Infusion device having a pusher device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10973977-B2
Application number	US-201616061482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

An infusion device (3) for administering a medical fluid to a patient, comprises a housing (30) and a receptacle (300) arranged on the housing (30) for receiving a syringe (4), the syringe (4) having a barrel (41) for containing a medical fluid and a plunger (42) movable relative to the barrel (41) for delivering the medical fluid out of the barrel (41). A pusher device (32) is movable relative to the housing (30) for acting onto the plunger (42) for moving the plunger (42) relative to the barrel (41), and a drive mechanism (38) drives the pusher device (32). A coupling mechanism (36, 37) is operative to couple the plunger (42) to the pusher device (32) or to couple the pusher device (32) to the drive mechanism (38), and an actuation mechanism arranged on the pusher device (32) comprises an actuation element (33) for actuating the coupling mechanism (36, 37) between a coupling state and an uncoupling state. Herein, the actuation mechanism comprises a first threaded element (34) rotatable about a rotational axis (342) and a second threaded element (331) movable along the first threaded element (34), the second threaded element (331) being in threaded engagement with the first threaded element (34) such that the first threaded element (34) is rotated when the second threaded element (331) is moved along the first threaded element (34), wherein the actuation element (33) is actuatable to move the second threaded element (331) along the first threaded element (34), the first threaded element (34) being operatively connected to the coupling mechanism (36, 37). In this way an infusion device is provided which in an easy and comfortable manner allows a user to actuate a coupling mechanism, in particular for installing a syringe on a receptacle of the infusion device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An infusion device for administering a medical fluid to a patient, comprising:
a housing,
a receptacle arranged on the housing for receiving a syringe, the syringe having a barrel for containing a medical fluid and a plunger movable relative to the barrel for delivering the medical fluid out of the barrel,
a pusher device movable relative to the housing for acting onto the plunger for moving the plunger relative to the barrel,
a drive mechanism for driving the pusher device,
at least one coupling mechanism operative to couple the plunger to the pusher device or to couple the pusher device to the drive mechanism, and
an actuation mechanism arranged on the pusher device and comprising an actuation element for actuating the at least one coupling mechanism between a coupling state and an uncoupling state,
wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a first threaded element rotatable about a rotational axis and a second threaded element movable along the first threaded element, the second threaded element being in threaded engagement with the first threaded element and configured to rotate the first threaded element when the second threaded element is moved along the first threaded element, wherein the actuation element is configured to move the second threaded element along the first threaded element, the first threaded element being operatively connected to the at least one coupling mechanism.

2. The infusion device according to claim 1 , wherein the first threaded element is a high helix screw.

3. The infusion device according to claim 1 , wherein the second threaded element is a high helix nut.

4. The infusion device according to claim 1 , wherein the second threaded element is movable relative to the first threaded element along an actuation direction extending in parallel to a pushing direction along which the pusher device is movable relative to the housing.

5. The infusion device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation element is constituted as a lever pivotable about a pivot axis relative to the pusher device, the second threaded element being carried along with the actuation element when the actuation element is pivoted.

6. The infusion device according to claim 1 , wherein the first threaded element carries a first gear wheel rotatable together with the first threaded element.

7. The infusion device according to claim 6 , wherein the first gear wheel is in engagement with a second gear wheel, the second gear wheel being rotated upon rotation of the first gear wheel.

8. The infusion device according to claim 7 , wherein the second gear wheel interacts with a cam connected to a shaft, the cam being actuated for pivoting the shaft upon rotation of the second gear wheel.

9. The infusion device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one coupling mechanism comprises a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism, and the second gear wheel interacts with:
a first cam connected to a first shaft, the first cam being actuated for pivoting the first shaft upon rotation of the second gear wheel, wherein the first shaft is configured to actuate the first coupling mechanism, and
a second cam connected to a second shaft, the second cam being actuated for pivoting the second shaft upon rotation of the second gear wheel, wherein the second shaft is configured to actuate the second coupling mechanism.

10. The infusion device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupling mechanism comprises:
a first coupling mechanism operative to couple the plunger to the pusher device, and
a second coupling mechanism operative to couple the pusher device to the drive mechanism.

11. The infusion device according to claim 10 , wherein the first coupling mechanism comprises a coupling element pivotably arranged on the pusher device.

12. An infusion device for administering a medical fluid to a patient, comprising:
a housing,
a receptacle arranged on the housing for receiving a syringe, the syringe having a barrel for containing a medical fluid and a plunger movable relative to the barrel for delivering the medical fluid out of the barrel,
a pusher device movable relative to the housing for acting onto the plunger for moving the plunger relative to the barrel,
a drive mechanism for driving the pusher device,
at least one coupling mechanism operative to couple the plunger to the pusher device or to couple the pusher device to the drive mechanism, and
an actuation mechanism arranged on the pusher device and comprising an actuation means for actuating the at least one coupling mechanism between a coupling state and an uncoupling state,
wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a first threaded means rotatable about a rotational axis and a second threaded means movable along the first threaded means,
the second threaded means for threadedly engaging the first threaded means and for rotating the first threaded means as the second threaded means is moved along the first threaded means,
the actuation means for means for moving the second threaded means along the first threaded means, the first threaded means being operatively connected to the at least one coupling mechanism.

13. A method of operating an infusion device for administering a medical fluid to a patient, the infusion device comprising:
a housing,
a receptacle arranged on the housing for receiving a syringe, the syringe having a barrel for containing a medical fluid and a plunger movable relative to the barrel for delivering the medical fluid out of the barrel,
a pusher device movable relative to the housing for acting onto the plunger for moving the plunger relative to the barrel,
a drive mechanism for driving the pusher device,
at least one coupling mechanism operative to couple the plunger to the pusher device or to couple the pusher device to the drive mechanism, and
an actuation mechanism arranged on the pusher device and comprising an actuation element for actuating the at least one coupling mechanism between a coupling state and an uncoupling state,
wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a first threaded element rotatable about a rotational axis and a second threaded element movable along the first threaded element, the second threaded element being in threaded engagement with the first threaded element and the first threaded element being operatively connected to the at least one coupling mechanism,
the method comprising:
moving the actuation element to cause the second threaded element to move along the first threaded element, whereby moving the second threaded element along the first threaded element causes the first threaded element to rotate.

Assignees

• Fresenius Vial Sas

Inventors

• Thomas Fabien
• Wolff Rémy
• Gitton Eric
• Bertagnolio Denis

Classifications

• A61M2005/14506

  mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork · CPC title

• A61M5/14236

  Screw, impeller or centrifugal type pumps · CPC title

• A61M5/1456 Primary

  with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir · CPC title

• A61M5/1458

  Means for capture of the plunger flange · CPC title

• A61M2005/14573

  with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system · CPC title