Patch-Sized Fluid Delivery Systems and Methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016206809-A1
Application number	US-201615082578-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 28, 2016
Priority date	Feb 9, 2006
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A patch-sized fluid delivery device may include a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The disposable portion may include components that come into contact with the fluid, while the reusable portion may include only components that do not come into contact with the fluid. Redundant systems, such as redundant controllers, power sources, motor actuators, and alarms, may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, certain components can be multi-functional, such a microphones and loudspeakers that may be used for both acoustic volume sensing and for other functions and a coil that may be used as both an inductive coupler for a battery recharger and an antenna for a wireless transceiver. Various types of network interfaces may be provided in order to allow for remote control and monitoring of the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of making a delivery device for delivering a fluidic medium to or from a patient, 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; providing a reservoir in the first housing portion, the reservoir having a first interior volume for containing a fluid, the reservoir having an outlet connectable in fluid flow communication with the first interior volume and an injection site, the first interior volume of the reservoir being selectively variable; 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; and 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.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein supporting a volume varying mechanism comprises 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.

3 . A method according to claim 2 , further comprising 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.

4 . A method according to claim 3 wherein operatively coupling a drive linkage comprises 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, the shaft and receptacle each having 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, and wherein the method further comprises:
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.

5 . A method according to claim 3 wherein operatively coupling a drive linkage comprises:
operatively coupling a shaft to the drive device for rotation by the drive device and extending the shaft from the second housing portion; and
coupling a receptacle to the rotary arm on the first housing portion;
wherein the shaft and receptacle each having 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.

6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the reservoir has a disk-shaped interior and wherein the first interior volume comprises a portion of the disk-shaped interior.

7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein the disk-shaped interior has a central axis and wherein supporting a rotary arm comprises supporting the rotary arm for rotation about the central axis of the disk-shaped interior.

8 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein supporting the rotary arm further comprises supporting one end of the rotary arm at the central axis of the disk shaped interior.

9 . A method according to claim 7 , wherein the reservoir includes 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.

10 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein the reservoir outlet is provided through one of the walls defining the wedge-shaped volume.

11 . A method according to claim 9 , further comprising providing an air vent through one of the walls defining the wedge-shaped volume, in air-flow communication with the disk-shaped interior of the reservoir.

12 . A method according to claim 6 , further comprising providing an air vent in airflow communication with the disk-shaped interior of the reservoir.

13 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein providing an air vent comprises 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.

14 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the reservoir has an overall interior volume in which the first interior volume is included; and wherein the method further comprises providing an air vent in air-flow communication with the interior volume of the reservoir.

15 . 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 rotatable rotor for rotation, the rotor having at least one pad or roller for movement in an annular path with the rotation of the rotor; providing a conduit having a flexible portion; coupling an interior volume of a reservoir in fluid flow communication with the conduit, the interior volume of the reservoir for containing a fluid; 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 at least one pad or roller to be engaged at locations along the annular path by the at least one pad or roller when the second housing portion and the first housing portion are engaged, the flexible portion of the conduit being resiliency collapsible at the locations of engagement of the at least one pad or roller to provide a pumping action as the rotor rotates while the first and second housing portions are engaged, the conduit being connectable in fluid flow communication with an injection site; 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.

16 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting the rotatable rotor on the second housing portion.

17 . A method according to claim 15 , wherein:
providing a second housing portion comprising providing a housing structure with an internal volume; supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotor on the second housing portion, outside of the internal volume; and operatively coupling the drive device to the rotor comprises extending a rotor shaft having a longitudinal axis into the interior volume of the second housing portion, operatively coupling the rotor shaft to the rotor and to the drive device to transfer drive force from the drive device to the rotor.

18 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein extending a rotor shaft comprises extending the rotor shaft through an aperture in a wall of the second housing portion.

19 . A method according to claim 18 , further comprising arranging a seal around the aperture in the wall of the second housing portion.

20 . A method according to claim 17 , wherein supporting a rotatable rotor comprises supporting a rotor within a recess in a wall of the second housing portion.

21 . A method according to

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Kamen Dean
• Gray Larry B
• Beavis Russell H

Classifications

• A61M5/158 Primary

  Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body} · CPC title

• A61M5/14244

  adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body · CPC title

• A61M5/14232

  Roller pumps · CPC title

• A61M5/148 Primary

  flexible, {e.g. independent bags}(A61M5/155 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/15121

  comprising piezos · CPC title