Cartridge insertion mechanism for a fluid delivery device
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12465681-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A fluid delivery device comprises a drive unit including an actuator and one or more first features and a cartridge filled with a fluid prior to being inserted into the housing. The cartridge having a fluid reservoir sealed at one end by a movable piston and sealed at another end by a pierceable septum. The cartridge includes one or more second features that are configured to align and mate with the one or more first features allowing the cartridge to be inserted into the drive unit. The piston is moveabe by the actuator once the cartridge is inserted into the drive unit.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a hydraulically actuated ambulatory fluid delivery pump that uses a prefilled, insertable cartridge. The cartridge includes a fluid reservoir sealed at one end by a movable piston and sealed at another end by a pierceable septum. After insertion into a housing of a drive unit, an actuator moves the movable piston to drive fluid from the reservoir.
The drive unit and cartridge are configured with aligned features that mate during insertion into the housing. The housing includes a rotatable door that covers the cartridge and seats the cartridge into position within the drive unit. The cartridge includes one or more second features configured to align and mate with one or more first features of the drive unit to enable correct insertion and alignment.
The cartridge is sealed to the drive unit by a seal that includes a first flexible portion proximate an end of the cartridge and a second flexible portion. The second flexible portion is less flexible than the first flexible portion and includes one or more second features. The seal force and sealing interaction are established through the keyed/mating feature fit rather than by the cartridge length.
In one embodiment, the device includes a needle assembly with a delivery end and a fluid coupling end. The needle assembly is deployed to pierce the septum and to become fluidly coupled with the fluid reservoir. An alternative embodiment includes a configuration where the door and the keyed features form part of the cartridge assembly and/or a needle support.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive features focus on a prefilled cartridge sealed by a movable piston and a pierceable septum, insertion and positioning using aligned keyed features and a rotatable door, and sealing structure using a first flexible portion and a less-flexible second flexible portion with keyed features; one independent claim further includes needle deployment structure.
Prefilled cartridge with piston-and-septum sealing
The cartridge is filled with a fluid prior to being inserted into the housing, with a fluid reservoir sealed at one end by a movable piston and sealed at another end by a pierceable septum.
Mated alignment features for insertion into the drive unit
The cartridge includes one or more second features configured to align and mate with one or more first features of the drive unit, allowing the cartridge to be inserted into the drive unit while enabling piston movement by the actuator once inserted.
Rotatable door seats and covers the cartridge
The drive unit includes a housing having a door, the door being rotatable relative to the housing to cover the cartridge and seat the cartridge into position within the drive unit.
Seal with first and second flexible portions including features
The seal includes a first flexible portion proximate an end of the cartridge and a second flexible portion, the second flexible portion being less flexible than the first flexible portion and including one or more second features.
Keyed feature cartridge for insertion and seating by a rotatable door
The cartridge includes one or more radial projecting and circumferentially extending keyed features configured to align and mate with corresponding keyed features of the fluid delivery device, and the cartridge is seated into position by a door coupled to the fluid delivery device, the door being rotatable relative to the fluid delivery device to cover the cartridge.
Needle assembly deploying to pierce and couple via the septum
A needle assembly includes a delivery end extending past the housing when deployed and a fluid coupling end that passes through the pierceable septum to become fluidly coupled with the fluid reservoir while fluidly disengaged from the reservoir in an initial position.
Overall, the claims cover a fluid delivery device and an insertable cartridge that rely on a sealed prefilled reservoir, keyed or mating features for insertion alignment, and a rotatable door for seating and covering, together with a seal having a more-flexible portion and a less-flexible portion that includes features. The device claim further includes needle deployment that pierces the septum and achieves fluid coupling after an initial disengaged state.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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