Pump for wearable fluid delivery system
Inventors
Piper, Joseph Neal • Gilkey, James Landon • Bergeron, Brian • Johnson, Hill • Weiner, Martin Eric
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12017039-B2
Publication Date
2024-06-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wearable fluid delivery system comprising a single-use device with a tube, a pump, and a nutrition container with a fluid. The system further includes a module including a processor, a battery, and an electric motor with an output member. The processor is configured to operate the electric motor. The single-use device is releasably coupled to the module such that the output member is coupled to the pump when the single-use device is coupled to the module, and the output member drives the pump to cause the fluid to travel through the tube.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a wearable enteral nutrition fluid-delivery system using a reusable module and a single-use pouch assembly. The reusable module includes a processor, a battery, and an electric motor with an output pinion gear removably coupled to the pouch assembly. The pouch assembly includes a nutrition container, a tube, and a pump.
The pump includes a planetary-gear mechanism with a housing, a carrier positioned within the housing, planet gears coupled to the carrier, and a receptacle positioned between the plurality of planet gears. At least one planet gear is in contact with the intermediate portion of the tube, and each planet gear includes gear teeth in direct contact with the tube. The tube is routed with inlet and outlet axes that intersect at an angle.
The invention further describes mechanical positioning of the tube using ring-gear portions and a channel that positions the tube at least partially within the channel between ring gear portions. The module and pouch assembly include coupling features that align the tube and expose and receive the pump receptacle through an aperture aligned with the receptacle. Machine-readable identification and optional sensors are also described, including a wireless identification tag positioned within the housing.
The nutrition container structure is described as including branched channels that enable gravity-independent complete expulsion. The invention also describes an optionally included burstable sac for dose flushing or powered formula storage within the nutrition container.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00020, clm-00026, and clm-00031) cover 5 inventive feature groupings centered on a planetary-gear pump and related tube, receptacle, and identification features.
Planet gears with direct gear-to-tube contact
A pump includes a housing, a carrier positioned within the housing, a plurality of planet gears coupled to the carrier, a receptacle positioned between the plurality of planet gears, and a tube with an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and an intermediate portion, where at least one of the plurality of planet gears is in contact with the intermediate portion of the tube, and each planet gear includes gear teeth in direct contact with the tube.
Inlet and outlet axis intersection geometry
The tube includes an inlet portion extending from the housing at an inlet axis and an outlet portion extending from the housing at an outlet axis, with the inlet axis and the outlet axis intersecting at an angle.
Drive-receiving receptacle exposed via housing aperture
The carrier at least partially defines the receptacle, the receptacle defines a center axis, and the housing includes an aperture aligned with the receptacle such that the aperture exposes the receptacle and the receptacle is configured to receive a drive gear mounted on a drive module.
Ring-gear/channel positioning of the tube
The housing includes a first ring gear portion, a second ring gear portion, and a channel positioned between the first ring gear portion and the second ring gear portion, with the tube positioned at least partially within the channel.
Wireless identification tag in the housing
A wireless identification tag is positioned within the housing.
The claims center on a planetary-gear pump in which planet gears contact a tube intermediate portion with gear teeth in direct contact. The independent claims also cover intersecting inlet and outlet axis geometry, ring-gear/channel structures that position the tube, receptacle exposure and alignment for a drive gear on a drive module, and a wireless identification tag positioned within the housing.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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