Systems and methods for automatic termination of flow due to needle dislodgement
Inventors
Rousche, Patrick • TEK, Peter • VENTURA, Charles • Scribner, Richard A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10213548-B2
Publication Date
2019-02-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for automatic flow termination for fluid delivery, including a housing configured for coupling a fluid delivery tube to a needle configured for subcutaneous delivery of fluid within a tissue of a patient and a spring-loaded activation mechanism having a first orientation corresponding to a condition where the housing is disposed substantially adjacent to the tissue and the needle lodged within the tissue and a second orientation corresponding to a condition where the housing is disposed away from the tissue or the needle being dislodged from the tissue. A flow termination mechanism is coupled to the activation mechanism and having an open configuration allowing flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle when the activation mechanism is in the first orientation and a closed configuration substantially terminating flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle when the activation mechanism is in the second orientation.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for automatic termination of flow for fluid delivery in which a housing is configured for coupling a fluid delivery tube to a needle configured for subcutaneous delivery of fluid within a tissue of a patient. The apparatus includes a spring-loaded activation mechanism coupled to the housing, with a first orientation corresponding to a condition where the housing is disposed substantially adjacent to the tissue and the needle is lodged within the tissue. In the first orientation, the flow termination mechanism is in an open configuration allowing flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle.
The spring-loaded activation mechanism further comprises a second orientation corresponding to a condition where the housing is disposed away from the tissue or the needle is dislodged from the tissue. When the spring-loaded activation mechanism is in the second orientation, the flow termination mechanism is in a closed configuration substantially terminating flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle. The spring-loaded activation mechanism comprises a contact member configured to be disposed adjacent the patient's skin when the spring-loaded activation mechanism is in the first orientation, and the contact member articulates with respect to the housing to the second orientation.
In the disclosed constructions, the flow termination mechanism comprises a pinch valve that substantially terminates flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle when the spring-loaded activation mechanism is in the second orientation. The contact member and flow termination mechanism may comprise a spring-arm and a compression lever to form a pinch valve, with the spring-arm disposed adjacent the housing when positioned in the first orientation and articulating away from the housing in the second orientation. The compression lever articulates in response to articulation of the spring-arm in the second orientation to pinch-off flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle.
The disclosure also includes a variant contact member comprising a dome-shaped diaphragm that is biased in an expanded configuration corresponding to the second orientation, with the dome-shaped diaphragm loaded in a compressed configuration adjacent the patient's skin in the first orientation. A method embodiment couples a housing to a surface of a patient's tissue with the housing configured for coupling a fluid delivery tube to a needle, preloads a spring-loaded activation mechanism at a first orientation, and upon release of the housing away from the tissue or needle dislodged advances the activation mechanism to a second orientation. The method switches the flow termination mechanism to a closed configuration to substantially terminate flow, where the flow termination mechanism comprises a pinch valve and switching comprises pinching-off flow between the fluid delivery tube and the needle.
Claims Coverage
The provided set includes multiple independent claims covering apparatus and system embodiments for automatic termination of flow, with shared core inventive features: a housing coupled to a fluid delivery tube and subcutaneous needle; a spring-loaded activation mechanism with first and second orientations based on tissue adjacency/needle lodging versus dislodgement; a flow termination mechanism with open versus closed configurations; and a contact member disposed adjacent the patient's skin that articulates to actuate termination. The independent claims further specify pinch valve implementations and structural variants including a spring-arm/compression lever arrangement or a dome-shaped diaphragm contact member.
Automatic termination using spring-loaded two-orientation activation and open/closed flow termination
An apparatus comprising a housing coupled to a fluid delivery tube and a needle for subcutaneous delivery; a spring-loaded activation mechanism coupled to the housing with a first orientation (housing substantially adjacent tissue and needle lodged) and a second orientation (housing away from tissue or needle dislodged); a flow termination mechanism coupled to the spring-loaded activation mechanism with an open configuration in the first orientation allowing flow to the needle and a closed configuration in the second orientation substantially terminating flow; a contact member disposed adjacent the patient's skin in the first orientation that articulates with respect to the housing to the second orientation; wherein the flow termination mechanism comprises a pinch valve that substantially terminates flow in the second orientation.
Pinch valve actuation via spring-arm and compression lever
An apparatus in which the contact member and flow termination mechanism comprise a spring-arm and a compression lever to form a pinch valve; wherein the spring-arm is disposed adjacent the housing when positioned in the first orientation and articulates away from the housing in the second orientation; and wherein the compression lever articulates in response to articulation of the spring-arm in the second orientation to pinch-off flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle when the spring-loaded activation mechanism is in the second orientation.
Dome-shaped diaphragm contact member with expanded and compressed configurations
An apparatus in which the contact member comprises a dome-shaped diaphragm biased in an expanded configuration corresponding to the second orientation; and wherein the dome-shaped diaphragm is loaded in a compressed configuration adjacent the patient's skin in the first orientation.
System for automatic termination including needle and tube with two-orientation activation
A system comprising a fluid delivery tube and a needle for subcutaneous delivery; a housing coupled to the fluid delivery tube and the needle; a spring-loaded activation mechanism coupled to the housing with a first orientation (housing substantially adjacent tissue and needle lodged) and a second orientation (housing away from tissue or needle dislodged); a flow termination mechanism coupled to the spring-loaded activation mechanism with an open configuration in the first orientation allowing flow to the needle and a closed configuration in the second orientation substantially terminating flow; a contact member disposed adjacent the patient's skin in the first orientation that articulates with respect to the housing to the second orientation; wherein the flow termination mechanism comprises a pinch valve that substantially terminates flow in the second orientation.
Method for automatic termination upon release or needle dislodgement
A method comprising coupling a housing to a surface of a patient's tissue with the housing configured for coupling a fluid delivery tube to a needle; preloading a spring-loaded activation mechanism at a first orientation corresponding to housing adjacent tissue and needle lodged; disposing a flow termination mechanism in an open configuration allowing flow when the activation mechanism is in the first orientation; upon release of the housing away from the tissue or the needle being dislodged advancing the activation mechanism to a second orientation; and switching the flow termination mechanism to a closed configuration to substantially terminate flow, wherein the flow termination mechanism comprises a pinch valve and switching comprises pinching-off flow between the fluid delivery tube and the needle.
Across the independent claims, the inventive concept is a spring-loaded activation mechanism with first and second orientations tied to housing adjacency/needle lodging versus dislodgement, which switches a flow termination mechanism from an open configuration to a closed configuration to substantially terminate subcutaneous flow. The independent claims further specify pinch valve termination, including a spring-arm and compression lever pinch-valve arrangement, and a dome-shaped diaphragm contact member configured in expanded versus compressed configurations.
Stated Advantages
Provides automatic termination of flow from the fluid delivery tube to the needle in response to the housing being disposed away from tissue or the needle being dislodged.
Documented Applications
Automatic termination of subcutaneous fluid delivery within a tissue of a patient when needle dislodgement or loss of housing adjacency occurs.
Automatic termination of flow for fluid delivery within a patient as a method that switches an open flow configuration to a closed configuration upon release or needle dislodgement.
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