.