Automated filling systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015313795-A1
Application number	US-201514800525-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Apr 30, 2007
Publication date	Nov 5, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

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

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for transferring fluidic media, comprising:
a holding unit for holding a reservoir, the holding unit configured such that a plunger arm that is connected to a plunger head that is within the reservoir is moveable when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media; a transfer guard providing a fluid path for transferring fluidic media from a vial to the reservoir when the holding unit is holding the reservoir, and a vibrator for vibrating the holding unit so as to vibrate the reservoir when the holding unit is holding the reservoir; wherein the transfer guard and the reservoir are removable from the holding unit upon the reservoir being at least partially filled with the fluidic media.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transfer guard has a first end that selectively connects with the vial and a second end that selectively connects with the reservoir.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the holding unit has an interior in which at least a portion of the reservoir is received, when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the second end of the transfer guard is connected with the reservoir, the reservoir being removable from the interior of the holding unit upon the reservoir being at least partially filled with the fluidic media.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the holding unit has an interior in which at least a portion of the reservoir is received, when the holding unit is holding the reservoir, and wherein the transfer guard is located outside of the interior of the holding unit when the holding unit is holding the reservoir.

5 . The system of claim 1 , the vibrator configured to vibrate the holding unit when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media, so as to vibrate the reservoir and cause air bubbles within the fluidic media to travel upwards within the reservoir.

6 . The system of claim 1 , the holding unit comprising:
a first holder; and a second holder; the plunger arm moveable within a space between the first holder and the second holder when the reservoir is being held by the first holder and the second holder and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media.

7 . The system of claim 6 , the first holder and the second holder connected to the vibrator.

8 . The system of claim 1 , the holding unit configured such that, when the holding unit is holding the reservoir, fluidic media is fillable into the reservoir through a port of the reservoir that is located to an opposite side of said plunger head from said plunger arm.

9 . The system of claim 1 , the system further comprising: one or more latches for preventing the plunger arm from being moved when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and prior to a time when the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media.

10 . The system of claim 1 , the holding unit configured such that a handle connected to the plunger arm is moveable within a space between the reservoir and the vibrator when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media.

11 . A method for transferring fluidic media, comprising:
holding a reservoir in a holding unit configured such that a plunger arm that is connected to a plunger head that is within the reservoir is moveable when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media; connecting a transfer guard to the reservoir and a vial for providing a fluid path for transferring fluidic media from the vial to the reservoir when the holding unit is holding the reservoir, and vibrating the holding unit with a vibrator so as to vibrate the reservoir when the holding unit is holding the reservoir; removing the transfer guard and the reservoir from the holding unit upon the reservoir being at least partially filled with the fluidic media.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the transfer guard has a first end that selectively connects with the vial and a second end that selectively connects with the reservoir.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the holding unit has an interior in which at least a portion of the reservoir is received, when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the second end of the transfer guard is connected with the reservoir, the reservoir being removable from the interior of the holding unit upon the reservoir being at least partially filled with the fluidic media.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the holding unit has an interior in which at least a portion of the reservoir is received, when the holding unit is holding the reservoir, and wherein the transfer guard is located outside of the interior of the holding unit when the holding unit is holding the reservoir.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein vibrating comprises vibrating the holding unit with the vibrator when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media, so as to vibrate the reservoir and cause air bubbles within the fluidic media to travel upwards within the reservoir.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the holding unit has a first holder and a second holder, and wherein the method comprises moving the plunger arm within a space between the first holder and the second holder when the reservoir is being held by the first holder and the second holder and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising connecting the first holder and the second holder to the vibrator.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising filling fluidic media into the reservoir through a port of the reservoir that is located to an opposite side of said plunger head from said plunger arm, when the holding unit is holding the reservoir.

19 . The method of claim 11 , the system further comprising: latching the plunger arm to prevent the plunger arm from being moved when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and prior to a time when the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving a handle connected to the plunger arm within a space between the reservoir and the vibrator when the holding unit is holding the reservoir and the reservoir is being filled with fluidic media.

Assignees

• Medtronic Minimed Inc

Inventors

• Kavazov Julian D

Classifications

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title

• A61J1/2072

  for internal venting · CPC title

• A61J1/2075

  for external venting · CPC title

• A61J1/2096 Primary

  Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents · CPC title

• A61M5/1413

  Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements · CPC title