Dispenser for patient infusion device

A device for delivering fluid to a patient, comprising:

• an exit port assembly;
• a reservoir including a side wall extending towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly;
• a threaded lead screw at least partly received in the reservoir and extending towards the outlet;
• a plunger secured to the lead screw and having an outer periphery linearly slideable along the side wall of the reservoir, wherein the plunger and the lead screw are operatively arranged such that rotation of the lead screw in a first direction causes the plunger to slide along the side wall towards the outlet of the reservoir;
• and
• a dispenser including,
• a ratchet mechanism secured to the lead screw and including a wheel arranged such that rotation of the wheel in the first direction causes rotation of the lead screw in the first direction, while rotation of the wheel in a second direction causes no rotation of the lead screw,
• an elongated shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, the shape memory element operatively connected to the wheel of the ratchet mechanism such that the changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length causes rotation of the wheel in one of the first direction and the second direction, and
• an actuation element secured to the wheel for moving the wheel in the other of the first direction and the second direction.

A device for delivering fluid to a patient, comprising:

• an exit port assembly;
• a reservoir including a side wall extending towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly;
• a threaded lead screw at least partly received in the reservoir and extending towards the outlet;
• a plunger secured to the lead screw and having an outer periphery linearly slideable along the side wall of the reservoir, wherein the plunger and the lead screw are operatively arranged such that rotation of the lead screw in a first direction causes the plunger to slide along the side wall towards the outlet of the reservoir;
• and
• a dispenser including,
• a gear secured to the lead screw and including radially extending teeth positioned to contact a first fixed member and prevent rotation of the gear and the lead screw in the second direction,
• a slide positioned for linear movement adjacent the gear between a second fixed member and a third fixed member, the slide including a finger for engaging the teeth of the gear, and wherein the finger and the teeth are adapted such that linear movement of the slide past the gear towards the second fixed member causes rotation of the gear in the first direction while linear movement of the slide past the gear towards the third fixed member causes no rotation of the gear,
• an elongated shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, the shape memory element connected between the slide and the third fixed member such that the changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length causes linear movement of the slide past the gear towards the third fixed member, and
• an actuation element connected between the slide and the second fixed member for causing linear movement of the slide past the gear towards the second fixed member.

A device for delivering fluid to a patient, comprising:

• an exit port assembly;
• a reservoir including a side wall extending towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly;
• a threaded lead screw received at least partly within the reservoir and extending towards the outlet;
• a plunger secured to the lead screw and having an outer periphery linearly slideable along the side wall of the reservoir, wherein the plunger and the lead screw are operatively arranged such that rotation of the lead screw in a first direction causes the plunger to slide along the side wall towards the outlet of the reservoir;
• and
• a dispenser including,
• a gear secured to the lead screw and including radially extending teeth positioned to contact a first fixed member and prevent rotation of the gear and the lead screw in the second direction,
• a slide positioned for linear movement between the gear and a second fixed member, the slide including a finger for engaging the teeth of the gear, wherein the finger and the teeth are adapted such that linear movement of the slide towards the gear causes rotation of the gear in the first direction while linear movement of the slide towards the second fixed member causes no rotation of the gear,
• an elongated shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, the shape memory element connected between the slide and the second fixed member such that the changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length causes linear movement of the slide towards the second fixed member, and
• an actuation element connected between the slide and the second fixed member for causing linear movement of the slide towards the gear.

An exit port assembly for delivering fluid to a patient comprising:

• a fixed member defining a channel having an outlet;
• a transcutaneous patient access tool received for sliding movement in the channel towards the outlet;
• an actuation element connected between the tool and a second fixed member for causing sliding movement of the tool towards the outlet of the channel;
• a movable latch positioned within the channel between the tool and the outlet;
• and
• an elongated shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, the shape memory element connected to the latch such that the changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length causes movement of the latch out of the channel.

A device for delivering fluid to a patient, comprising:

• an exit port assembly;
• a fill port;
• a reservoir including a side wall extending towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly and an inlet connected to the fill port;
• a threaded lead screw received at least partly within the reservoir and extending towards the outlet and the inlet of the reservoir;
• a plunger having an outer periphery slidably received on the side wall of the reservoir and an inner periphery slidably received on the lead screw and wherein the plunger is non-rotatable with respect to the side wall, the plunger including,
• an insert having a threaded surface mateable with the threaded lead screw,
• a spring biasing the threaded surface of the insert against the threaded lead screw such that rotating the lead screw in a first direction causes the plunger to slide along the side wall towards the outlet of the reservoir, and
• an elongated shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, the shape memory element having a first end secured to the insert and a second end extending radially outwardly from the insert and secured to the plunger, such that the changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length pulls the threaded surface of the insert away from the threaded lead screw such that the plunger can slide along the lead screw and away from the inlet of the reservoir.

A device for delivering fluid to a patient, comprising:

• an exit port assembly;
• a fill port;
• a reservoir including a side wall extending towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly and an inlet connected to the fill port;
• a threaded lead screw received at least partly within the reservoir and extending towards the outlet and the inlet of the reservoir;
• a linearly fixed annular gear coaxially positioned on the threaded lead screw adjacent the reservoir and including,
• an insert having a threaded surface mateable with the threaded lead screw,
• a spring biasing the threaded surface of the insert against the threaded lead screw such that rotating the gear in a first direction causes the lead screw to move linearly towards the outlet of the reservoir, and
• an elongated shape memory element having a changeable length decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length when at least one charge is applied to the shape memory element, the shape memory element having a first end secured to the insert and a second end extending radially outwardly from the insert and secured to the gear, such that the changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length pulls the threaded surface of the insert away from the threaded lead screw such that the lead screw is movable linearly through the gear and away from the inlet of the reservoir;
• and
• a plunger secured to the lead screw and having an outer periphery linearly slideable along the side wall of the reservoir.