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Publication Number
US-11246977-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A fluid delivery system (1) includes a reservoir (7) for storing a fluid, a pumping chamber (8) and an actuator (20). The pumping chamber (8) has a volume, an inlet valve (48) providing selective fluid communication between the pumping chamber volume and the reservoir, an outlet valve (49), and a membrane (47) the displacement of which changes the pumping chamber volume. The actuator (20) moves a drive member (21) in reciprocating motion. The actuator (20) is disposed in a housing (9) having an aperture (36) from which the drive member projects. The reservoir (7) and the pumping chamber (8) are arranged in a cartridge (3) removably attachable to the housing. When the cartridge (3) is attached to the housing (9) the drive member (20) is operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane (47). The fluid delivery system may be applied to an infusion system for the infusion of a liquid therapeutic product, such as insulin.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wearable infusion pump architecture with a disposable cartridge that includes a reservoir for storing a fluid and a pumping chamber having a pumping chamber membrane. The displacement of the pumping chamber membrane changes the pumping chamber volume, and the pumping chamber communicates with the reservoir through an inlet valve and with downstream fluid through an outlet valve. The inlet valve and the outlet valve each comprise a normally closed one-way check valve.
An actuator is disposed in a housing and moves a drive member in reciprocating motion, where the actuator is disposed in a housing having an aperture from which the drive member projects. The reservoir and the pumping chamber are arranged in a cartridge removably attachable to the housing such that, when the cartridge is attached, the drive member becomes operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane. The only place operative coupling between the cartridge and housing occurs for fluid delivery is the pumping chamber.
The description further states an actuator implementation that uses a shape memory alloy, including a resistance-heated shape memory alloy wire, with associated motion conversion by a wedge shaped member and a lever mechanism with a pivot point to convert reciprocating motion along different axes. The cartridge-housing interface is described as having sealing by an aperture membrane, with a drive member biasing arrangement. The system is described with valves as microvalves having a defined breakthrough pressure concept, and with controller and wireless communication, including a handset control example for insulin delivery.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present, describing a fluid delivery system and an infusion system that incorporates the fluid delivery system architecture. Across the independent claims, there are five inventive features.
Reservoir and pumping chamber membrane volume change with normally closed one-way check valves
A reservoir for storing a fluid; a pumping chamber having a volume, an inlet valve providing selective fluid communication between the pumping chamber volume and the reservoir, an outlet valve, and a pumping chamber membrane the displacement of which changes the pumping chamber volume, the inlet valve and the outlet valve each comprising a normally closed one-way check valve
Housing actuator reciprocating motion through an aperture
An actuator for moving a drive member in reciprocating motion, wherein the actuator is disposed in a housing having an aperture from which the drive member projects
Removably attachable cartridge with only pumping-chamber operative coupling for fluid delivery
The reservoir and the pumping chamber are arranged in a cartridge removably attachable to the housing such that when the cartridge is attached to the housing the drive member becomes operatively coupled to the pumping chamber membrane, wherein the only place operative coupling between the cartridge and housing occurs for fluid delivery is the pumping chamber
Infusion system using the fluid delivery system
An infusion system for the infusion of a liquid therapeutic product comprising a fluid delivery system comprising a reservoir for storing a fluid; a pumping chamber having a volume with an inlet valve and an outlet valve, the inlet valve and the outlet valve each comprising a normally closed one-way check valve; and an actuator disposed in a housing having an aperture from which the drive member projects, with the reservoir and pumping chamber arranged in a cartridge removably attachable to the housing such that the only place operative coupling between the cartridge and housing occurs for fluid delivery is the pumping chamber
Infusion set fluidically coupled to the outlet valve
The infusion system further includes an infusion set fluidically coupled to the outlet valve
The independent claims cover a fluid delivery system where a pumping chamber membrane changes pumping chamber volume, inlet and outlet valves are normally closed one-way check valves, an actuator reciprocates a drive member through a housing aperture, and a removably attachable cartridge couples to the housing only at the pumping chamber for fluid delivery. The infusion claim requires the same architecture for infusion of a liquid therapeutic product and further includes an infusion set coupled to the outlet valve.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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