US20080051697A1 - Infusion medium delivery device and method with compressible or curved reservoir or conduit - Google Patents

Abstract

A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion secures to the patient-user and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user or with infusion media are supported by the disposable housing portion for disposal after the prescribed use, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of infusion media from the reservoir and a drive device and drive linkage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
• The present invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/588,847, filed Oct. 27, 2006 (attorney docket no. 0390), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, the present invention relates to U.S.Provisional Patent Application 60/839,832, filed Aug. 23, 2006, titled Infusion Medium Delivery Device And Method With Compressible Or Curved Reservoir Or Conduit,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and from which a priority filing date is claimed. The present invention also relates to U.S.Patent Application 60/678,290, filed May 6, 2005 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, titled “Infusion Device And Method With Disposable Portion,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present invention also relates to co-pending application No. 60/839,821, filed Aug. 23, 2006, titled “Systems And Methods Allowing For Reservoir Filling And Infusion Medium Delivery” (attorney docket no. 047711-0381), co-pending application No. 60/839,822, filed Aug. 23, 2006 titled “Infusion Medium Delivery Device And Method For Driving Plunger In Reservoir” (attorney docket no. 047711-0382); co-pending application No. 60/839,840, filed Aug. 23, 2006, titled “Infusion Medium Delivery System, Device And Method With Needle Inserter And Needle Inserter Device Method” (attorney docket no. 047711-0384); and co-pending application No. 60/839,741, filed Aug. 23, 2006, titled “Infusion Pumps And Methods And Delivery Devices And Methods With Same” (attorney docket no. 047711-0385), the contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to: (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/588,832, filed Oct. 27, 2006, entitled “Infusion Medium Delivery Device and Method with Drive Device for Driving Plunger in Reservoir” (attorney docket no. 047711.0387); (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/588,875, filed Oct. 27, 2006, entitled “Systems And Methods Allowing For Reservoir Filling And Infusion Medium Delivery” (attorney docket no. 047711.0393); (iii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/854,829, filed Oct. 27, 2006, entitled “Infusion Medium Delivery System, Device and Method with Needle Inserter and Needle Inserter Device and Method” (attorney docket no. 047711.0401); and (iv) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/589,323, filed Aug. 23, 2006, entitled “Infusion Pumps and Methods and Delivery Devices and Methods with Same” (attorney docket no. 047711.0398), the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• Embodiments of the present invention relate to an infusion medium delivery device for delivering an infusion medium to a patient-user, wherein the delivery device includes a base portion and a durable portion connectable to the base portion, and wherein the base portion can be separated from the durable portion and disposed of after one or more specified number of uses. The base portion supports a compressible reservoir or conduit, while the durable portion supports a rotor or moveable track that is operatively coupled to a drive device for selective compression of the reservoir or conduit, to drive fluid out of the reservoir. In further embodiments, the reservoir may comprise a curved channel in which a plunger head is moveable in response to movement of a moveable track.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Certain chronic diseases may be treated, according to modern medical techniques, by delivering a medication or other substance to a patient-user's body, either in a continuous manner or at particular times or time intervals within an overall time period. For example, diabetes is a chronic disease that is commonly treated by delivering defined amounts of insulin to the patient-user at appropriate times. Some common modes of providing an insulin therapy to a patient include delivery of insulin through manually operated syringes and insulin pens. Other modern systems employ programmable pumps to deliver controlled amounts of insulin to a patient.
• Pump type delivery devices have been configured in external devices (that connect to a patient-user) or implantable devices (to be implanted inside of a patient-user's body). External pump type delivery devices include devices designed for use in a generally stationary location (for example, in a hospital or clinic), and further devices configured for ambulatory or portable use (to be carried by a patient-user). Examples of some external pump type delivery devices are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, titled “Infusion Device And Method With Disposable Portion” and Published PCT Application WO 01/70307 (PCT/US01/09139) titled “Exchangeable Electronic Cards For Infusion Devices” (each of which is owned by the assignee of the present invention), Published PCT Application WO 04/030716 (PCT/US2003/028769) titled “Components And Methods For Patient Infusion Device,” Published PCT Application WO 04/030717 (PCT/US2003/029019) titled “Dispenser Components And Methods For Infusion Device,” U.S. patent application Publication No. 2005/0065760 titled “Method For Advising Patients Concerning Doses Of Insulin,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,229 titled “Wearable Self-Contained Drug Infusion Device,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• External pump type delivery devices may be connected in fluid-flow communication to a patient-user, for example, through a suitable hollow tubing. The hollow tubing may be connected to a hollow needle that is designed to pierce the patient-user's skin and deliver an infusion medium to the patient-user. Alternatively, the hollow tubing may be connected directly to the patient-user as or through a cannula or through a set of micro-needles.
• In contexts in which the hollow tubing is connected to the patient-user through a hollow needle that pierces the patient-user's skin, a manual insertion of the needle into the patient-user can be somewhat traumatic to the patient-user. Accordingly, insertion mechanisms have been made to assist the insertion of a needle into the patient-user, whereby a needle is forced by a spring to quickly move from a retracted position into an extended position. Examples of insertion mechanisms that are built into a delivery device are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, titled “Infusion Device And Method With Disposable Portion” (assigned to the assignee of the present invention), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other examples of insertion tools are described in U.S. patent application Publication No. 2002/0022855, titled “Insertion Device For An Insertion Set And Method Of Using The Same” (assigned to the assignee of the present invention), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As the needle is moved into the extended position, the needle is quickly forced through the patient-user's skin in a single, relatively abrupt motion that can be less traumatic to a patient-user as compared to a slower, manual insertion of a needle. However, in some contexts, a controlled, slow insertion speed can be less traumatic to some patients.
• As compared to syringes and insulin pens, pump type delivery devices can be significantly more convenient to a patient-user, in that accurate doses of insulin may be calculated and delivered automatically to a patient-user at any time during the day or night. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with glucose sensors or monitors, insulin pumps may be automatically controlled to provide appropriate doses of infusion medium at appropriate times of need, based on sensed or monitored levels of blood glucose.
• Pump type delivery devices have become an important aspect of modern medical treatments of various types of medical conditions, such as diabetes. As pump technologies improve and doctors and patient-users become more familiar with such devices, the popularity of external medical infusion pump treatment increases and is expected to increase substantially over the next decade.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
• Embodiments of the present invention relate to an infusion medium delivery device for delivering an infusion medium to a patient-user, wherein the delivery device includes a first (or durable) housing portion and a second (or disposable) housing portion that selectively, engage and disengage from each other, for example, by manual force. One or both of the first and second housing portions secures to the patient-user. The disposable housing portion may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user and/or with infusion media may be supported by the disposable housing portion for disposal after the prescribed use, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics for controlling the delivery of infusion media.
• In some example embodiments, the disposable housing portion supports a compressible reservoir or conduit, while the durable housing portion supports a rotor or moveable track that is operatively coupled to a drive device for selective compression of the reservoir or conduit, to drive fluid out of the reservoir or through the conduit. In further embodiments, the reservoir may comprise a curved channel in which a plunger head is moveable in response to movement of a moveable track.
• According to an example embodiment, a delivery device includes first and second housing portions as described above and a rotatable rotor that supports at least one pad or roller for movement in an annular path with the rotation of the rotor. In that embodiment, a conduit is supported by the first housing portion and has a flexible portion arranged within at least a portion of the annular path of the pad(s) or roller(s) to be engaged at locations along the annular path by the pad(s) or roller(s) when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged. The flexible portion of the conduit is resiliently collapsible at the locations of engagement of the pad(s) or roller(s) to provide a pumping action as the rotor rotates the pad(s) or roller(s) along the annular path while the second housing portion and first housing portion are engaged. Also, the conduit is connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site.
• In the above-described example embodiment, the delivery device further includes a reservoir that has an interior volume for containing a fluid. The interior volume of the reservoir is provided in fluid flow communication with the conduit. In addition, a drive device is supported by the second housing portion and is operatively coupled to the rotor for selectively rotating the rotor.
• In the same or a further example embodiment, the rotatable rotor is supported for rotation by the second housing portion. The rotor may be disposed within a recess in a wall of the second housing portion.
• In the same or a further example embodiment, the second housing portion has a housing structure with an internal volume and the rotor is supported by the second housing portion, but is disposed outside of the internal volume of the second housing portion. In such an embodiment, the delivery device includes a rotor shaft that has a longitudinal axis. The rotor shaft is coupled to the rotor and extends into the internal volume of the second housing portion and is operatively coupled to the drive device. The rotor shaft may extend through an aperture in a wall of the second housing portion. A seal may be disposed around the aperture in the wall of the second housing portion.
• In one example embodiment, the rotor comprises at least two wheels, including a drive wheel that is operatively coupled to a drive device to receive rotational drive force. In that example embodiment, a belt-like structure extends in an annular path around the two (or more) wheels, and at least one pad or roller is supported on the belt. Alternatively, the rotor may include a rotary wheel with the pad(s) or roller(s) supported by the rotary wheel. For example, the rotary wheel may be supported for rotation about a first axis of rotation with at least one rotatable roller supported for rotation on the rotary wheel about a second axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the first axis of rotation.
• In any of the above-described embodiments, the flexible portion of the conduit may be supported on a flat support surface. Alternatively, the flexible portion of the conduit may be supported on a curved support surface. In any of the above-described embodiments, the reservoir may include a rigid container structure and the support surface may be a surface of the reservoir.
• In a further example embodiment, the flexible portion of the conduit that is arranged within at least a portion of the annular path of the pad(s) or roller(s) includes a conduit portion arranged in at least a partial coil around a generally annular path. In such further example embodiment, the rotor is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and one or more rollers may be supported on the rotor, with each roller supported for rotation about a respective axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation and/or along a path that aligns with the annular path of the conduit, when the first and second housing portions are engaged.
• Further embodiments relate to methods of making a delivery device. In one example embodiment, a method includes providing a first housing portion and providing a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion. The method according to that example embodiment further includes supporting a rotatable rotor for rotation, where the rotor has at least one pad or roller for movement in an annular path with the rotation of the rotor. The method according to that example embodiment also includes providing a conduit that has a flexible portion and coupling an interior volume of a reservoir in fluid flow communication with the conduit, where the interior volume of the reservoir is for containing a fluid.
• The above example method embodiment further includes supporting the flexible portion of the conduit on the first housing portion and arranging the flexible portion of the conduit within at least a portion of the annular path of the pad(s) or roller(s) to be engaged at locations along the annular path by the pad(s) or roller(s) when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged. The flexible portion of the conduit is resiliently collapsible at the locations of engagement of the pad(s) or roller(s) to provide a pumping action as the rotor rotates while the first and second housing portions are engaged. In addition, the conduit is connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site.
• In addition, the above example method embodiment further includes supporting a drive device on the second housing portion and operatively coupling the drive device to the rotor for selectively rotating the rotor to provide the pumping action while the first and second housing portions are engaged. In the above example embodiment, supporting a rotatable rotor may include supporting at least two wheels and extending a belt-like structure in an annular path around the at least two wheels, and wherein the at least one pad or roller is supported on the belt. Alternatively, supporting a rotatable rotor may include supporting a rotary wheel, where the pad(s) or roller(s) is(are) supported by the rotary wheel. In yet a further method embodiment, supporting a rotatable rotor includes supporting a rotary wheel for rotation about a first axis of rotation, and at least one rotatable roller is supported for rotation on the rotary wheel about a second axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the first axis of rotation.
• A further example method embodiment includes arranging a portion of the conduit in at least a partial coil around a generally annular path. That further example method embodiment also includes supporting a rotor for rotation about a first axis and supporting one or more rollers on the rotor, each for rotation about a respective axis of rotation that is transverse to the first axis of rotation and/or along a path that aligns with the annular path of the conduit, when the first and second housing portions are engaged.
• According to another example embodiment, a delivery device includes first and second housing portions as described above and a compressible reservoir located in the first housing portion. The reservoir has an interior volume for containing a fluid and an outlet connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site. The interior volume of the reservoir is compressible to reduce the interior volume and increase fluid pressure within the interior volume to drive fluid from the interior volume to the injection site. A compression mechanism is operable on the reservoir and a drive device is supported by the second housing portion and operatively connectable to at least one of the reservoir and the compression mechanism when the first and second housing portions are engaged, to selectively cause relative movement between the reservoir and compression mechanism for selective compression of the reservoir.
• A delivery device according to the above embodiment may further include a moveable track operatively coupled to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path. In such an embodiment, the compression mechanism includes at least one roller or pad supported by the moveable track for engaging and compressing the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path.
• In a delivery device according to one example of the above embodiment, the moveable track may be connected to the reservoir to move the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path. In such an example embodiment, the compression mechanism includes a pair of compression surfaces between which a portion of the reservoir is moved as the track is moved along the track path. The compression surfaces impart a compression force on the reservoir as the portion of the reservoir is moved between the compression surfaces. The pair of compression surfaces may include a pair of rollers.
• In a delivery device according another example of the above embodiment, the compression mechanism comprises a plunger head supported for movement within the interior volume of the reservoir. In that example embodiment, the delivery device further includes a moveable track operatively coupled to a drive device to be selectively moved along a track path. The moveable track is operatively connectable to the plunger head to move the plunger head within the reservoir when the track is moved along the track path and when the first and second housing portions are engaged. In a further example of that example embodiment, the reservoir includes a curved channel having a radius of curvature and the track has a radius of curvature approximating the radius of curvature of the curved channel.
• In any of the above-described embodiments, the delivery device may further include electrical control circuitry contained in the second housing portion. The electrical control circuitry controls the drive device for delivery of infusion media from the reservoir to the user when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged.
• Also in any of the above describe embodiments, one of the first and second housing portions may include a base portion that has a bottom surface and an adhesive material on the bottom surface for securing that housing portion to the skin of the user.
• According to another example embodiment, the delivery device may include a moveable track coupled to one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir. In that example embodiment, the drive device is operatively coupled to the moveable track for moving the moveable track and one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir relative to the other of the compression mechanism and reservoir. In that example embodiment, a linkage structure may be provided for operatively coupling the drive device to the moveable track, to transfer drive force from the drive device to the moveable track.
• Further embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of making delivery devices. According to one embodiment, a method includes providing a first housing portion and providing a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion. That method embodiment further includes supporting a compressible reservoir on the first housing portion. The reservoir has an interior volume for containing a fluid and an outlet connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site. The reservoir is compressible to reduce the interior volume and increase fluid pressure within the interior volume to drive fluid from the interior volume to the injection site.
• That method embodiment further includes supporting a compression mechanism in a position to selectively compress the reservoir and supporting a drive device supported on the second housing portion in a position to operatively connect to at least one of the reservoir and the compression mechanism when the first and second housing portions are engaged, to selectively cause relative movement between the reservoir and compression mechanism for selective compression of the reservoir.
• According to one example, the above method embodiment further includes operatively coupling a moveable track to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path. In such example embodiment, supporting a compression mechanism comprises supporting at least one roller or pad on the moveable track for engaging and compressing the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path.
• According to another example, the above method embodiment also further includes operatively coupling a moveable track to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path. However this other example embodiment includes connecting the moveable track to the reservoir to move the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path. According to this other example embodiment, supporting a compression mechanism comprises supporting a pair of compression surfaces between which a portion of the reservoir is moved as the track is moved along the track path. The compression surfaces are supported in a position to impart a compression force on the reservoir as the portion of the reservoir is moved between the compression surfaces. In such an embodiment, supporting a pair of compression surfaces may include supporting a pair of rollers on the first housing portion.
• In another example method embodiment, supporting a compression mechanism includes supporting a plunger head for movement within the interior volume of the reservoir. According to such other example embodiment, the method further includes operatively coupling a moveable track to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path and operatively coupling the moveable track to the plunger head to move the plunger head within the reservoir when the track is moved along the track path and when the first and second housing portions are engaged. In such an embodiment, the reservoir may include a curved channel having a radius of curvature and the track may have a radius of curvature approximating the radius of curvature of the curved channel.
• Any of the above-described method embodiments may further include containing electrical control circuitry in the second housing portion, where the electrical control circuitry controls the drive device for delivery of infusion media from the reservoir to the user when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged. Also, any of the above-described embodiments may include providing one of the first and second housing portions with a base portion having a bottom surface and an adhesive material on the bottom surface for securing that housing portion to the skin of the user.
• Another example method embodiment may include operatively coupling a moveable track to one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir. This other example embodiment also includes operatively coupling the drive device to the moveable track for moving the moveable track and one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir relative to the other of the compression mechanism and reservoir. This other example embodiment may also include operatively coupling linkage structure to the drive device and to the moveable track, to transfer drive force from the drive device to the moveable track.
• According to another example embodiment, a delivery device includes first and second housing portions as described above and a reservoir located in the first housing portion. The reservoir has a selectively variable, first interior volume for containing a fluid and an outlet connectable in fluid flow communication with the first interior volume and an injection site. The delivery device according to this example embodiment also includes a volume varying mechanism defines a boarder of the first interior volume and is supported for motion in a curved path to selectively vary the first interior volume of the reservoir, to selectively reduce the first interior volume and increase fluid pressure within the interior volume to drive fluid from the interior volume to the injection site. The delivery device according to this example embodiment also includes a drive device supported by the second housing portion and operatively connectable to the volume varying mechanism when the first and second housing portions are engaged, to selectively drive the volume varying mechanism in the curved path of motion.
• In the above-described example embodiment, the volume varying mechanism may include a rotary arm supported for rotation about a rotary axis within the reservoir. In such an embodiment, the first interior volume is located on one side of the rotary arm. In addition, a drive linkage may be operatively coupled to the drive device and the rotary arm, for conveying drive force from the drive device to the rotary arm when the first and second housing portions are engaged.
• In one example embodiment, the drive linkage includes a shaft extending from one of the first and second housing portions and a receptacle located on the other of the first and second housing portions, where the shaft and receptacle each have a mating shape that engages and mates with the mating shape on the other of the shaft and receptacle when the first and second housing portions are engaged. In such an example embodiment, one of the shaft and the receptacle is operatively coupled to the drive device for rotation by the drive device and the other of the shaft and the receptacle is operatively coupled to the rotary arm to selectively rotate the rotary arm relative to the reservoir, to selectively vary the first interior volume of the reservoir.
• In a further example embodiment, the drive linkage includes a shaft that extends from the second housing portion and is operatively coupled to the drive device for rotation by the drive device. In such further example embodiment, a receptacle is coupled to the rotary arm on the first housing portion. The shaft and the receptacle each have a mating shape that engages and mates with the mating shape on the other of the shaft and receptacle when the first and second housing portions are engaged.
• In any of the above-described embodiments, the reservoir may have a disk-shaped interior and the first interior volume of the reservoir is a portion of the disk-shaped interior. In that embodiment, the disk-shaped interior may have a central axis and the rotary arm may be supported for rotation about the central axis of the disk-shaped interior. The rotary arm may have one end supported at the central axis of the disk shaped interior.
• The reservoir may include a pair of walls within the disk-shaped interior, defining a wedge-shaped volume that is outside of the first interior volume of the reservoir. In such an embodiment, the reservoir outlet may be provided through one of the walls defining the wedge-shaped volume. Also, such an embodiment may further include an air vent through one of the walls defining the wedge-shaped volume and provided in air-flow communication with the disk-shaped interior of the reservoir.
• In any of the above-described embodiments that have a disk-shaped reservoir interior, an air vent provided in air-flow communication with the disk-shaped interior of the reservoir. In such an embodiment, the air vent may be located in a wall of the reservoir on a side of the rotary arm opposite to the side of the first interior volume. Also in any of the above-described embodiments, the reservoir may have an overall interior volume in which the first interior volume is included; and the delivery device may further include an air vent provided in air-flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir.
• Further embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of making a delivery device for delivering a fluidic medium to or from a patient. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a first housing portion and providing a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion. That method embodiment further includes providing a reservoir in the first housing portion. The reservoir has a first, selectively variable, interior volume for containing a fluid and an outlet connectable in fluid flow communication with the first interior volume and an injection site.
• The above-described method embodiment further includes supporting a volume varying mechanism adjacent a boarder of the first interior volume for motion in a curved path to selectively vary the first interior volume of the reservoir, to selectively reduce the first interior volume and increase fluid pressure within the interior volume to drive fluid from the interior volume to the injection site. In addition, the above-described method embodiment includes supporting a drive device on the second housing portion in a position to operatively connect to the volume varying mechanism when the first and second housing portions are engaged, to selectively drive the volume varying mechanism in the curved path of motion.
• In the above-described method embodiment, supporting a volume varying mechanism may include supporting a rotary arm for rotation about a rotary axis within the reservoir, wherein the first interior volume is located on one side of the rotary arm. Such an embodiment may further include operatively coupling a drive linkage to the drive device and the rotary arm for conveying drive force from the drive device to the rotary arm when the first and second housing portions are engaged.
• In one example, operatively coupling a drive linkage includes extending a shaft from one of the first and second housing portions and providing a receptacle on the other of the first and second housing portions. In such an embodiment, the shaft and receptacle each have a mating shape that engages and mates with the mating shape on the other of the shaft and receptacle when the first and second housing portions are engaged. Such an embodiment further includes operatively coupling one of the shaft and the receptacle to the drive device for rotation by the drive device and operatively coupling the other of the shaft and the receptacle to the rotary arm to selectively rotate the rotary arm relative to the reservoir, to selectively vary the first interior volume of the reservoir.
• In another example, operatively coupling a drive linkage includes operatively coupling a shaft to the drive device for rotation by the drive device and extending the shaft from the second housing portion. This embodiment further includes coupling a receptacle to the rotary arm on the first housing portion. The shaft and receptacle each have a mating shape that engages and mates with the mating shape on the other of the shaft and receptacle when the first and second housing portions are engaged.
• In any of the above-described method embodiments, the reservoir may have a disk-shaped interior and the first interior volume of the reservoir may be a portion of the disk-shaped interior. In such embodiments, the disk-shaped interior may have a central axis and the method may include supporting a rotary arm for rotation about the central axis of the disk-shaped interior. Such an embodiment may include supporting one end of the rotary arm at the central axis of the disk shaped interior.
• Any of the above-described embodiments may include providing an air vent in air-flow communication with the interior of the reservoir. Such an embodiment may include providing an air vent in a wall of the reservoir on a side of the rotary arm opposite to the side of the first interior volume. These and other embodiments of the present invention are described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a generalized diagram of a delivery system in relation to a human patient-user.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a durable portion and a disposable portion of the delivery device ofFIG. 2, with the durable portion separated from the disposable portion.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of part of a durable housing portion of the embodiment ofFIG. 4.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another reservoir, conduit and rotor arrangement that may be employed in a delivery device ofFIG. 4, in place of the reservoir, conduit and rotor arrangement shown inFIG. 4.
• FIG. 7 is a side view of a delivery device according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 8 shows a top view of the durable housing portion of the delivery device ofFIG. 7.
• FIG. 9 shows a side cross-section view of the durable housing portion of the delivery device ofFIG. 7.
• FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of the disposable housing portion of the delivery device ofFIG. 7.
• FIG. 11 shows a side cross-section view of the disposable housing portion of the delivery device ofFIG. 7.
• FIG. 12 shows another side view of the delivery device ofFIG. 7, with the disposable and durable housing portions separated.
• FIG. 13 is a side cross section view of another embodiment of a delivery device, with the disposable and durable housing portions separated.
• FIG. 14 is a schematic cross section view of a delivery device according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 15 is a schematic, cross section view of part of another disposable housing portion for a delivery device ofFIG. 14, that may be used in place of the disposable housing portion shown inFIG. 14.
• FIG. 16 is a schematic cross section view of a delivery device according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 17 is a side view of a plunger head and moveable track for a delivery device ofFIG. 16.
• FIG. 18 is a schematic cross section view of a disposable portion of a delivery device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a delivery device including a disposable portion ofFIG. 18 and a durable portion in a separated relation.
• FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a delivery device according to a further embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cam follower adjacent an inlet of the embodiment ofFIG. 20.
• FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cam follower adjacent an outlet of the embodiment ofFIG. 20.
• FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a cam housing according to the embodiment ofFIG. 20.
• FIGS. 24a-24dare schematic views of various escapement wheel arrangements and components thereof that may be used with drive devices in various embodiments described herein.
• FIG. 25 shows a schematic side view of an arrangement of a durable housing portion and a disposable housing portion of a delivery system according to an embodiment of the invention consistent with the embodiment ofFIG. 3.
• FIG. 26 shows a schematic side view of an arrangement of a durable housing portion and a disposable housing portion of a delivery system according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 27 shows a partially exploded view of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 28 shows a schematic top view of an arrangement of a durable housing portion and a disposable housing portion of a delivery system according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 29 shows a schematic top view of an arrangement of a durable housing portion and a disposable housing portion of a delivery system according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIGS. 30-32 each show a perspective view of a connection arrangement for a disposable housing portion and an injection site module.
• FIGS. 33 and 34 each show a perspective view of another connection arrangement for a disposable housing portion and an injection site module.
• FIGS. 35-37 each show a perspective view of yet another connection arrangement for a disposable housing portion and an injection site module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The present invention relates, generally, to delivery devices, systems and methods for delivering an infusion medium, such as a drug, to a recipient, such as a medical patient-user. In particular embodiments, a delivery device includes first and second housing portions (referred to herein as a durable housing portion and a disposable housing portion, respectively) that are configured to engage and attach to each other for operation. The disposable housing portion may contain or otherwise support an infusion medium reservoir and other components that come into contact with the infusion medium and/or the patient-user during operation. The disposable housing portion may be disengaged and separated from the durable housing portion, such that the disposable housing portion may be readily disposed of after it has been in use for a period of time, or after one or a prescribed number of uses. After disengagement and separation from a disposable housing portion, the durable housing portion may be engaged and operatively connected to another disposable housing portion (such as a new, refurbished, user-filled, prefilled, refilled or re-manufactured disposable housing portion) for further operation. The durable housing portion may contain or otherwise support components that do not come into contact with the infusion medium or the patient-user during normal operation of the delivery device, including, but not limited to, a drive device, drive linkage, electronic circuits and, in some embodiments, a power source.
• Delivery device embodiments described herein include a compressible reservoir or conduit that is acted upon by a compression structure. A rotor or moveable track provides relative motion between the compression structure and the reservoir or conduit, to selectively compress the reservoir or conduit and selectively drive fluid out of the reservoir to an injection site. Embodiments described herein employ various manners of supporting a drive device with the durable housing portion for driving the rotor or moveable track, while supporting a flexible reservoir or conduit with the disposable housing portion, and to allow operative connection of the drive device and/or rotor or track to the flexible reservoir or conduit when the durable housing portion and disposable housing portion are engaged, yet also allow the durable housing portion and disposable housing portion to be disengaged and separated from each other, for replacement or servicing of the disposable housing portion.
• For example, various embodiments employ a peristaltic pump arrangement, in which a rotor imparts a compression force on a flexible conduit, to draw fluid from the reservoir, through the conduit, when the disposable housing portion and durable housing portion are engaged. Further embodiments employ a flexible reservoir structure that is compressed by a compression structure, upon relative movement between the compression structure and the flexible reservoir. In further embodiments, the reservoir may comprise a curved channel in which a plunger head is moveable in response to movement of a moveable track. Various structures are described herein that allow the reservoir and certain other components to be supported by a disposable housing portion, while a drive device and other components may be supported in the durable housing portion for operable connection with the reservoir when the disposable housing portion and durable housing portion are engaged. Such embodiments may be configured to provide a reliable, user-friendly mechanism to secure the delivery device to a patient-user for delivery of fluidic an infusion medium to the patient-user and also provide a cost effective manner of replacing or servicing depleted or used reservoirs.
• While embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to an insulin delivery example for treating diabetes, other embodiments of the invention may be employed for delivering other infusion media to a patient-user for other purposes. For example, further embodiments of the invention may be employed for delivering other types of drugs to treat diseases or medical conditions other than diabetes, including, but not limited to drugs for treating pain or certain types of cancers, pulmonary disorders or HIV. Further embodiments may be employed for delivering media other than drugs, including, but not limited to, nutritional media including nutritional supplements, dyes or other tracing media, saline or other hydration media, or the like. Also, while embodiments of the present invention are described herein for delivering or infusing an infusion medium to a patient-user, other embodiments may be configured to draw a medium from a patient-user.
• Furthermore, while embodiments of the present invention refer to the housing portions of disclosed delivery devices as disposable or durable, and may be configured to allow the disposable housing portion to be disposed of and replaced in an economically efficient manner, it will be understood that, in further embodiments, the disposable housing portion embodiments described herein may be re-used and need not be disposed of. Similarly, the durable housing portion embodiments described herein may be disposed of after one or more uses, if desired. However, embodiments are configured to allow certain components (for example, those that contact the infusion medium or the patient-user during operation) to be housed in a first housing portion that may be readily disposable, while other components (for example, those that do not contact the infusion medium or the patient-user during operation and that have a replacement cost that is of a relatively significant level) may be housed in a second housing portion that may be re-used with one or more new, refurbished, user-filled, prefilled, refilled or re-manufactured disposable first housing portions.
• A generalized representation of an infusionmedium delivery system10 is shown inFIG. 1, wherein the system includes adelivery device12 configured according to an embodiment of the invention described herein. Thesystem10 may also include other components coupled for communication with thedelivery device12, including, but not limited to, a sensor or monitor14, a command control device (CCD)16 and acomputer18. Each of theCCD16, the sensor or monitor14, thecomputer18 and thedelivery device12 may include receiver or transceiver electronics that allow communication with other components of the system. Thedelivery device12 may include electronics and software for analyzing sensor data and for delivering an infusion medium according to sensed data and/or pre-programmed delivery routines. Some of the processing, delivery routine storage and control functions may be carried out by theCCD16 and/or thecomputer18, to allow thedelivery device12 to be made with more simplified electronics. However, in other embodiments, thesystem10 may comprisedelivery device12 that operates without any one or more of the other components of thesystem10 shown inFIG. 1. Examples of the types of communications and/or control capabilities, as well as device feature sets and/or program options may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/445,477 filed May 27, 2003, and entitled “External Infusion Device with Remote Programming, Bolus Estimator and/or Vibration Alarm Capabilities,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/429,385 filed May 5, 2003, and entitled “Handheld Personal Data Assistant (PDA) with a Medical Device and Method of Using the Same,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/813,660 filed Mar. 21, 2001, and entitled “Control Tabs For Infusion Devices And Methods Of Using The Same,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• In the generalized system diagram ofFIG. 1, thedelivery device12 and sensor or monitor14 are secured to a patient-user1. The locations at which those components are secured to the patient-user1 inFIG. 1 are provided only as a representative, non-limiting example. Thedelivery device12 and sensor or monitor14 may be secured at other locations on the patient-user1, and such locations may depend upon the type of treatment to be administered by thesystem10. Such other locations may include, but are not limited to, other locations on the patient-user's body, locations on the patient-user's clothing, belt, suspenders, straps, purse, tote or other structure that may be carried by the patient-user.
• As described in further detail below, thedelivery device12 contains a reservoir of an infusion medium and delivers the infusion medium, such as, but not limited to an insulin formulation, into the patient-user's body in a controlled manner. Control instructions and/or data may be communicated between thedelivery device12, the sensor or monitor14, theCCD16 and thecomputer18. Thedelivery device12 may be configured to secure to the skin of a patient-user1, in the manner of a patch, at a desired location on the patient-user. In such embodiments, it is desirable that thedelivery device12 have relatively small dimensions for comfort and ability to conceal the device, for example, under a garment.
• Examples of patch-like delivery devices are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, which is incorporated herein, in its entirety. Delivery devices described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095 employ a reservoir structure having a moveable plunger for selectively driving fluid from the reservoir. An example of a patch-like delivery device12 that employs a peristaltic pumping arrangement, instead of a reservoir-plunger arrangement is shown inFIGS. 2-5 herein. Thedelivery device12 inFIG. 2 includes abase housing portion20 that, in some embodiments, may be disposable after one or a number of specified uses, and afurther housing portion22. For convenience, but without limitation, thebase portion20 is referred to herein as a disposable housing portion or disposable portion, while thefurther housing portion22 is referred to herein as a durable housing portion or durable portion. However, as noted above, in operation, either or bothhousing portions20 or22 may be disposed of or re-used, depending upon the context of use.
• Thedisposable housing portion20 may support structural elements that ordinarily contact the patient-user's skin or the infusion medium, during operation of thedelivery device12. On the other hand, thedurable housing portion22 may support elements (including electronics, motor components, linkage components, and the like) that do not ordinarily contact the patient-user or the infusion medium during operation of thedelivery device12. Thus, elements in thedurable housing portion22 of thedelivery device12 are typically not contaminated from contact with the patient-user or the infusion medium during normal operation of thedelivery device12.
• In the illustrated embodiment, thedisposable housing portion20 of thedelivery device12 comprises a base21 that includes or otherwise supports areservoir retaining portion24 that houses a reservoir. Thedurable housing portion22 may comprise a housing that secures onto the base21 adjacent thereservoir retaining portion24. Thedurable housing portion22 may house a suitable drive device, such as an electrically operated motor (not shown inFIG. 2), and drive linkage components (not shown inFIG. 2) for driving fluid out of the reservoir. Thedurable housing portion22 also may house suitable control electronics (not shown inFIG. 2) for controlling the operation of the drive device to drive fluid from the reservoir in a controlled manner. Further embodiments may include other electronics within thedurable housing portion22, such as, but not limited to communication electronics (not shown inFIG. 2) for communicating with the sensor or monitor14, theCCD16, thecomputer18 and/or other components of thesystem10 shown inFIG. 1.
• Thebase21 of thedisposable housing portion20 has a bottom surface (facing downward and into the page inFIGS. 2 and 3) that is configured to secure to a patient-user's skin at a desired location on the patient-user. A suitable adhesive may be employed at the interface between the bottom surface of thebase21 and the patient-user's skin, to adhere the base21 to the patient-user's skin. The adhesive may be provided on the bottom surface of thebase21, with apeelable cover layer23 covering the adhesive material. In this manner, a patient-user may peel off thecover layer23 to expose the adhesive material and then place the adhesive side of the base21 against the patient-user's skin.
• Thedisposable portion20 may include a button orother operator25 for operating a needle inserter device located within thereservoir retaining portion24. Alternatively, or in addition,reference number25 may represent an opening, through which an external needle inserter device may operate. Alternatively, or in addition to an operator oropening25, the needle inserter device may be activated, through a wireless link, from an external controller, such as theCCD16, sensor or monitor14 orcomputer18. For such embodiments, theCCD16, sensor or monitor14 orcomputer18 includes a wireless signal transmitter, while the delivery device includes a receiver for receiving a wireless actuation signal and an electronic actuator that is controlled to actuate the needle inserter device, upon receipt of an actuation signal from theCCD16, sensor or monitor14 orcomputer18. Examples of suitable needle inserter devices are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/839,840, filed Aug. 23, 2006, titled “Infusion Medium Delivery System, Device And Method With Needle Inserter And Needle Inserter Device Method” (attorney docket no. 047711-0384), each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other needle/cannula insertion tools may be used (or modified for use) to insert a needle and/or cannula, such as for example U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/389,132 filed Mar. 14, 2003, and entitled “Auto Insertion Device For Silhouette Or Similar Products,” and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/314,653 filed Dec. 9, 2002, and entitled “Insertion Device For Insertion Set and Method of Using the Same,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Alternatively, the reservoir retaining portion may include a suitable opening or port for connecting one end of a hollow tube to the reservoir, while the other end of the hollow tube is connected to a hollow needle for piercing the patient-user's skin and conveying the infusion medium from the reservoir into the patient-user, for example, as described with reference to FIG. 2 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005.
• Thedurable housing portion22 of thedelivery device12 includes a housing shell configured to mate with and secure to thedisposable housing portion20. Thedurable housing portion22 anddisposable housing portion20 may be provided with correspondingly shaped grooves, notches, tabs or other suitable features that allow the two parts to easily snap together, by manually pressing the two portions together in a manner well known in the mechanical arts. In a similar manner, thedurable housing portion22 anddisposable housing portion20 may be separated from each other by manually applying sufficient force to unsnap the two parts from each other. In further embodiments, a suitable seal, such as an annular seal, may be placed along the peripheral edge of thedisposable housing portion20 and/or thedurable housing portion22, so as to provide a liquid, hermetic, or air-tight seal between thedisposable housing portion20 and thedurable housing portion22.
• Thedurable housing portion22 anddisposable housing portion20 may be made of suitably rigid materials that maintain their shape, yet provide sufficient flexibility and resilience to effectively snap together and apart, as described above. The base21 material may be selected for suitable compatibility with the patient-user's skin. For example, thedisposable housing portion20 and thedurable housing portion22 of thedelivery device12 may be made of any suitable plastic, metal, composite material or the like. Thedisposable housing portion20 may be made of the same type of material or a different material relative to thedurable housing portion22. The disposable and durable housing portions may be manufactured by injection molding or other molding processes, machining processes or combinations thereof.
• The base21 may be made of a relatively flexible material, such as a flexible silicone, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber or the like. By forming thebase21 of a material capable of flexing with the patient-user's skin, a greater level of patient-user comfort may be achieved when the base is secured to the patient-user's skin. Also, aflexible base21 can result in an increase in the site options on the patient-user's body at which thebase21 may be secured.
• Thedisposable housing portion20 and/or thedurable housing portion22 may include an internal sensor (not shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) for connection to a patient-user, for example, through a needle (not shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) for piercing a patient-user's skin when thedisposable housing portion20 is secured to a patient-user's skin. In such embodiments, a suitable aperture (not shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) may be formed in thebase21, to allow the passage of the sensor needle, when the sensor needle is extended to pierce a patient-user's skin. Alternatively, thedurable housing portion20 of thedelivery device12 may be connected to anexternal sensor14, through a sensor lead, as described with respect to FIG. 2 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005. The sensor may comprise any suitable biological sensing device, depending upon the nature of the treatment to be administered by thedelivery device12. For example, in the context of delivering insulin to a diabetes patient-user, thesensor14 may comprise a blood glucose sensor. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more environmental sensing devices may be included in or on thedelivery device12, for sensing one or more environmental conditions. In further alternatives, the sensor may be included with as a part or along side the infusion cannula and/or needle, such as for example as shown in U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/149,119 filed Jun. 8, 2005, and entitled “Dual Insertion Set,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• As described above, by separating disposable elements of thedelivery device12 from durable elements, the disposable elements may be arranged on thedisposable portion20, while durable elements may be arranged within a separabledurable portion22. In this regard, after one (or a prescribed number) of uses of thedelivery device12, thedisposable portion20 may be separated from thedurable portion22, so that thedisposable portion20 may be disposed of in a proper manner. Thedurable portion22 may, then, be mated with a new, refurbished, user-filled, prefilled, refilled or re-manufactureddisposable portion20 for further delivery operation with a patient-user.
• An example of adelivery device12 having adisposable housing portion20 and adurable housing portion22 is shown inFIG. 4. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, areservoir26 is located in thereservoir retaining portion24 of thedisposable housing portion20. Thereservoir26 may comprise a container having an internal volume for containing a fluidic infusion medium, such as, but not limited to an insulin formulation. Thereservoir26 may be made of any material suitably compatible with the infusion medium, including, but not limited to suitable metal, plastic, ceramic, glass, composite material or the like. For example, the canister may be formed of a plastic material referred to as TOPAS (trademark of Ticona, a subsidiary of Celanese Corporation), such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/100,188, filed Apr. 5, 2005 (Publication No. 2005/0197626), the contents of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Examples of needle/septum connectors used in reservoirs can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/328,393 filed Dec. 22, 2003, and entitled “Reservoir Connector,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In other alternatives, non-septum connectors for use with reservoirs such as Luer locks, or the like may be used.
• Thereservoir26 may be supported by thereservoir retaining portion24 of thedisposable portion20 in any suitable manner. For example, thereservoir26 may be supported on a surface of thebase21 and held in place by one or more projections, walls or other stop surfaces28. The projections, walls or other stop surfaces28 may be formed or molded on or otherwise connected in a fixed manner to the base21 or other structure of thedisposable housing portion20, in locations adjacent and abutting one or more sides of thereservoir26. As described below, in some embodiments, thereservoir26 may be configured to be removable and replaceable with respect to thedisposable housing portion20. In other embodiments, thereservoir26 may be secured to thedisposable housing portion20 in a manner intended to inhibit removal of thereservoir26 from thedisposable housing portion20. For example, an adhesive material may be employed to adhere a surface of thereservoir26 to the base21 or other structure of thedisposable housing portion20.
• In yet other embodiments, thereservoir26 may be formed unitarily with thereservoir retaining portion24, for example, as a hollow chamber provided within an otherwise solid portion of thereservoir retaining portion24. In such embodiments, the hollow interior of thereservoir retaining portion24 may be coated or otherwise lined with a suitable metal, plastic, plastic, TOPAS (trademark of Ticona, a subsidiary of Celanese Corporation), ceramic, glass, composite material or the like. Alternatively, or in addition, the retainingportion24, itself, may be made of a suitable metal, plastic, plastic, TOPAS (trademark of Ticona, a subsidiary of Celanese Corporation), ceramic, glass, composite material or the like.
• In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, thereservoir26 has a generally rectangular-cube shape. In other embodiments, thereservoir26 may have other shapes, including, but not limited to a disk or partial-disk shape, tube shape, curved tube shape or other shape that maximizes the internal volume of the reservoir, yet allows the dimensions of thereservoir retaining portion24 to be minimized. As described below, in some embodiments, thereservoir26 has asupport surface27 that may be formed as a flat surface (FIG. 4) or a curved surface (FIG. 6) for supporting a flexible tube against the action of a peristaltic pump rotor.
• Thereservoir26 has anoutlet port30, through which the infusion medium contained within the interior of thereservoir26 may be communicated out of the reservoir. Theoutlet port30 is open to the interior of thereservoir26 and may include suitable tube-connection structure. A tube-shapedconduit32 having an internal fluid flow path is connected, at a first end, in fluid-flow communication with theoutlet port30. Theconduit32 may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to silicone or other plastic, metal, ceramic or composite material. At least aportion33 of the length of theconduit32 is made of a resilient, flexible material, such as, but not limited to a silicone or other plastic material suitable for repeated contact with pads or rollers of a peristaltic rotor, as described below, to repeatedly compress and return the fluid flow path within thelength portion33 of theconduit32. In some embodiments, the entire length of theconduit32 is made of the resilient, flexible material.
• A second end of theconduit32 is connected in fluid flow communication with aninjection site35 located on thedisposable housing portion20. Theinjection site35 may comprise an insertion mechanism to assist the insertion of a needle or cannula into the patient-user and connection of the needle or cannula in flow communication with theconduit32. Examples of such insertion mechanisms that are built into a delivery device are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, titled “Infusion Device And Method With Disposable Portion” (assigned to the assignee of the present invention), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other needle/cannula insertion tools may be used (or modified for use) to insert a needle and/or cannula, such as for example U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/389,132 filed Mar. 14, 2003, and entitled “Auto Insertion Device For Silhouette Or Similar Products,” and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/314,653 filed Dec. 9, 2002, and entitled “Insertion Device For Insertion Set and Method of Using the Same,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, thelength portion33 of theconduit32 is supported on asurface27 of thereservoir26, at a location arranged to be contacted and compressed by one or more pads or rollers of a peristaltic rotor, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20. Theconduit support surface27 inFIG. 4 is a generally flat, outer surface of thereservoir26. In other embodiments, such as shown inFIG. 6, the conduit support surface may comprise a curved surface, for increased length. While embodiments shown inFIGS. 4 and 6 show theconduit support surface27 as an outer surface of thereservoir26, in other embodiments, the conduit support surface may comprise a flat or curved surface of a wall or other structural portion of thedisposable housing portion20.
• Arotor36 for a peristaltic pump arrangement is supported by thedurable housing portion22. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, therotor36 comprises first andsecond wheels38 and39, supported for rotation about their central axes. A belt, ribbon, chain orsimilar structure40 extends in an annular path, around a portion of the outer peripheral surface of each of thewheels38 and39 and has extends along a generally flat path for the length between thewheels38 and39. In other embodiments, thebelt40 may extend in an annular path around more than twowheels38 and39. In the illustrated embodiment, bothwheels38 and39 are supported for rotation, while one of thewheels38 is operatively connected to a drive device for driving thebelt40 around its annular path. In other embodiments, only one wheel (thedrive wheel38 that operatively connects to a drive device) may be supported for rotation, while theother wheel39 may be non-rotating and provide a guide surface over which thebelt40 may slide, as the belt is driven.
• Thebelt40 has at least one (preferably a plurality) of pads orrollers42 extending from the outer perimeter of the annular path of the belt. The pads orrollers42 may comprise projections or nubs, rotatable wheel structures or the like on the outer peripheral surface of the belt. Thewheels38 and39 are positioned on the durable housing portion, such that a generally flat length of thebelt40 extending between thewheels38 and39 is supported adjacent thelength33 of theconduit32 and in a proximity that allows the pads orrollers42 to contact and compressconduit32 along thelength33, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20 and thebelt40 is driven around its annular path.
• Thedurable housing portion22 has a side or wall44 (FIG. 3) that faces thedisposable housing portion20, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20 as shown inFIG. 2. The side orwall44 defines a recess in which thewheels38 and39 are located. The recess in the side orwall44 is open on the side facing the disposable housing portion for the pads orrollers42 of thebelt40 to extend (and/or for a portion of the belt to extend, depending upon the location of thewheels38 and39 relative to the open side of the recess) for engaging thelength33 of theconduit32, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20. Thedisposable housing portion20 includes a side orwall46 having an opening that faces the open side of the recess in the side orwall44 of thedurable housing portion22, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20. The open side of the recess in the side orwall44 is arranged to align with the open side orwall46, to expose thelength33 of theconduit32 and allow the pads orrollers42 of thebelt40 to engage thelength33 of theconduit32, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20.
• Adrive device47 is supported in thedurable housing portion22 and is operatively connected to thedrive wheel38, to selectively rotate thedrive wheel38 around its central axis. Thedrive device47 may comprise, for example, but not limited to a motor or other device for converting electrical power into rotational motion. Various examples of drive devices are described below. Thedrive device47 may be operatively connected to thedrive wheel38, through any suitable gear, gear train, belt, shaft or other arrangement. Examples of suitable arrangements for operatively coupling an electronic motor to a rotatable drive member are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, titled “Infusion Device And Method With Disposable Portion,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• Thedrive device47 is connected to acontrol circuit48 supported within thedurable portion22 of the delivery device, for controlling the operation of the drive device according to a desired infusion delivery program or profile. A delivery program or profile may be stored within a suitable electronic storage medium (not shown) located within thedurable portion22 and/or may be communicated to thedelivery device12 from other sources, such as aCCD16 or a computer18 (as shown inFIG. 1). In such embodiments, the delivery program or profile may be employed by thecontrol circuit48 to control the operation of thedrive device47 in accordance with the delivery program or profile. Alternatively or in addition, thecontrol circuit48 may control thedrive device47 to deliver one or more discrete volumes of the infusion medium in response to delivery demand control signals generated within thedevice12 or communicated to thedevice12 from other sources, such as aCCD16 or a computer18 (as shown inFIG. 1). Examples of the types of communications and/or control capabilities, as well as device feature sets and/or program options may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/445,477 filed May 27, 2003, and entitled “External Infusion Device with Remote Programming, Bolus Estimator and/or Vibration Alarm Capabilities,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/429,385 filed May 5, 2003, and entitled “Handheld Personal Data Assistant (PDA) with a Medical Device and Method of Using the Same,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/813,660 filed Mar. 21, 2001, and entitled “Control Tabs For Infusion Devices And Methods Of Using The Same,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• Thedurable portion22 may contain additional electronic circuitry (not shown) for communication with external devices such as theCCD16 orcomputer18, for storage of sensor data or other data, for processing and control functions, or for other functions. Thedurable portion22 may have a user interface (not shown) including one or more buttons, electronic display, or the like, and associated electronic interface circuitry to allow a user to access data and/or input data or instructions to control electronic circuitry within thedurable portion22.
• Thedurable portion22 may contain a battery, high energy capacitor or otherelectronic power source50 for providing electrical power to thedrive device47,control circuit48 and other electronic circuitry contained in thedurable portion22. In such embodiments, the battery, high energy capacitor or other electronic power source may be rechargeable through a recharge connector (not shown) provided on thedurable portion22. Alternatively, or in addition, the power source may be removable and replaceable with respect to thedurable housing portion22. In other embodiments, a battery, capacitor or other electronic power source (not shown) may be supported on thedisposable portion20 and connectable to thedrive device47,control circuit48 and other electronic circuitry in the durable housing portion, through electrical connectors (not shown inFIG. 4) that make an electrical connection upon thedurable portion22 being coupled to thedisposable portion20, without additional manual manipulation. Such electrical connectors may include one or more pairs of conductive pads, where each pair of pads is connected to opposite poles of the power source and located on any suitable surface of thedisposable portion20 that engages a corresponding surface on thedurable portion22, when thedurable portion22 is engaged with thedisposable portion20. In such embodiments, the corresponding surface of thedurable portion22 includes one or more corresponding pairs of conductive pads that are electrically connected to thedrive device47,control circuit48 and other electronic circuitry in the durable housing portion and are arranged to engage the conductive pads on the disposable portion, when thedurable portion22 is coupled to thedisposable portion20.
• Thedurable portion22 may include aninterior volume54 that contains thedrive device47,control circuit48, other electronic circuitry described above, gears or other linkage to operatively couple thedrive device47 to thedrive wheel38 and, in some embodiments, apower source50. To protect those electrical and mechanical components from certain environmental conditions (such as, but not limited to, moisture, air, biological or medical fluids), theinterior volume54 of thedurable portion22 may be suitably sealed from the external environment by thehousing structure55 that forms thedurable portion22. In the embodiment inFIGS. 4 and 5, thewheels38 and39 andbelt40 may be supported by thedurable portion22, in a recess located outside of theinterior volume54. As shown inFIG. 5, arotatable shaft56 is axially connected to thedrive wheel38. Theshaft56 may extend through an aperture in a wall of thehousing structure55. One ormore seals58, such as, but not limited to, an o-ring seal may be arranged around the aperture. Accordingly, the housing structure of thedurable portion22 and the seal(s)58 may form a suitable moisture-tight seal, air-tight seal and/or hermetic seal, to protect the electronic components located in theinterior volume54 and/or separate those components from environmental, medical or biological materials to which thedisposable portion20 is exposed during normal operation.
• A linkage structure for operably coupling thedrive device47 to theshaft56, to transfer rotational motion to theshaft56 may be included in the sealedinterior volume54, to protect and/or separate those mechanical components from environmental or biological materials, as well. InFIG. 5, thelinkage structure60 comprises at least two engaged bevel gears or other suitable structure arranged to communicate rotational motion between adrive shaft62 of thedrive device47 and theshaft56, where the axes of rotation of theshafts62 and56 are non-parallel and may be orthogonal. Accordingly, as thedrive device47 is controlled to selectively rotate thedrive shaft62, rotational motion of thedrive shaft62 is communicated through thelinkage structure60 to provide rotational motion of theshaft56 and, thus, rotational motion of thedrive wheel38 to selectively drive thebelt40 around its annular path.
• As thebelt40 is driven around its annular path, the pads orrollers42 engage and press against thelength33 of theconduit32, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20. As described above, the spacing between the first andsecond wheels38 and39 provides a generally straight or flat portion of the annular path of the belt adjacent thelength33 of theconduit32. Accordingly, as thebelt40 is selectively driven around its annular path, the pads orrollers42 on the belt engage and slide or roll along thelength33 of theconduit32 for at least the distance between the first andsecond wheels38 and39. The reservoir26 (or other structural in or of the disposable housing portion) provides a generallyflat surface27 for supporting thelength33 of theconduit32 against the pressure applied by the pads orrollers42 of thebelt40, to compress theconduit32 between each pad orroller42 and the generally flat surface, as the pad orroller42 is moved along thelength33 of theconduit32.
• Anotherrotor36 andreservoir26 configuration that may be used in a delivery device ofFIGS. 2-5 is shown inFIG. 6. Therotor36 inFIG. 6 has a plurality of pads orrollers42 that are supported on asingle rotary wheel70. InFIG. 6, thewheel70 comprises a structure of spokes extending from a central hub, where each spoke has an end on which a pad orroller42 is disposed. The central hub of thewheel70 may be coupled to a rotatable shaft similar to therotatable shaft56 that is coupled to thedrive wheel38 inFIG. 5. Accordingly, thewheel70 may be selectively driven by thedrive device47 in a manner similar to the manner described above for driving thedrive wheel38 inFIG. 5.
• Thewheel70 inFIG. 6 is supported for rotation about acentral axis72 at a location on thedurable housing portion22 at which the pads orrollers42 will engage thelength33 of theconduit32, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, thelength33 of theconduit32 is supported on a concave-curved support surface27 of the reservoir26 (or other structure in or of the disposable housing portion20). The concave curvature and location of thesupport surface27 inFIG. 6 may be selected to be about the same radius (or a slightly greater radius) as the radial distance of the outer surface of the pads orrollers42 from theaxis72 of therotary wheel70, when thedurable housing portion22 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion20. As therotary wheel70 is selectively driven by thedrive device47, the pads orrollers42 are moved around an annular, circumferential path and contact and slide or roll along thecurved length33 of theconduit32. The pads or rollers compress theconduit32 during their motion along thecurved length33, to provide a peristaltic pumping action (a pressure differential in theconduit32 across the rotor36) sufficient to draw infusion fluid from thereservoir26, through theconduit32 and to theinjection site35. The curvature of thesupport surface27 inFIG. 6 can help maximize thelength33 of the engageable portion of theconduit32, to improve the peristaltic pumping action. Therotor36 configuration ofFIG. 6, thus, does not require multiple wheels and does not require a belt structure as described with respect toFIG. 4. In yet further embodiments, therotor36 ofFIG. 4 or6 may be supported on thedisposable housing portion20 and connectable to a rotary drive device supported on thedurable housing portion22. Suitable structure for connecting a rotary drive device in one housing portion to a rotor in another housing portion is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, titled “Infusion Device And Method With Disposable Portion,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• Another peristaltic drive configuration in adelivery device112 is shown inFIGS. 7-12. The embodiment inFIGS. 7-12 may employ a two-part housing structure, as described above, including adisposable housing portion120 and adurable housing portion122 that may function to engage and disengage similarly to the disposable anddurable housing portions20 and22 described above. The twohousing portions120 and122 are shown in an engaged orientation, inFIG. 7. Thedurable housing portion122 is shown in a top-down view inFIG. 8 and in a side view inFIG. 9. Thedisposable portion120 is shown in a bottom-up view inFIG. 10 and a side view inFIG. 11. Another side view of the twohousing portions120 and122 is shown inFIG. 12, with thedisposable housing portion120 oriented to be engaged with thedurable housing portion122, but located above and separated from thedurable housing portion122.
• Thedisposable housing portion120 supports areservoir126 having an interior volume for containing a fluidic infusion medium. Thereservoir126 may be similar in structure and function to thereservoir26 described above.
• Thereservoir126 has anoutlet port130, through which the infusion medium contained within the interior of thereservoir126 may be communicated out of the reservoir. Theoutlet port130 is open to the interior volume of thereservoir126 and may include suitable tube-connection structure. A tube-shapedconduit132 having an internal fluid flow path is connected, at a first end, in fluid-flow communication with theoutlet port130. Theconduit132 may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to silicone or other plastic, metal, ceramic or composite material. At least aportion133 of the length of theconduit132 is made of a resilient, flexible material, such as, but not limited to a silicone or other plastic material suitable for repeated contact with pads or rollers of a peristaltic rotor, as described below, to repeatedly compress and return the fluid flow path within thelength portion133 of theconduit132. In some embodiments, the entire length of theconduit132 is made of the resilient, flexible material.
• A second end of theconduit132 is connected in fluid flow communication with aninjection site135 located on thedisposable housing portion120. Theinjection site135 may be similar to theinjection site35 described above. For example, theinjection site135 may include a needle inserter device for inserting a hollow needle or cannula into a patient-user's skin, when thedelivery device112 is secured to a patient-user's skin. Examples of needle inserter devices that may be used for moving a hollow needle or cannula into a patient-user and connecting the hollow needle or cannula in fluid flow communication with a reservoir are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/839,840, titled “Infusion Medium Delivery System, Device And Method With Needle Inserter And Needle Inserter Device Method”, filed Aug. 23, 2006, (attorney docket no. 047711-0384), each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other needle/cannula insertion tools may be used (or modified for use) to insert a needle and/or cannula, such as for example U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/389,132 filed Mar. 14, 2003, and entitled “Auto Insertion Device For Silhouette Or Similar Products,” and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/314,653 filed Dec. 9, 2002, and entitled “Insertion Device For Insertion Set and Method of Using the Same,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In further embodiments, other suitable needle or cannula inserter devices may be employed. In yet further embodiments, a set of micro-needles may be employed, instead f a hollow needle or cannula.
• In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8-12, thelength portion133 of theconduit132 is supported on asurface127 of thedisposable housing portion120, at a location arranged to be contacted and compressed by one or more pads or rollers of a peristaltic rotor, when thedurable housing portion122 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion120. Thelength portion133 may extend in a circular path around at least a portion of the circumference of a circle (as shown inFIG. 10) having a radius about the same as the radius at which one or more wheels or pads of a rotor of a peristaltic pumping arrangement (described below) are located. As shown inFIG. 11, theconduit support surface127 may be located within a recessed portion, such as an annular groove, provided on a side of thedisposable housing portion120 that faces and engages an opposite-facing side of thedurable housing portion122, when thedisposable housing portion120 and thedurable housing portion122 are engaged in the manner shown inFIG. 7. In such embodiments, the annular groove may have a radius and width sufficient to receive one or more wheels or pads of a rotor of a peristaltic pumping arrangement (described below). The location of theconduit132 in an annular groove may help to avoid damage to the conduit during use, storage or shipping.
• The durable housing portion supports arotor136 of a peristaltic pumping arrangement. Therotor136 comprises arotor wheel137 that supports at least one roller orpad142, and preferably, a plurality of rollers orpads142 located at spaced intervals around the perimeter of therotor wheel137. The rollers orpads142 may comprise rotatable wheels, projections, nubs or the like. In embodiments in which the rollers orpads142 are rotatable wheels, each wheel is supported for rotation on a respective spoke of therotor wheel137, where the axis of rotation of each wheel is orthogonal to (and may be perpendicular to) the axis of rotation of therotor wheel137. That arrangement allows the rollers orpads142 to readily align with and operatively engage theflexible portion133 of theconduit132, when thedurable housing portion122 is engaged with thedisposable housing portion120. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, therotor136 includes three rollers orpads142. In other embodiments, any suitable number rollers orpads142 may be employed. The rollers orpads142 are located at a radial distance from theaxis147 of therotor136 that is about the same as the radius of the circle circumscribed by theflexible portion133 of theconduit132 and the radius of the annular groove for thesupport surface127 on thedisposable housing portion120.
• Therotor136 is operatively coupled to adrive device146, for selective rotation about therotor axis147 by thedrive device146. Thedrive device146 is connected to acontrol circuit148 supported within thedurable portion122 of the delivery device, for controlling the operation of the drive device according to a desired infusion delivery program or profile. A delivery program or profile may be stored within a suitable electronic storage medium (not shown) located within thedurable portion122 and/or may be communicated to thedelivery device12 from other sources, such as aCCD16 or a computer18 (as shown inFIG. 1). In such embodiments, the delivery program or profile may be employed by thecontrol circuit148 to control the operation of thedrive device146 in accordance with the delivery program or profile. Alternatively or in addition, thecontrol circuit148 may control thedrive device146 to deliver one or more discrete volumes of the infusion medium in response to delivery demand control signals generated within thedevice12 or communicated to thedevice12 from other sources, such as aCCD16 or a computer18 (as shown inFIG. 1). Examples of the types of communications and/or control capabilities, as well as device feature sets and/or program options may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/445,477 filed May 27, 2003, and entitled “External Infusion Device with Remote Programming, Bolus Estimator and/or Vibration Alarm Capabilities,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/429,385 filed May 5, 2003, and entitled “Handheld Personal Data Assistant (PDA) with a Medical Device and Method of Using the Same,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/813,660 filed Mar. 21, 2001, and entitled “Control Tabs For Infusion Devices And Methods Of Using The Same,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• Thedurable portion122 may contain additional electronic circuitry (not shown) for communication with external devices such as theCCD16 orcomputer18, for storage of sensor data or other data, for processing and control functions, or for other functions as described above with respect to the circuitry indurable housing portion22. Thedurable portion122 may have a user interface (not shown) including one or more buttons, electronic display, or the like, and electronic interface circuitry to allow a user to access data and/or input data or instructions to control electronic circuitry within thedurable portion122.
• Thedurable portion122 may contain a battery, high energy capacitor or otherelectronic power source150 for providing electrical power to thedrive device146,control circuit148 and other electronic circuitry contained in thedurable portion122. In such embodiments, the battery, high energy capacitor or other electronic power source may be rechargeable through a recharge connector (not shown) provided on thedurable portion122. Alternatively, or in addition, the power source may be removable and replaceable with respect to thedurable housing portion122.
• In other embodiments, such as shown inFIG. 13, a battery, capacitor or otherelectronic power source150′ may be supported on thedisposable portion120′. More specifically, in the embodiment ofFIG. 13, adisposable housing portion120′ and adurable housing portion122′ function in a manner similar to thedisposable housing portion120 anddurable housing portion122 described above. However, inFIG. 13, thepower source150′ is electrically connectable, throughconnectors151′ and152′, to adrive device146′, acontrol circuit148′ and other electronic circuitry in thedurable housing portion122′ (similar to thedrive device146,control circuit148 and other electronic circuitry in thedurable housing portion122 described above). Theelectrical connectors151′ and152′ may comprise any suitable structure that makes an electrical connection upon thedurable portion122′ being coupled to thedisposable portion120′, without additional manual manipulation. However, further embodiments may be configured in which additional manual manipulation of thedisposable housing portion120′, thedurable housing portion122′ and/or a manual operator (such as, but not limited to a button, lever or the like) may be required to provide the electrical connection, once thedisposable housing portion120′ and the durable housing portion233′ are engaged.
• In the embodiment shown inFIG. 13, theelectrical connector151′ comprises a pair of electrical leads extending from the positive and negative poles of thepower source150′, with a conductive pad on an exposed end of each lead. Theelectrical connector152′ comprises a pair of electrical conductors connected to one or more of thecontrol circuit148′, thedrive device146′ and other electronic circuitry in thedurable housing portion122′. The embodiment ofFIG. 13 includes areservoir126′,conduit132′ and arotor136′ (similar to thereservoir126,conduit132 androtor136 described above).
• In the embodiments ofFIGS. 8-13, thedurable portion122,122′ may include aninterior volume154,154′ that contains thedrive device146,146′control circuit148,148′ and other electronic circuitry as described above. In addition, theinterior volume154,154′ may contain gears orother linkage structure160,160′ (similar to thelinkage structure60 described above) to operatively couple thedrive device146,146′ to arotatable rotor shaft156,156′. To protect those electrical and mechanical components from certain environmental conditions (such as, but not limited to, moisture, air, biological or medical fluids), theinterior volume154,154′ of thedurable portion122,122′ may be suitably sealed from the external environment by thehousing structure155,155′ that forms thedurable portion122,122′.
• In the embodiments inFIGS. 8-13, therotor136,136′ may be supported by thedurable portion122,122′, outside of theinterior volume154,154′. Therotatable shaft156,156′ is axially connected to therotor136,136′. Theshaft156,156′ may extend through an aperture in a wall of thehousing structure155,155′. One ormore seals158,158′, such as, but not limited to, an o-ring seal may be arranged around the aperture. Accordingly, the housing structure of thedurable portion122,122′ and the seal(s)158,158′ may form a suitable moisture-tight seal, air-tight seal and/or hermetic seal, to protect the electronic components located in theinterior volume154,154′ and/or separate those components from environmental, medical or biological materials to which thedisposable portion120,120′ is exposed during normal operation.
• Accordingly, as thedrive device146,146′ is controlled to selectively rotate thedrive shaft162,162′, rotational motion of thedrive shaft162,162′ is communicated through thelinkage structure160,160′ to provide rotational motion of theshaft156,156′ and, thus, rotational motion of therotor136,136′ to selectively drive the rollers or pads on the rotor through an annular path.
• As the rollers or pads on therotor136,136′ are driven in their annular path, the rollers or pads engage and compress theconduit132,132′ during their motion along the annular path to provide a peristaltic pumping action (a pressure differential in theconduit132,132′ across therotor136,136′) sufficient to draw infusion fluid from thereservoir126,126′, through theconduit132,132′ and to theinjection site135,135′.
• In the embodiments ofFIGS. 4-13, a compression structure comprising at least one roller or pad of arotor136,136′ is arranged to engage and compress a portion of theconduit132,132′ that extends from theinfusion medium reservoir126,126′. According to a further embodiment, a compression structure, such as at least one roller or pad, is arranged to compress the infusion medium reservoir, itself For example, an embodiment of a delivery device212 as shown inFIG. 14 includes adisposable housing portion220 and adurable housing portion222, similar in structure and function to the disposable anddurable housing portions20 and22, respectively, discussed above. Thedisposable housing portion220 and thedurable housing portion222 are configured to be engaged, as shown inFIG. 14, for operation, yet be separable (as described above with respect to the disposable anddurable housing portions20 and22).
• Thedisposable housing portion220 has aninterior volume224 that contains areservoir226. Thereservoir226 is arranged to abut against arigid surface227 within thedisposable housing portion220. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 14, thereservoir226 abuts against theinner surface227 of the outer wall of the structure that forms thedisposable housing portion220. Also in the embodiment shown inFIG. 14, theinner surface227 is curved, corresponding to the curvature of the outer wall of the structure that forms thedisposable housing portion220. In other embodiments, therigid surface227 against which thereservoir226 abuts may be a surface of another wall (not shown) of thedisposable housing portion220 or the surface of another structure (not shown) located within theinterior volume224 of thedisposable housing portion220.
• Thereservoir226 may comprise a flexible bag-like container, a tube-like structure or other container structure having at least one flexible wall for receiving compression pressure from a track roller, as described below. Thereservoir226 includes an interior volume for containing an infusion medium. In one example embodiment, thereservoir226 comprises a flexible bag-like container made of a flexible plastic, metal or composite material, suitably compatible with the infusion medium. A conduit having an internal fluid flow path is coupled in fluid flow communication with the interior of thereservoir226 and aninjection site235, for providing a fluid flow path from the reservoir to the injection site. Theinjection site235 may be similar to theinjection site35 or135 described above.
• The housing structure of thedisposable housing portion220 has awall228 that faces an opposite-facingwall229 of thedurable housing portion222, when thedisposable housing portion220 and thedurable housing portion222 are engaged as shown inFIG. 14. Thewall228 of thedisposable housing portion220 is provided with an opening that aligns with a corresponding opening of thewall229 of the durable housing portion, when thedisposable housing portion220 and thedurable housing portion222 are engaged as shown inFIG. 14.
• The durable housing portion has aninterior volume230 that contains a movable track232 (such as a rack of a rack and pinion arrangement), adrive device246,drive control electronics248, other electronics (not shown), apower source250 and linkage gears orother linkage structure260 for operatively coupling thedrive device246 to thetrack232, to move thetrack232 along an arched path. Thedrive device246 may comprise a drive device as described above with respect to drivedevice47. Similarly, thedrive control electronics248, other electronics (not shown) andpower source250 may comprise driveelectronics48, other electronics and apower source50 as described above with respect to the embodiment ofFIGS. 2-5.
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 14, thetrack232 is curved to correspond (approximate) the curvature of theinner surface227 in thedisposable housing portion220. Thetrack232 is supported to move in anarched path252 that extends along the direction of curvature of thetrack232. Thetrack232 has a surface provided with serrations or teeth configured for engaging corresponding serrations or teeth on an engagement gear262 (such as a pinion gear of a rack and pinion arrangement) of thelinkage260. Theengagement gear262 is operatively coupled through the rest of thelinkage260 to be selectively, rotatably driven by thedrive device246, for example, but not limited to thelinkage60 that operatively couples thedrive device47 to selectively, rotatably drive thewheel38 described above. In the embodiment ofFIG. 14, thetrack232 is provided with serrations or teeth the curved surface of the track that forms a concave shape. However, in other embodiments, thetrack232 may be provided with serrations or teeth along its convex curved side or on the surface facing out of the page or the surface facing into the page (relative to the orientation shown inFIG. 14), for engaging anengagement gear262 suitably located adjacent the serrated or toothed surface of thetrack232.
• Thetrack232 is configured to extend through the aperture in thewall229 of thedurable housing portion222, such that a portion of the curved length of thetrack232 is located inside of the internal volume of thedurable housing portion222 and a further portion of the curved length of thetrack232 extends out of the aperture in thewall229. When thedisposable housing portion220 and thedurable housing portion222 are engaged, as shown inFIG. 14, the portion of thetrack232 that extends out of the aperture in thewall229 of thedurable housing portion222 is arranged to extend into the aperture in thewall228 of thedisposable housing portion220.
• Thetrack232 may be supported for movement along thearcuate path252 by a combination of theengagement gear262 and one or more of a further gear (not shown) engaging the convex side of thecurved track232 or one or more support rollers orpads264 connected to thetrack232 and arranged to slide or roll along a curved surface such as the interior surface of the structure that forms the outer wall of thedurable housing portion222. Alternatively, or in addition, such support rollers orpads264 may be arranged to roll along another curved surface of or within thedurable housing portion222. Alternatively, or in addition, thetrack232 may be guided within one or more grooves, channels or other guide structures (not shown) formed on one or both of thedurable housing portion222 anddisposable housing portion220, for engaging thetrack232 and maintaining thetrack232 along thearcuate path252.
• A compression mechanism comprising at least one compression pad orroller266 is supported on the portion of thetrack232 that extends into the interior of the disposable housing portion, when thedisposable housing portion220 and thedurable housing portion222 are engaged as shown inFIG. 14. The compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 may be arranged to impart a compression force on a flexible wall of thereservoir226, when thedisposable housing portion220 and thedurable housing portion222 are engaged as shown inFIG. 14.
• In particular, the compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 may engage a flexible wall of thereservoir226 and impart a compression force directed toward thesurface227 against which thereservoir226 is abutted. The compression force imparted by the compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 is sufficient to compress the portion of thereservoir226 that is located between the compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 and thesurface227. The width dimension (in the direction into and out of the page in the orientation shown inFIG. 14) of the compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 is at least as great as the width dimension (in the direction into and out of the page in the orientation shown inFIG. 14) of thereservoir226. The compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 are arranged to slide or roll along thereservoir266 and compress the reservoir, as thetrack232 is moved in thearcuate path252, in the direction ofarrow272. Accordingly, as the compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 compress aportion270 of thereservoir226, as shown inFIG. 14, the internal volume of an infusion-medium-containingportion271 of thereservoir226 reduces and the pressure within the infusion-medium-containing portion of thereservoir226 increases to cause infusion medium to be forced out of thereservoir226, toward theinjection site235.
• While the compression pad(s) or roller(s)266 inFIG. 14 are coupled to themoveable track232, in other embodiments, one or more compression pad(s) or rotatable roller(s) may be supported in a fixed relation (with roller axis in a fixed location) relative to thedisposable housing portion220, while the reservoir may be coupled to the moveable track. For example,FIG. 15 shows an embodiment in which a pair of compression pads orrollers266′ are arranged adjacent each other and secured to thedisposable housing portion220 in a fixed location (although they may be rotatable) with respect to thedisposable housing portion220. The width dimension (in the direction into and out of the page in the orientation shown inFIG. 15) of the compression pads orrollers266′ is at least as great as the width dimension (in the direction into and out of the page in the orientation shown inFIG. 15) of thereservoir226′.
• The embodiment ofFIG. 15 includes areservoir226′ and amoveable track232′, which may be similar to thereservoir226 and track232 described above with respect toFIG. 14. However, inFIG. 15, thereservoir226′ is secured to the portion of thetrack232′ that extends into the disposable housing portion, when thedisposable housing portion220′ and thedurable housing portion222′ are engaged (in a manner similar to that shown inFIG. 14). Also, in the embodiment ofFIG. 15, the drive device and linkage (246 and260 inFIG. 14) are configured to selectively move thetrack232′ in the direction ofarrow272′ (opposite to the direction ofarrow272 inFIG. 14), to selectively pull a portion of thereservoir226′ through a space between the compression pads orrollers266′.
• The spacing between the compression pads orrollers266′ is selected to allow the compression pads orrollers266′ to compress the portion of thereservoir226′ located between the pads or rollers, to substantially deplete infusion medium from that portion of the reservoir and reduce the infusion-medium-containing portion of thereservoir226′, as the reservoir is pulled through the space between the compression pads orrollers266′ by movement of thetrack232′ in the direction ofarrow272′. Accordingly, as thereservoir226′ is compressed by the compression pad(s) or roller(s)266′, the internal volume of an infusion-medium-containingportion271′ of thereservoir226′ reduces and the pressure within the infusion-medium-containing portion of thereservoir226′ increases to cause infusion medium to be forced out of thereservoir226′, toward theinjection site235′. Thereservoir226′ andmoveable track232′ ofFIG. 15 may be used in place of thereservoir226 andmoveable track232 ofFIG. 14.
• In further embodiments, areservoir226′ may extend between (and be compressed by) a pair of compression rollers orpads266′ similar to the arrangement shown inFIG. 15. However, in further embodiments, the compression pads orrollers266′ comprise at least one (and, preferably, two) rotatable roller members, and where one or both of the roller members is (are) operatively coupled to a drive device for rotation of the roller member(s). By rotatably driving the roller member(s)266′ with a drive device, the depletedportion271′ of thereservoir226′ may be driven through the space between the roller member(s)266′, to further reduce the internal volume of an infusion-medium-containingportion271′ of thereservoir226′ and, thus, increase the pressure within the infusion-medium-containing portion of thereservoir226′ to cause infusion medium to be forced out of thereservoir226′, toward theinjection site235′. Also, while embodiments shown inFIGS. 14 and 15 employ atrack232 having a curved shape, to accommodate the circular shape of the interior of thedisposable housing portion220 and minimize space usage, other embodiments may employ atrack232 having a generally straight length along its serrated or toothed side.
• A further embodiment of a delivery device212″ inFIGS. 16 and 17 is similar in various structural and functional features as the delivery device212 described above, in that the delivery device212″ includes adisposable housing portion220″ and adurable housing portion222″ (similar to thedisposable housing portion220 or220′ anddurable housing portion222 or222′ described above). InFIGS. 16 and 17, atrack232″ (similar to thetrack232 or232′ discussed above) operates with aplunger head280 attached to or engaged with the end of the track portion that extends into thedisposable housing portion220″. Thetrack232″ may be operatively coupled to adrive device246″, throughsuitable linkage structure260″, as described above with respect to thetrack232,drive device246 andlinkage structure260 inFIG. 14.
• Areservoir226″ is located in thedisposable housing portion220″ and has an interior volume for containing an infusion medium. Thereservoir226″ may comprise a rigid, tubular structure or channel having a curved interior volume, where the curved interior volume extends along a curved longitudinal direction and has a radius of curvature about the same as the radius of curvature of thetrack232″. The interior volume of thereservoir226″ may be connected to aninjection site235″. For example, thereservoir226″ may comprise structure and functionality similar to the reservoirs described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/839,822, filed Aug. 23, 2006, titled “Infusion Medium Delivery Device And Method For Driving Plunger In Reservoir” (attorney docket no. 047711-0382), but having a curved interior volume. In one embodiment, aplunger head280 may be disposed within the reservoir, such that one end of thetrack232″ is arranged to abut (engage) theplunger head280, when thedurable housing portion222″ is engaged with thedisposable housing portion220″, as shown inFIG. 16, yet separate (disengage) from theplunger head280 when thedurable housing portion222″ is separated from thedisposable housing portion220″. In another embodiment, theplunger head280 may be fixed to one end of thetrack232″ and may be inserted into thereservoir226″, when thedurable housing portion222″ is engaged with thedisposable housing portion220″, as shown inFIG. 16, and may be withdrawn from thereservoir226″ when thedurable housing portion222″ is separated from thedisposable housing portion220″.
• In the embodiment shown inFIG. 16, thereservoir226″ comprises a curved tubular structure having a curvedcentral axis282 extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular structure. The curved tubular structure of thereservoir226″ inFIG. 16 has an outer radius of curvature approximately equal to the radius of curvature of theinner wall surface227″ of thedisposable housing portion220″. The curvature of thereservoir226″, thus, may be selected to help maximize the efficient use of theinterior volume224″ of thedisposable housing portion220″, by minimizing unused, open space within theinterior volume224″ without reducing the interior volume of the reservoir. Accordingly, a curved reservoir may be employed to help minimize certain dimensions of thedelivery device12″, without reducing the reservoir capacity.
• Theplunger head280 inFIGS. 16 and 17 has a suitable shape and dimension to be moveable within the interior volume of thereservoir226″. Theplunger head280 may include one ormore seals284, such as, but not limited to o-ring seals, to provide a fluid seal between the outer peripheral surface of the plunger head and the inner surface of thereservoir226″. When engaged with the end of thetrack232″, theplunger head280 is moveable in the direction ofarrow286, upon thetrack232″ being driven by thedrive device246″ in the direction ofarrow286. As theplunger head280 is moved within thereservoir226″ in the direction ofarrow284, the infusion-medium-containing volume of thereservoir226″ is reduced and the pressure within the infusion-medium-containing portion of thereservoir226″ is correspondingly increased, to cause infusion medium to be forced out of thereservoir226″, toward theinjection site235″.
• Adelivery device312 according to a further embodiment of the present invention includes a reservoir having a generally disk-like shape with a circular or elliptical cross-section, or other smooth cross-sectional shape, to accommodate sealing between a reservoir plunger and the inner surface of the reservoir. In the embodiment ofFIG. 18, adisposable housing portion320 comprises areservoir326 that has an enclosed interior volume with a generally circular cross-sectional shape (forming a partial circle), such that the inner wall surface of the reservoir has a radius of curvature that forms at least a partial circle. Thedisposable housing portion320 may be formed of any suitable material, such as described above with respect to thedisposable housing portion20.
• InFIG. 18, theinner wall surface327 of thereservoir326 is (or has the same shape and similar dimension as) the outer peripheral wall of thereservoir326. Accordingly, the volume of thereservoir326 may be maximized for a given outer dimension of thedisposable housing portion320.
• A plunger in the form of arotor arm336 is supported for rotation within thereservoir326. InFIG. 18, therotor arm336 is supported at one end on arotation axis338, about which thearm336 may rotate in the direction ofarrow340. Therotor arm336 has a width dimension (extending into and out of the page, in the orientation shown inFIG. 18) about as great as the width dimension (into and out of the page, in the orientation shown inFIG. 18) of thereservoir326, such that the rotor arm spans the full width (into and out of the page, in the orientation shown inFIG. 18) of thereservoir326. Therotor arm336 may be made of any suitably rigid material, including, but not limited to a metal, plastic, ceramic or composite material, or combinations thereof.
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 18, therotor arm axis338 is coaxial with the axis of the circular shape of the inner wall surface of the reservoir (which may be the same surface as, or coaxial with, theinner wall surface327 of the disposable housing portion320). Thearm336 extends from therotation axis338, radially outward a distance about equal to (or slightly less than) the radius of the inner wall surface of thereservoir326, toward the inner wall surface of the reservoir. One ormore seals342 may be secured to the second end of thearm336, to provide a fluid seal between the inner wall surface of the reservoir and thearm336. One or more seals (not shown) may be provided on the surfaces of thearm336 facing into and out of the page in the orientation shown inFIG. 18, to provide a fluid seal between thearm336 and the bottom and top surfaces of the reservoir326 (with respect to the orientation shown inFIG. 18). One ormore air passages343 may be provided between the interior of thereservoir326 and an external environment, to equalize pressure within thereservoir326, as the infusion medium is driven out of the reservoir or filled or re-filled into the reservoir. The air passages may be covered with an air-permeable material that inhibits the passage of infusion media, but allows the passage of air. Examples of structures that permit air-flow, but that inhibit fluids can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/328,393 filed Dec. 22, 2003, and entitled “Reservoir Connector,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/699,429 filed Oct. 31, 2003, and entitled “External Infusion Device with a Vented Housing,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• Anoutlet341 is provided in fluid flow communication with the interior volume of thereservoir326 and couples to aconduit339 that is in fluid flow communication with aninjection site335. Theinjection site335 may be similar to theinjection site35,135 and235 described above. As thearm336 is selectively driven in the direction ofarrow340, the pressure of the infusion medium within the interior of thereservoir326 increases and the infusion medium is forced out of theoutlet341 and through theconduit339 to theinjection site335. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 18, theconduit339 extends out from the disposable housing portion, to aninjection site335 that is external to the disposable housing portion. In further embodiments, theinjection site335 may be located within the disposable housing portion, for example, as shown in broken lines at335′ inFIG. 18.
• Adurable housing portion322 shown inFIG. 19 is configured to engage and operatively couple to thedisposable housing portion320 inFIG. 18. Thedurable housing portion322 may include an enclosed interior volume that contains a drive device, drive control electronics, other electronics, a power source and linkage structure, as described above with respect to thedurable housing portion22 ofFIG. 4.
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 19, the drive device within the durable housing portion is operatively coupled, through suitable linkage structure as described above, to rotatably drive arotatable shaft344. Therotatable shaft344 is supported for rotation by thedurable housing portion322 and extends through an aperture in a wall of thedurable housing portion322. One or more seals, such as, but not limited to o-ring seals, may be disposed around the aperture in the durable housing portion wall through which theshaft344 extends.
• The end of theshaft344 that extends outside of thedurable housing portion322 may include a mating connector, for engaging and operatively mating with a corresponding mating connector coupled to therotor arm336. For example, theshaft344 may have a non-circular cross-section (cross-section in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft344) that mates with an axial-directedaperture335 in thearm336. Theaperture335 has a non-circular cross-section shape that corresponds to the cross-section shape of theshaft344 to allow theshaft344 to be inserted into theaperture335 and to rotate thearm336 with rotation of theshaft344. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 18 and 19, the non-circular cross-sectional shape of theshaft344 and theaperture335 is generally a “D” shape. However, other embodiments may employ other suitable, non-circular shapes, including, but not limited to, oval, elliptical, polygonal, star, cross shapes or the like.
• Accordingly, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 18 and 19, the drive device within the durable housing portion is operatively coupled, through suitable linkage structure, to rotatably drive arotatable shaft344.FIG. 20 shows another embodiment in which a similar drive device within a similar durable housing portion may be operatively coupled, through suitable linkage structure, to rotatably drive a rotary shaft to selectively drive fluid from a reservoir.
• The structure inFIG. 20 includes arotor502 supported for rotation relative to ahousing504, about an axis A₅. Thehousing504 may be located within thedisposable housing portion20 and/or may be a section of thedisposable housing portion20 described above with respect toFIGS. 2 and 3. Thehousing504 may be selectively engaged with and disengaged from a durable housing portion that contains a drive device, as described above with respect to thedrive device47.
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 20, thehousing504 has abase portion504aand acover portion504b. Thebase portion504aandcover portion504bmay be separate elements that are connected together or may be formed as a unitary structure. In embodiments in which thebase portion504aandcover portion504bare separate elements that are connected together, one or more seals, such as, but not limited to, o-ring or annular, flat gasket seals, may be provided between thebase portion504aand thecover portion504b, to inhibit leakage of fluid (such as an infusion medium) between those elements, when they are connected together.
• First andsecond channels506 and508 extend through thebase portion504aof thehousing504, in a spaced relation relative to each other and to the axis A₅of therotor502. In the embodiment ofFIG. 20, thechannels506 and508 are located at 180 degrees around the axis A₅, relative to each other. However, in other embodiments, the channels may be located at other suitable spacing around the axis A₅, relative to each other.
• The first andsecond channels506 and508 in thebase portion504aof thehousing504 form fluid inlet and outlet channels, respectively, as described below. Thecover portion504bof thehousing504 has an interior volume and acam surface528 that includes acam lobe528bfor contacting cams, anon-camming surface portion528athat does not move the cams and aramp portion528cconnecting the non-camming surface with the cam lobe. One end of each of the first andsecond channels506 and508 is open to the interior volume of thehousing504.
• The rotor includes ashaft510 that extends through achannel512 in thebase portion504aand through anopening514 in thecover portion504bof thehousing504. Therotor shaft510 has oneend segment510athat extends through theopening514 and out of thehousing504 and is arranged for operable connection with a drive device, either directly or through suitable linkage structure, for example, as described above with respect to the connection of therotary shaft344 with thedrive device arm336, when thedisposable housing portion20 and thedurable housing portion22 are engaged. For example, therotor shaft510 may include a non-circular cross-sectional shape that mates with a correspondingly shaped aperture in an end of a rotatable shaft that is operatively connected to the drive device (similar to the non-circular, cross-section shaped mating elements of theshaft344 andaperture335 in FIGS.18 and19. InFIG. 20, The rotor shaft has asecond end segment510bthat extends through thechannel512 in thebase portion504aand out of thehousing504. The rotor also includes a disk-shapedbody510c, located between the twoend segments510aand510b. Theend segments510aand510band the disk-shapedbody510cof therotor510 may be formed as multiple separate elements connected together, or may be formed as a single, unitary structure in the configuration shown inFIG. 20.
• Therotor body510cis located within the interior volume of thecover portion504aof thehousing504. Therotor body510 includes at least two cam-follower channels516 and518, located in a spaced relation relative to each other and to the axis As of therotor502, corresponding to the spaced relation of the first andsecond channels506 and508 in thebase portion504aof thehousing504. The corresponding spaced relation allows the two cam-follower channels516 and518 in therotor body510cof therotor510 to simultaneously align with the first andsecond channels506 and508 in thebase portion504aof thehousing504. In the embodiment ofFIG. 20, thecam follower channels516 and518 are located at 180 degrees around the axis A₅, relative to each other. However, in other embodiments, thecam follower channels516 and518 may be located at other suitable spacing around the axis A₅, relative to each other. Also, while the embodiment inFIGS. 20-23 includes two cam follower channels and two associated cam followers, other embodiments may include no more than one cam follower channel and associated cam follower or more than two cam follower channels and associated cam followers.
• Acam follower520 is located in thecam follower channel516 and asecond cam follower522 is located in thecam follower channel518. Thecam followers520 and522 are moveable within their respectivecam follower channels516 and518, in the directions ofarrows524 and525. In the illustrated embodiment, thecam follower channels516 and518 and thecam followers520 and522 are arranged such that the directions ofmovement524 and525 of thecam followers520 and522 are substantially parallel to the axis A₅of therotor510. However, in other embodiments, thechannels516 and518 andcam followers520 and522 may be arranged for movement in a direction transverse to the axis As of therotor510.
• Thecam followers520 and522 may be made of any suitably rigid material, including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, ceramic, composite material or the like. Thecam followers520 and522 have a shape that allows them to fit within the respectivecam follower channels516 and518 and move in the directions ofarrows524 and525, relative to thebody510cof therotor510. Eachcam follower520 and522 includes ahead portion520aand522a, respectively, on one end that is external torotor body510c. Thehead portions520aand522ahave a size or shape that inhibits the head portions from passing through the respectivecam follower channel516 or518. Thecam followers520 and522 each have a length in the axial dimension A₅sufficient to allow an end portion of eachcam follower520 and522 opposite to thehead portions520aand522a, to extend a distance out of thechannels516 and518, when therespective cam follower520 and522 is moved to its full extent of motion in the direction ofarrow524.
• Asuitable bias member526 may be associated with eachcam follower520 and522 to urge thecam followers520 and522 in the direction ofarrow525, toward acam surface528 in thecover portion504bof thehousing504. In the embodiment ofFIG. 20, thebias members526 each comprise a spring, such as, but not limited to a coil spring, bevel spring, or the like, located between therotor body510cand arespective head portion520aor522aof eachcam follower520 and522. In other embodiments, thebias members526 may comprise one or more magnets arranged to impart a magnetic force on a magnetic material of or within eachcam follower520 and522.
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 20, thecam surface528 comprises an interior-facing surface, havingportions528a,528band528c, discussed above, that surrounds theopening514 in thecover portion504bof thehousing504. Thecam surface528 extends around the circumference of the axis A₅of therotor510 and has afirst portion528aaligned with theinlet channel506 and asecond portion528baligned with theoutlet channel508. Thesecond portion528bof thecam surface528 is arranged closer to therotor body510cthan thefirst portion528aof thecam surface528. For example, thesecond portion528bof thecam surface528 may be provided on a wide or thick wall segment of thecover portion504bof thehousing504, relative to the wall width or thickness of thecover portion504bat thefirst portion528aof thecam surface528. Thecam surface528 may be a smooth, continuous surface that extends from thefirst portion528ato thesecond portion528band back to thefirst portion528a, around the axis A₅.
• Aflexible membrane530 is located adjacent the surface of therotor body510cthat faces thebase portion504aof thehousing504. Theflexible membrane530 may comprise a disk-shaped sheet of flexible material, such as, but not limited to a silicone, rubber or other suitable material, secured to one surface (the surface facing thebase portion504aof the housing504) of therotor body510c.
• A sealingmember532 is secured to theflexible membrane520 androtor body510cand is located between theflexible membrane530 on therotor body510cand thebase portion504aof thehousing504. The sealingmember532 may be a disc-shaped plate of material that provides a suitable fluid seal and that allows rotational motion of therotor body510c, relative to the sealingmember530. The sealingmember532 may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene or other suitable material that provides a relatively low friction surface facing thebase portion504aof thehousing504. The sealingmember532 includes a first passage532aarranged in alignment with one of the cam follower channels (channel516 inFIG. 20). The sealingmember532 also includes a second passage532barranged in alignment with the other cam follower channel (channel518 inFIG. 20). In embodiments in which therotor body510cincludes more or less than two cam follower channels, the sealingmember532 includes a corresponding number of passages (e.g. passages532aand532b).
• A clamp structure may be provided to provide a clamping force, for clamping the sealingmember532 between theflexible membrane530 onrotor body510cand thebase portion504aof thehousing504. In the embodiment ofFIG. 20, the clamping structure comprises aplate534 attached by a screw to the free end of theend segment510bof the rotor shaft510 (or otherwise secured to theend segment510bof the rotor shaft510) and acoil spring536 arranged between theplate534 and thebase portion504aof thehousing504. Thecoil spring536 is provided with a suitable tension to urge the rotor in the direction ofarrow524, relative to thehousing504.
• In operation, therotor502 is arranged such that theend segment510aof therotor shaft510 is operatively engaged with a drive device located in a durable housing portion22 (either directly, or through a suitable linkage structure), when thedisposable housing portion20 is engaged with thedurable housing portion22, as described above. When operatively engaged with the drive device, the rotor502 (and the attachedmembrane530 and sealing member532) may be selectively rotated around the axis A₅of therotor510, by selective activation of the drive device.
• As therotor502 rotates, thecam followers520 and522 are moved along thecam surface528. Thebias members526 urge theheads520aand522aof therespective cam followers520 and522 against thecam surface528. When therotor502 is rotated to a position at which a cam follower is aligned with the inlet channel506 (such as thecam follower520 inFIGS. 20 and 21), the head of that cam follower (such as thehead520aofcam follower520 inFIGS. 20 and 21) abuts against thefirst portion528aof thecam surface528. Thefirst portion528aof thecam surface528 and the length of thecam followers520 and522 are selected to allow the end of the cam follower that faces thebase portion504aof thehousing504 to be separated from thebase portion504aby a distance sufficient to form an open volume540 in the passage532aof the sealingmember532, between theflexible membrane530 and thebase portion504aof thehousing504, when the head of the cam follower abuts thefirst portion528aof thecam surface528.
• Rotary motion of therotor502 causes thecam followers520 and522 to move along thecam surface528 and, as a result, to move in the direction ofarrow525 as the cam follower moves from thesecond portion528b, to thefirst portion528aof thecam surface528. As the cam follower (520 inFIGS. 20 and 21) is moved in the direction ofarrow525, a portion of theflexible membrane530 that defines one side of the chamber532aflexes away from thebase portion504aof thehousing504, to enlarge the volume of the chamber532a. As the chamber532avolume increases, the pressure within the chamber532adecreases sufficient to draw a volume of fluid from a reservoir (not shown inFIGS. 20-22), through theinlet channel506 and into the chamber532a.
• When therotor502 is rotated to a position at which a cam follower is aligned with the outlet channel506 (such as thecam follower522 inFIGS. 20 and 22), the head of that cam follower (such as thehead522aofcam follower522 inFIGS. 20 and 22) abuts against thesecond portion528bof thecam surface528. Thesecond portion528bof thecam surface528 and the length of thecam followers520 and522 are selected to allow the end of the cam follower that faces thebase portion504aof thehousing504 to be relatively close to thebase portion504ato flex a portion of the membrane toward thebase portion504aof thehousing504, to sufficiently close the volume in the passage532bof the sealingmember532, when the head of the cam follower abuts thesecond portion528bof thecam surface528. As the chamber532bvolume decreases, the pressure within the chamber532bincreases to expel the volume of fluid from the chamber532bthrough theoutlet channel508, to the injection site (not shown inFIGS. 20-23).
• Accordingly, as therotor502 rotates, individual volumes of fluid are drawn in through theinlet channel506 and into the volume of a chamber (such as chamber532ainFIGS. 20 and 21), moved with the rotation of the rotor502 (and themembrane530 and sealingmember532 attached to the rotor) to align with theoutlet channel508 and expelled through theoutlet channel508. The rotation of therotor502 may be controlled by controlling the drive device to selectively apply a rotational force to therotor502, when thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 are engaged. In that manner, the drive device may be selectively driven to selectively draw volumes of fluid into theinlet channel506 and expel volumes of fluid through theoutlet channel508.
• In each of the above embodiments, the drive device and linkage structure may comprise any suitable drive motor or other drive device and linkage that converts electrical power to rotational motion to provide a rotary drive force for rotating a drive shaft and/or drive gear described above. Such drive devices may include, but are not limited to a DC motor, flat or pancake DC motor, servo motor, stepper motor, electronically commutated motor, rotary piezo-electrically actuated motor, and the like. In further embodiments, the drive device may comprise a bender or linear actuator in combination with an escapement wheel arrangement, to rotatably drive the drive shaft and/or drive gear. For example, a drive device for rotatably driving the drive shafts or drive gears described above may comprise a piezo-electrically actuated bender and escapement wheel arrangement, a thermally actuated bender and escapement wheel arrangement, a shape memory alloy wire and escapement wheel arrangement, an electronically actuated solenoid and escapement wheel arrangement, or the like. Examples of shape memory alloy wire drive systems may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,638 issued Apr. 23, 2002, and entitled “Incremental Motion Pump Mechanisms Driven by Shape Memory Alloy Wire or the Like,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/230,142 filed Sep. 19, 2005, and entitled “SMA Wire Driven Positive Displacement MicroPump With Pulsatile Output,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• Escapement wheel arrangements operable with bender or linear actuators in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention are described with reference toFIGS. 24a-24c. As shown inFIG. 24a, anescapement wheel460 is supported for rotation around an axis A₁(extending into the page), in the direction ofarrow462. Theescapement wheel460 has an outer peripheral edge provided with serrations orteeth464. Eachtooth464 includes asloped surface466 arranged at an obtuse angle relative to an axial direction of thewheel460 and acatch surface465 in a substantially axial direction of the wheel. A drive pawl468 is located adjacent theescapement wheel460 and at least partially between two of the teeth on the escapement wheel. The drive pawl468 is supported for movement in a generally linear direction, as represented by thedouble arrow469, between a start position S and an end position E.
• The drive pawl468 has adrive surface470 for engaging thecatch surface465 of anadjacent tooth464 on theescapement wheel460, when the drive pawl468 is moved in a direction from the start position S to the end position E. The drive pawl468 has afurther surface471 facing away from thedrive surface470 and configured for riding over thesloping surface466 of atooth464 on theescapement wheel460, when the drive pawl is moved in a return direction from the end position E to the start position S. Thefurther surface471 of the drive pawl468 may be sloped at an angle relative to the radial direction of drive wheel, to assist the drive pawl468 in riding over thesloping surface466 of atooth464 of the escapement wheel.
• As described in more detail below, the drive pawl468 is coupled to a bender or linear motion actuator to selectively drive the drive pawl468 from the start position S to the end position E. With each motion of the drive pawl468 from the start position S to the end position E, thesurface470 engages thecatch surface465 of atooth464 on the escapement wheel and rotates the escapement wheel460 a small distance. Abias member472 is operably coupled to the drive pawl468, to bias the drive pawl468 in a return direction, to return the drive pawl468 to the start position. Thebias member472 may comprise a spring as shown inFIG. 20aor other suitable mechanism for providing a bias force to return the drive pawl468 to the start position, including, but not limited to a permanent magnet, electro-magnet, electronic or thermal linear actuator, shaped memory alloy, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, thebias member472 comprises a coil spring having one end coupled to the drive pawl468 and another end coupled to a fixed surface, for example, a fixed surface of a wall or other fixed structure of or within the durable portion of the delivery devices described above.
• Afurther pawl474 may be provided to inhibit back rotation of theescapement wheel460 in the direction opposite to the direction ofarrow462. For example, thefurther pawl474 may be located adjacent theescapement wheel460 and at least partially between two of the teeth on the escapement wheel. Thefurther pawl474 has asurface476 for engaging thecatch surface465 of anadjacent tooth464 on theescapement wheel460, to inhibit rotary motion of theescapement wheel460 in the direction opposite to the direction ofarrow462.
• Thepawl474 has afurther surface477 facing opposite to thesurface476, configured for riding over thesloping surface466 of atooth464 on theescapement wheel460, when the escapement wheel is driven in the rotary direction ofarrow462 by action of the drive pawl468. Thesurface477 of thepawl474 may be angled relative to the radial direction of drive wheel, to assist thepawl474 in riding over thesloping surface466 of atooth464 of the escapement wheel. Thepawl474 may be supported for pivotal motion about apivot point478 in the direction ofdouble arrow479, to allow thesurface477 of thepawl474 to pivot in a direction away from the escapement wheel, to further assist thepawl474 in riding over thesloping surface466 of atooth464 of the escapement wheel.
• Abias member480 may be arranged to bias thesurface476 of thepawl474 toward the escapement wheel, to return thepawl474 to a position in which thesurface476 engages thecatch surface465 of atooth464, after thepawl474 has ridden over thesloping surface466 of anadjacent tooth464 of the escapement wheel. Thebias member480 may comprise a spring as shown inFIG. 24aor other suitable mechanism for providing a bias force to return thepawl474 to the position in which thepawl surface476 engages thecatch surface465 of atooth464, including, but not limited to a permanent magnet, electro-magnet, electronic or thermal linear actuator, shaped memory alloy, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, thebias member480 comprises a coil spring having one end coupled to thepawl474 and another end coupled to a fixed surface, for example, a fixed surface of a wall or other fixed structure of or within the durable portion of the delivery devices described above. In other embodiments, a spring may be located around or within thepivot point478 of thepawl474 for effecting the bias force described above.
• As described above, the drive pawl468 is coupled to a bender or linear motion actuator to selectively drive the drive pawl468 and cause the escapement wheel to rotate a small distance with each motion of the drive pawl468 from the start position S to the end position E. A bender or linear actuator may comprise a piezoelectric bender or piezoelectric actuator, a thermally actuated bender, a shape memory alloy wire, an electronically actuated solenoid, or the like. Such actuators for providing small, generally linear movements in response to the application of an electrical power signal are known. Examples of shape memory alloy wire drive systems may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,638 issued Apr. 23, 2002, and entitled “Incremental Motion Pump Mechanisms Driven by Shape Memory Alloy Wire or the Like,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/230,142 filed Sep. 19, 2005, and entitled “SMA Wire Driven Positive Displacement MicroPump With Pulsatile Output,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• As shown inFIG. 24b, abender actuator482 may be configured to include aconnector end484 that is provided with a lateral motion represented byarrow486 relative to a major axis A₂of the actuator body, when a power signal is applied to the actuator. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 24c, alinear actuator488 may be configured to include aconnector end492 that is provided with a longitudinal motion represented by arrow494 relative to a major axis A₃of the actuator body, when a power signal is applied to the actuator. A bender actuator as shown inFIG. 24b, for providing lateral motion, may be coupled to the drive pawl468 at aconnection location496. Theconnection location496 for a bender actuator may be on a surface of the drive pawl468 that is substantially perpendicular to thedrive surface470. Alternatively, a linear actuator as shown inFIG. 24c, for providing longitudinal motion, may be coupled to the drive pawl468 at a connection location498. The connection location498 for a linear actuator may be on a surface of the drive pawl468 that is substantially parallel to thedrive surface470. In that manner, a bender or a linear actuator as shown inFIGS. 24band24cmay be employed to selectively move the drive pawl468 from the start position S to the end position E and, thus drive theescapement wheel460 in a rotary manner.
• Theescapement wheel460 may be configured to rotate the rotary distance of one tooth for each movement of the drive pawl468 from the start position S to the end position E. In further embodiments, the drive pawl468 may be configured to cause theescapement wheel460 to rotate a rotary distance of a pre-defined number of teeth greater than one tooth, for each movement of the drive pawl468 from the start position S to the end position E. Theescapement wheel460 may be coupled to one of the drive shafts or drive gears described above, to rotate the drive shaft or drive gear with rotation of theescapement wheel460. In one embodiment, the drive shaft may be connected in axial alignment directly to theescapement wheel460, such that the rotary axis A₁of escapement wheel is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. In other embodiments, theescapement wheel460 may be coupled, in axial alignment, with any one of the drive gears described above, to transfer rotary motion of theescapement wheel460 to the drive gear. In yet further embodiments, other suitable gear and linkage arrangements may be employed for transferring rotary motion of theescapement wheel460 to the drive shaft or drive gear.
• The use of bender or linear actuators with escapement wheel arrangements as described above may provide certain advantages over electric motor and linkage arrangements, in that the bender or linear actuators can provide a repeatable, controlled, step-like response to an electrical power signal. In the context of driving a delivery device for delivering a medication to a patient-user, the ability to accurately control the drive response can provide significant advantages, for example, in administering accurate quantities, small quantities at accurate levels and accurate recording of delivered quantities of the medication. In addition, bender or linear actuators with escapement wheel arrangements can be made relatively small and flat and can, therefore, improve the ability to form the delivery device with a relatively small and flat shape. In addition, bender or linear actuators with escapement wheel arrangements can operate with relatively low power requirements, thus prolonging the operational life of the power source and allowing smaller power sources to be employed, thus, allowing further reductions in the size of the delivery device.
• Other types of drive devices may be coupled to anescapement wheel460, through asingle tooth wheel499, as shown inFIG. 24d, to provide a controlled, step-like response. For example, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 24d, theescapement wheel460 may be coupled to the drive shafts or drive gears described above, while thesingle tooth wheel499 may be coupled to be driven by any suitable rotary drive source, including, but not limited to a DC motor, flat or pancake DC motor, servo motor, stepper motor, electronically commutated motor, rotary piezo-electrically actuated motor, and the like. While thewheel499 inFIG. 24dis provided with a single tooth to effect a rotation of the escapement wheel460 a rotary distance of a single tooth for each complete rotation of thewheel499, other embodiments may employ awheel499 having two teeth (or another pre-defined number of teeth) for effecting a rotation of the escapement wheel460 a rotary distance of two teeth (or the pre-defined number of teeth) for each complete rotation of thewheel499.
• In embodiments described above, the disposable housing portion (e.g.,20 inFIG. 3) is provided with abase portion21 that may be secured to the patient-user's skin by, for example, but not limited to, an adhesive material provided on the bottom surface of thebase portion21. That arrangement is generally represented, in side view, inFIG. 25, wherein anadhesive material101 is provided on the bottom surface (skin-facing surface) of thebase21 of thedisposable housing portion20. As shown inFIGS. 2,3 and25, thedurable housing portion22 may be configure to be arranged on thebase21 of thedisposable housing portion20 to engage and connect to thedisposable housing portion22. In such an arrangement, thebase21 may be disposed between thedurable housing portion22 and the patient-user's skin, during operation, such that only thebase21 of the disposable housing portion remains in contact with the patient-user's skin, during operation.
• However, in other embodiments, thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 may be configured to engage each other in a side-by-side arrangement, for example, as represented inFIG. 26. In the side-by-side arrangement inFIG. 26, either one or both of thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 may be provided with a base having an adhesive material101 (and apeelable cover layer23 as shown inFIG. 3).
• In yet further embodiments, as represented byFIG. 27, one or both of thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 may be attachable and detachable from aseparate base member21′. Suitable connecting structure, such as described above for connecting the durable housing portion and the disposable housing portion together, may be employed for connecting the durable housing portion and the disposable housing portion to thebase member21′. Theseparate base member21′ may include a generally flat, plate-like structure made of any suitably rigid material including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, ceramic, composite material or the like. Thebase member21′ has a surface (the upper-facing surface inFIG. 25) to which thedisposable housing portion20 and thedurable housing portion22 may be attached. Thebase member21′ has a second surface (the lower-facing surface inFIG. 27) to which an adhesive material and a peelable cover film may be applied, as described above, to allow thebase member21′ to be secured to a patient-user's skin.
• Thebase member21′ may include aneedle inserter device25, as described above. Examples of suitable needle inserter devices are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/211,095, filed Aug. 23, 2005, and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/839,840, titled “Infusion Medium Delivery System, Device And Method With Needle Inserter And Needle Inserter Device Method”, filed Aug. 23, 2006, (attorney docket no. 047711-0384), each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In such embodiments, thebase member21′ may be secured to a patient-user's skin. Then, theneedle inserter25 may be activated to insert a hollow needle or cannula into the patient-user's skin. Then, after the hollow needle or cannula is inserted, thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 may be attached to thebase member21′, to connect the reservoir within thedisposable housing portion20 in fluid flow communication with the hollow needle or cannula. In one embodiment, thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 may be connected together (for example, in the manner described above) before attaching those housing portions to thebase member21′. In a further embodiment, one of the durable and disposable housing portion is attached to thebase member21′ before the durable and disposable housing portions are connected together. In such further embodiment, the needle inserter device may be activated to insert a hollow needle or cannula into the patient-user's skin after the disposable housing portion is attached to thebase member21′ (either before or after the durable and disposable housing portions are connected together). Other needle/cannula insertion tools may be used (or modified for use) to insert a needle and/or cannula, such as for example U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/389,132 filed Mar. 14, 2003, and entitled “Auto Insertion Device For Silhouette Or Similar Products,” and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/314,653 filed Dec. 9, 2002, and entitled “Insertion Device For Insertion Set and Method of Using the Same,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
• Alternatively,reference number25 may represent an opening in thebase member21′ that aligns with a needle inserter device (or aligns with a further opening) located in thedisposable housing portion20, when thedisposable housing portion20 is attached to thebase member21′. In such embodiments, thebase member21′ may be secured to the patient-user's skin. Then thedisposable housing portion20 is attached to thebase member21′ (either before or after the durable and disposable housing portions are connected together). Once thedisposable housing portion20 is attached to thebase member21′, theneedle inserter device25 may be activated to insert a hollow needle or cannula into a patient-user's skin (either before or after the durable and disposable housing portions are connected together).
• Also, while embodiments described above may include an on-board needle or cannula injector device that may be activated through the operator oropening25, other embodiments may employ aninjection site module103 that is external to thedisposable housing portion20, but connected to thedisposable housing portion20, through asuitable conduit102, as shown inFIG. 28. The externalinjection site module103 may include a needle or cannula injector device structure and an operator or opening (similar to the operator or opening25 described above) through which the injector device may be activated. Alternatively or in addition, the externalinjection site module103 may include an infusion set such as, but not limited to an infusion set as described or referenced in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/705,686, filed Nov. 10, 2003, titled “Subcutaneous Infusion Set” (Publication No. 2005/0101910) and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/004,594, filed Dec. 3, 2004, titled “Multi-Position Infusion Set Device And Process” (Publication No. 2006/0129090), each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and each of which is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.
• Theconduit102 that connects themodule103 with thedisposable housing portion20 may be any suitable tubing structure having a fluid flow passage, such as, but not limited to, a flexible tube made of plastic, silicone or the like. An adhesive material may be provided on the tubing structure (or between the tubing structure and the patient-user's skin) to secure the tubing to the patient-user's skin. By locating theinjection site module103 external to thedisposable housing portion20, thedisposable housing portion20 and thedurable housing portion22 may be clipped to a patient-user's clothing, belt, suspender or other article of apparel or may be held in a pocket of an article of apparel or carried in a purse or the like.
• In one embodiment, theconduit102 may be fixed at one end to thedisposable housing portion20, in fluid-flow communication with the reservoir within thedisposable housing portion20, and fixed at a second end to an externalinjection site module103, for connection in fluid-flow communication with a hollow needle or cannula, as described above. In further embodiments, one or both of the ends of theconduit102 may include suitable connection structures that allow the conduit ends to be selectively connected in fluid-flow communication with, and selectively disconnected from thedisposable housing portion20 and/or theinjection site module103. Such connectors may comprise a hollow needle and septum, a Luer connector, or other suitable fluid-communication connectors. In such embodiments, thedisposable housing portion20 and thedurable housing portion22 may be disconnected from themodule103, for example, by disconnecting one of the ends of theconduit102 from themodule103 or thedisposable housing portion20, while leaving themodule103 in place (without requiring the patient-user to withdraw the needle or cannula and, later, insert a needle or cannula to resume operation). In this manner, a patient-user may readily disconnect and remove thedisposable housing portion20 anddurable housing portion22, for example, to allow the patient-user to shower, bath, swim or conduct other activities, yet also allow the patient-user to readily re-connect thedisposable housing portion20 to themodule103, for example, upon completion of such activities. Examples of connectors can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/328,393 filed Dec. 22, 2003, and entitled “Reservoir Connector,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,152 issued Aug. 13, 1996, and entitled “Quick-Connect Coupling For A Medication Infusion System,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In other alternatives, different connectors such as Luer locks, or the like may be used.
• In yet further embodiments, theconduit102 may be eliminated and aninjection site module103 may be directly connected with thedisposable housing portion20, as shown inFIG. 29. In such an embodiment, one or more suitable fluid flow passages are provided through thedisposable housing portion20 and into theinjection site module103, for fluid-flow communication between the reservoir in thedisposable housing portion20 and a hollow needle or cannula, as described above. Also, in such embodiments, theinjection site module103 and thedisposable housing portion20 may include mating connection structures to allow theinjection site module103 and thedisposable housing portion20 to be selectively connected and disconnected from each other.
• Various examples of mating arrangements, for directly connecting aninjection site module103 to a disposable housing portion are described with reference toFIGS. 30-37.FIGS. 30-32 show an example arrangement, in which aninjection site module103 includes at least one (two inFIG. 26) protrudingengagement pawl174 that are configured to be received in a corresponding number of receptacles on the disposable housing portion20 (similar to the pawls74 and receptacles76 described in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/839,741, titled “Infusion Pumps And Methods And Delivery Devices And Methods With Same”, filed Aug. 23, 2006, (attorney docket no. 047711-0385), which has been incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, the pawl(s)174 may be located on thedisposable housing portion20, while the corresponding receptacles may be located on themodule103. In yet other embodiments, each of thedisposable housing portion20 and themodule103 may include one or more pawls and one or more receptacles.
• Thepawls174 and receptacles may be configured to allow a patient-user to manually slide the pawls into the receptacles as thedisposable housing portion20 and themodule103 are brought together. When thepawls174 are received in the corresponding receptacles, themodule103 is secured to thedisposable housing portion20. Thepawls174 may include a shaped portion or head to provide a snap-fit with the receptacles, when thepawls174 are fully received within the receptacles. Thepawls174 may be configured with sufficient flexibility to allow the patient-user to separate thedisposable housing portion20 from themodule103, by applying a sufficient force to full those two parts away from each other and unsnap thepawls174 from the receptacles. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 30-32, themodule103 may be attached to or may include abase portion450 that may be secured to a patient-user's skin during operation, in lieu of the extendedbase21 of thedisposable housing portion20 described above. Thebase portion450 may include an adhesive material as described herein with respect to thebase21 of thedisposable housing portion20.
• As shown inFIG. 32, the embodiment ofFIGS. 30-32 may be formed in three general parts, including thedisposable housing portion20, thedurable housing portion22 and themodule103 on thebase portion450. Thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 may be secured together (as shown inFIG. 28), and the combined, connected disposable and durable housing portions may be secured to themodule103 andbase portion450. In one embodiment, thebase portion450 may be secured to a patient-user's skin, before the combined, connected disposable and durable housing portions are secured to themodule103 andbase portion450. In a further embodiment, the combined, connected disposable and durable housing portions are secured to themodule103 andbase portion450, before thebase portion450 is secured to the patient-user's skin.
• Another example of a connection structure is described with reference toFIGS. 33 and 34, wherein themodule103 includes a shapedhead452 configured to be received within a correspondingly shaped opening or receptacle in thedisposable housing portion20. The shapedhead452 may be configured with a shape that allows the head to be received in the receptacle when thedisposable housing portion20 is aligned relative to themodule103 in a first alignment position, as shown inFIG. 29, and further allows thedisposable housing portion20 to be rotated relative to themodule103 while thehead452 is received within the receptacle to a second alignment position as shown inFIG. 34. The receptacle in thedisposable housing portion20 may be shaped to allow thehead452 to be freely received or removed from the receptacle, when thedisposable housing portion20 is in the first alignment position (FIG. 33), yet abut thehead452 and inhibit separation of thehead452 from the receptacle (and, thus, inhibit separation of thedisposable housing portion20 from the module103), when the disposable housing portion is in the second alignment position (FIG. 34).
• A further example of a connection structure is described with reference toFIGS. 35-37, wherein themodule103 includes a shapedreceptacle454 configured to receive a correspondingly shaped connector member in thedisposable housing portion20. InFIGS. 35-37, themodule103 is formed, integral with thedisposable housing portion20. The shapedreceptacle454 may be configured with a shape that allows the connector member of the disposable housing portion to be engaged with thereceptacle454 when thedisposable housing portion20 is aligned relative to themodule103 in a first alignment position, as shown inFIG. 35, and further allows thedisposable housing portion20 to be rotated relative to themodule103, while thereceptacle454 is engaged within the connector member, to a second alignment position as shown inFIG. 36. Thereceptacle454 and the connector member in thedisposable housing portion20 may be shaped to allow the connector member to be freely engage thereceptacle454, when thedisposable housing portion20 is in the first alignment position (FIG. 35), yet lock with thereceptacle454 and inhibit separation of the connector member from the receptacle (and, thus, inhibit separation of thedisposable housing portion20 from the module103), when the disposable housing portion is in the second alignment position (FIG. 36). Thereceptacle454 and connection member may include any suitable known rotary connection structures for connecting two structures together upon engagement and relative rotation of the two structures in one direction, yet allow the two structures to be disengaged and separated from an engaged arrangement, by relative rotation of the two structures in the second, opposite direction.
• As shown inFIG. 37, the embodiment ofFIGS. 35-37 may be formed in three general parts, including thedisposable housing portion20, thedurable housing portion22 and themodule103 on thebase portion456. Thedurable housing portion22 and thedisposable housing portion20 may be secured together (as shown inFIG. 35), and the combined, connected disposable and durable housing portions may be secured to thebase portion456. In one embodiment, thebase portion456 may be secured to a patient-user's skin, before the combined, connected disposable and durable housing portions are secured to thebase portion456. In a further embodiment, the combined, connected disposable and durable housing portions are secured to thebase portion456, before thebase portion456 is secured to the patient-user's skin.
• In yet further embodiments, the injection site module may be formed as a unitary structure with thedisposable housing portion20. Also, in any of the embodiments described above, one or more sensors may be located in thedisposable housing portion20, theinjection site module103 or thedurable housing portion22, for sensing a biological condition, including, but not limited to, blood glucose level, level of infusion medium in the patient-user's blood and/or other conditions. Such sensor(s) may include a hollow needle or cannula and/or a set of micro-needles, as described above, for piercing the patient-user's skin to convey fluid from the patient to the sensor.
• Various aspects of the multiple embodiments described above may be employed independently or in combinations thereof. Significant advantages can be obtained from various embodiments and combinations described herein, wherein an at-site delivery system may be made of two parts, including a disposable portion and a non-disposable portion. The disposable portion may contain all materials that are in direct contact with the infusion medium, such as reservoir body, reservoir piston, septum systems and injection needle. The non-disposable portion could contain substantially the materials that are not in contact with the medication including the drive system, pressure or force sensing system, battery, electronics, display, and non-disposable housing. The pump could be designed such that the disposable portion (user filled or pre-filled cartridge) is inserted into the non-disposable portion. By simplifying the manner in which the disposable portion of the delivery device can be replaced and by simplifying the manner in which the delivery device can be re-activated after replacing a disposable portion, a greater number of patient-users will be able to use and benefit from such delivery devices.
• While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments shown and described and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. For example, while embodiments described above may include an adhesive material and a cover film23 (FIGS. 2 and 3), further embodiments may include a plurality of adhesive material layers alternating with a corresponding plurality of cover film layers23, to allow the delivery device to be secured, removed and re-secured to the patient-user's skin one or more times.
• In such embodiments, a first cover film layer located at the end of the stack of alternating layers of adhesive material and cover film, may be removed to expose a first layer of adhesive material. With the first layer of adhesive material exposed, the delivery device (or component thereof) may be adhered to a patient-user's skin, as described above. After a suitable period of usage, the delivery device (or component having the adhesive) may be removed from the patient-user's skin, for example, for servicing, re-filling, replacement of one or more components, or the like. After removal of the delivery device (or component) from the patient-user's skin, a second cover film layer on the delivery device (or component) may be removed to expose a second layer of adhesive material. With the second layer of adhesive material exposed, the delivery device (or component) may be secured to the same patient-user or, in certain contexts, to a different patient-user, for further operation. The process may be repeated a number of times up to the number of adhesive material and cover film layer pairs are included in the plural alternating layers of adhesive material and cover film.
• In addition, while embodiments described above include an injection site located on thedisposable housing portion20 or in an externalinjection site module103, other embodiments may employ an injection site located in thedurable housing portion22 and connected, through suitable fluid-flow passages, to the reservoir in thedisposable housing portion20, when the durable housing portion and disposable housing portion are engaged. Also, while embodiments are described above in the context of delivery devices for delivering an infusion medium from a reservoir to a patient-user, other embodiments may be operated to withdraw a fluidic medium from a patient-user (or other source) and transfer the fluidic medium to the reservoir. Such other embodiments may be operated by operating the drive device to selectively move the piston plunger away from the septum-end of the reservoir (to increase the fluid-retaining volume of the reservoir) to create a negative pressure sufficient to draw fluid from the patient-user (or other source) to which the hollow needle or cannula is secured.
• Also, various embodiments described above may employ a reservoir that, in some examples, may comprise a canister that is removable from and insertable into the first or disposable housing portion. In this manner, a reservoir cartridge may be removed and replaced with a new, refurbished, user-filled, prefilled, refilled or re-manufactured cartridge. In such embodiments, the reservoir cartridge may include an electronic storage device (such as an electronic memory chip or the like) for storing information, such as, but not limited to, identification of the contents of the reservoir, identification of the maker of the reservoir or its contents, information relating to the state of fill or depletion of the reservoir, or the like. Suitable electrical contact pads located in the disposable housing portion may electrically connect with contact pads on the reservoir, to electrically connect the electronic storage device on the reservoir canister with suitable electronics in the disposable housing portion or the durable housing portion, for reading information stored on the electronic storage device. Such information (or other information, warnings, etc., associated with the stored information) may be displayed on a display device on the durable housing portion, when the reservoir canister is inserted into the disposable housing portion, and the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion are engaged.
• In addition, in any of the above-described embodiments, one or both of the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion (and/or a separate base portion or a separate injection site module) may include a force sensor (not shown) or other suitable sensing device for sensing the proper placement or engagement of one or more of the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion (and/or a separate base portion or a separate injection site module) on a patient-user's skin (or other proper location for operation with the patient). In such an embodiment, further electronics may control the operation of the drive device to inhibit operation of the drive device and/or the needle injector, unless the sensor senses the proper operable engagement of one or more of the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion (and/or a separate base portion or a separate injection site module) with the patient-user's skin (or other proper location for operation).
• Alternatively or in addition, one or both of the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion may include a sensing device (not shown) for sensing the proper operable engagement of the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion together (and/or with a separate base portion or a separate injection site module). In such an embodiment, further electronics may control the operation of the drive device to inhibit operation of the drive device and/or the needle injector, unless the sensor senses the proper operable engagement of the disposable housing portion and the durable housing portion together (and/or with a separate base portion or a separate injection site module).
• In any of the above embodiments, a sensor may be provided in (or otherwise associated with) the reservoir to detect a low volume of infusion medium in the reservoir. For example, a sensor may be configured to detect a condition at which the volume of infusion medium in the reservoir reaches a threshold minimal level. A warning device may be operably connected to the sensor, to provide a warning signal, upon the detection of a low volume condition. The warning device may provide an audible warning sound, a visible warning signal and/or a tactile warning signal (such as, but not limited to a perceptible vibration) to the patient-user, upon the detection of the volume of infusion medium in the reservoir reaching a threshold minimal level. In one embodiment, the visible warning may be provided as a message on an electronic display (as described above) on the durable housing portion. Alternatively or in addition, a warning signal condition may be communicated to and displayed on aremote CCD16 or computer18 (FIG. 2), for example, through wireless communication electronics as described above.
• In addition, while various embodiments described above may include one or more adhesive layers, each having a peelable cover layer, other embodiments may employ a single adhesive layer having (or plural adhesive layers, each having) a pattern of plural peelable cover layer portions, such that a patient-user may peel off one portion of the cover layer for adhering the delivery device to the patient-user as described above, while leaving the rest of the pattern of peelable cover layer portions on the adhesive. In such an embodiment, after completion of a first period of operation of the delivery device and removal of the delivery device from the patient-user, a second portion of the peelable cover layer may be removed from the adhesive layer and the delivery device may be adhered to a patient-user for a second period of operation.
• Also, while various delivery device embodiments described above include base portions that are configured to be secured to a patient-user's skin (or other suitable surface of operation) and that extend along the full length and width of the delivery device structure, other embodiments may employ base portions (that secure to the patient-user's skin or other surface) that are configured to be less than the full length or width dimension of the delivery device structure, to minimize the surface area in contact with the patient-user (or other surface) and, thus, improve patient-user comfort during operation. Base portions having shapes and sizes different from those shown in the accompanying drawings may be employed for additional improvements with regard to patient-user comfort and minimizing surface area in contact with the patient-user. Furthermore, as noted above, the base portion may be composed of a flexible material that at least partially conforms to the curvature and movement of the patient-user's body.
• In any of the above-described embodiments in which an adhesive material is used to secure one or more of the delivery device components to the patient-user's skin (or other suitable surface for operation), multiple types of adhesive materials (or multiple strengths of adhesives) may be employed, such that a stronger adhesive is provided in certain areas (such as around the needle injection site), while a weaker adhesive is provided in other areas.

Claims (20)

1. A delivery device comprising:

a first housing portion;

a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion;

a compressible reservoir located in the first housing portion, the reservoir having an interior volume for containing a fluid, the reservoir having an outlet connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site, the interior volume of the reservoir being compressible to reduce the interior volume and increase fluid pressure within the interior volume to drive fluid from the interior volume to the injection site;

a compression mechanism operable on the reservoir

a drive device supported by the second housing portion and operatively connectable to at least one of the reservoir and the compression mechanism when the first and second housing portions are engaged, to selectively cause relative movement between the reservoir and compression mechanism for selective compression of the reservoir.

2. A delivery device according toclaim 1, further comprising a moveable track operatively coupled to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path and wherein the compression mechanism comprises at least one roller or pad supported by the moveable track for engaging and compressing the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path.

3. A delivery device according toclaim 1, further comprising a moveable track operatively coupled to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path, the moveable track being connected to the reservoir to move the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path, and wherein the compression mechanism comprises a pair of compression surfaces between which a portion of the reservoir is moved as the track is moved along the track path, the compression surfaces imparting a compression force on the reservoir as the portion of the reservoir is moved between the compression surfaces.

4. A delivery device according toclaim 3, wherein the pair of compression surfaces comprise a pair of rollers.

5. A delivery device according toclaim 1, wherein the compression mechanism comprises a plunger head supported for movement within the interior volume of the reservoir, the delivery device further comprising a moveable track operatively coupled to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path, the moveable track being operatively connectable to the plunger head to move the plunger head within the reservoir when the track is moved along the track path and when the first and second housing portions are engaged.

6. A delivery device according toclaim 5, wherein the reservoir comprises a curved channel having a radius of curvature and wherein the track has a radius of curvature approximating the radius of curvature of the curved channel.

7. A delivery device according toclaim 1, further comprising electrical control circuitry contained in the second housing portion, wherein the electrical control circuitry controls the drive device for delivery of infusion media from the reservoir to the user when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged.

8. A delivery device according toclaim 1, wherein one of the first and second housing portions comprises a base portion having a bottom surface and an adhesive material on the bottom surface for securing that housing portion to the skin of the user.

9. A delivery device according toclaim 1, further comprising a moveable track coupled to one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir, wherein the drive device is operatively coupled to the moveable track for moving the moveable track and one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir relative to the other of the compression mechanism and reservoir.

10. A delivery device according toclaim 9, further comprising linkage structure for operatively coupling the drive device to the moveable track, to transfer drive force from the drive device to the moveable track.

11. A method of making a delivery device, the method comprising:

providing a first housing portion;

providing a second housing portion configured to selectively engage with and disengage from the first housing portion;

supporting a compressible reservoir on the first housing portion, the reservoir having an interior volume for containing a fluid and an outlet connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site, the reservoir being compressible to reduce the interior volume and increase fluid pressure within the interior volume to drive fluid from the interior volume to the injection site;

supporting a compression mechanism in a position to selectively compress the reservoir;

supporting a drive device supported on the second housing portion in a position to operatively connect to at least one of the reservoir and the compression mechanism when the first and second housing portions are engaged, to selectively cause relative movement between the reservoir and compression mechanism for selective compression of the reservoir.

12. A method according toclaim 11, further comprising operatively coupling a moveable track to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path and wherein supporting a compression mechanism comprises supporting at least one roller or pad on the moveable track for engaging and compressing the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path.

13. A method according toclaim 11, further comprising:

operatively coupling a moveable track to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path; and

connecting the moveable track to the reservoir to move the reservoir as the track is moved along the track path;

wherein supporting a compression mechanism comprises supporting a pair of compression surfaces between which a portion of the reservoir is moved as the track is moved along the track path, the compression surfaces supported in a position to impart a compression force on the reservoir as the portion of the reservoir is moved between the compression surfaces.

14. A method according toclaim 13, wherein supporting a pair of compression surfaces comprise supporting a pair of rollers on the first housing portion.

15. A method according toclaim 11, wherein supporting a compression mechanism comprises supporting a plunger head for movement within the interior volume of the reservoir, the method further comprising operatively coupling a moveable track to the drive device to be selectively moved along a track path and operatively coupling the moveable track to the plunger head to move the plunger head within the reservoir when the track is moved along the track path and when the first and second housing portions are engaged.

16. A method according toclaim 15, wherein the reservoir comprises a curved channel having a radius of curvature and wherein the track has a radius of curvature approximating the radius of curvature of the curved channel.

17. A method according toclaim 11, further comprising containing electrical control circuitry in the second housing portion, wherein the electrical control circuitry controls the drive device for delivery of infusion media from the reservoir to the user when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged.

18. A method according toclaim 11, wherein providing a first housing portion and providing a second housing portion comprises providing one of the first and second housing portions with a base portion having a bottom surface and an adhesive material on the bottom surface for securing that housing portion to the skin of the user.

19. A method according toclaim 11, further comprising operatively coupling a moveable track to one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir and operatively coupling the drive device to the moveable track for moving the moveable track and one of the compression mechanism or the reservoir relative to the other of the compression mechanism and reservoir.

20. A method according toclaim 19, further comprising operatively coupling linkage structure to the drive device and to the moveable track, to transfer drive force from the drive device to the moveable track.

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