Systems and methods for delivering microdoses of medication
Inventors
Fridez, Pierre • SIGG, Nathanael • PRUIJS, Benjamin • Mosimann, Laurent
Assignees
Tandem Diabetes Care Switzerland SARL • Tandem Diabetes Care Inc
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Publication Number
US-12397104-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are provided herein for delivering medication (e.g., insulin) via a wearable pump having a patch-style form factor for adhesion to a user's body. The reusable pump may be coupled to a disposable cap housing a microdosing system for delivering precise, repeatable doses of medication to a cannula configured to deliver medication to a target infusion area beneath the user's outer skin layer. The system further may include an applicator for inserting the cannula into the user's skin and/or applying an adhesive pad to the skin.
Core Innovation
A medication infusion device is configured as a patch pump removably adhered to a wearer's skin for delivering doses of medication from a cartridge through a transcutaneous portion. The device includes a pump housing configured to hold a pump and a controller and to receive the cartridge, and a cap housing configured to be locked to the pump housing to lock the cartridge therebetween.
The cap housing includes at least three protrusions radially spaced around a portion of the cap housing configured to receive the cartridge. The protrusions engage corresponding receptacles in the pump housing so that the cap housing locks to the pump housing upon rotation relative to the pump housing from an open position to a closed position.
The document also describes transcutaneous delivery using a cannula that extends into the wearer's skin and includes apertures positioned beneath the outer skin layer for delivering doses. Additional system functionality includes initialization and pressurization based on cartridge pressure thresholds, rapid occlusion detection with sensor-based alerting, reusable pump electronics with disposable components, charging via inductive coils, wireless communication, and skin detection to prevent dispensing while off-skin.
Claims Coverage
The claims coverage includes two independent claims and centers on a patch pump medication infusion device and a corresponding method for locking the cap housing to the pump housing. The inventive features are the cartridge-retaining patch pump structure and the rotation-based locking interface with at least three radially spaced protrusions engaging corresponding receptacles.
Patch pump with pump housing and controller to receive the cartridge
A patch pump configured to be removably adhered to a wearer's skin for delivering doses of medication from a cartridge through a transcutaneous portion, comprising a pump housing configured to hold a pump and a controller and configured to receive the cartridge.
Cap housing locked to pump housing by radially spaced protrusions upon rotation
A cap housing configured to be locked to the pump housing to lock the cartridge therebetween, wherein the cap housing comprises at least three protrusions radially spaced around a portion of the cap housing configured to receive the cartridge, and the protrusions are configured to engage corresponding receptacles in the pump housing to lock the cap housing to the pump housing upon rotation from an open position to a closed position.
Method steps for locking a patch pump cap to secure the cartridge
A method for locking a patch pump configured to be removably adhered to a wearer's skin for delivering doses of medication from a cartridge through a transcutaneous portion, comprising providing a pump housing comprising a pump and a controller; receiving the cartridge in the pump housing; and locking a cap housing to the pump housing to lock the cartridge therebetween by rotating the cap housing relative to the pump housing from an open position to a closed position, wherein the cap housing comprises at least three radially spaced protrusions configured to engage corresponding receptacles in the pump housing.
The claim coverage emphasizes securing a cartridge in a patch pump through a cap housing with at least three radially spaced protrusions engaging corresponding receptacles upon rotation from open to closed. The method claim mirrors these structural locking elements through providing the pump housing, receiving the cartridge, and rotating the cap housing to lock it.
Stated Advantages
The disclosed configuration supports locking the cartridge between the cap housing and the pump housing upon rotation from an open position to a closed position.
Microdosing initialization controlled by a cartridge pressure sensor is described as preventing delivery until a predetermined pressure range is reached, reducing bubbles and improving dose accuracy/precision.
Documented Applications
Delivering doses of medication from a cartridge through a transcutaneous portion using a patch pump removably adhered to a wearer's skin.
Insulin cartridge implementation is mentioned as part of the system context.
Charging and mobile app support is mentioned for the system context.
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