Lead screw driven reservoir with integral plunger nut and method of using the same
AssigneeMedtronic MiniMed, Inc.
InventorsWilliam H. Stutz JR., Herman L. Renger, Cary D. Talbot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved reservoir is provided for use in a medication infusion device for operating the reservoir to administer a fluid to a patient. The reservoir comprises a hollow barrel adapted to receive a supply of fluid for delivery through infusion tubing or the like to the patient, in combination with a reservoir plunger. The reservoir plunger is designed to engage a motor-driven lead screw of the medication infusion device. The reservoir plunger has an integral split nut connector formed on the end of the plunger, which is in co-axial alignment with the lead screw whereby the split nut connector can be engaged directly to the lead screw
Claims25
A reservoir for use with a medication infusion device having a rotatable lead screw for controllably dispensing fluid from the reservoir, the reservoir comprising:
- a hollow reservoir barrel adapted for receiving and supporting a supply of the fluid;
- and
- a reservoir plunger slidably received into the barrel and movable within the barrel to deliver the fluid from the barrel;
- wherein the reservoir plunger has an integral split nut connector formed on a rear end of the plunger adapted for co-axial alignment with the lead screw whereby the split nut connector is adapted to be engaged directly to the lead screw.
A method of placing a reservoir in a medication infusion device having a rotatable lead screw for controllably dispensing fluid from the reservoir, wherein the reservoir comprises a hollow reservoir barrel and a reservoir plunger, the method comprising:
- forming an integral split nut connector on a rear end of the plunger;
- aligning coaxially the split nut connector with the lead screw;
- and
- engaging the split nut connector directly to the lead screw.
An infusion device system comprising:
- a reservoir having a reservoir barrel adapted to be filled with a fluid, and a reservoir plunger slidably received into the barrel and movable within the barrel to deliver the fluid from the barrel, and
- an infusion device including a device housing defining a reservoir compartment for receiving and supporting the reservoir, and drive means for engaging and controllably moving the plunger to deliver the fluid from the reservoir, the drive means including a rotatably driven lead screw;
- wherein the reservoir plunger has an integral split nut connector formed on a rear end of the plunger adapted for co-axial alignment with the lead screw whereby the split nut connector is adapted to be engaged directly to the lead screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.