Pumping mechanism with wire-pulled plunger
AssigneeInsulet Corporation
InventorsDaniel BARRETT, Soroush KAMRAVA, Maureen MCCAFFREY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are devices and methods for causing the linear translation of a plunger through a reservoir containing a fluid. A flexible member, for example, a wire or a ribbon, is coupled to the plunger and extends through a wall of the reservoir toward which the plunger is being linearly translated. A pulling force on the flexible member caused by a drive mechanism causes the plunger to linearly translate toward the end wall of the reservoir, thereby forcing any fluid contained in the reservoir out of the reservoir through a fluid port.
Claims20
A device comprising:
- a reservoir comprising distal end having a fluid port and a wall having an opening;
- a plunger disposed within the reservoir and configured to be linearly translated through the reservoir toward the distal end;
- a flexible member extending through the plunger and through the opening in the wall of the reservoir, wherein the flexible member comprises an outer surface having an insulating layer;
- a first septum sealing the opening in the wall of the reservoir and forming a fluid-tight seal with the insulating layer of the flexible member;
- a second septum disposed in the plunger, wherein the second septum forms a fluid-tight seal between the insulating layer of the flexible member and the plunger;
- and
- a drive mechanism configured to move the flexible member to cause linear translation of the plunger through the reservoir toward the distal end to force fluid through the fluid port.
A method of linearly translating a plunger through a reservoir to deliver a fluid through a fluid port at a distal end of the reservoir, the method comprising:
- coupling a flexible member to the plunger, the flexible member extending through the plunger and through an opening in a wall of the reservoir, wherein the flexible member comprises an insulating layer on an outer surface thereof;
- sealing the opening in the wall of the reservoir with a first septum that forms a fluid-tight seal with the insulating layer of the flexible member;
- sealing an interface between the flexible member and the plunger with a second septum that forms a fluid-tight seal between the insulating layer and the plunger;
- and
- pulling the flexible member with a drive mechanism to linearly translate the plunger through the reservoir toward the distal end, thereby forcing the fluid through the fluid port while maintaining fluid-tight seals at the first and second septa.
A drug delivery device comprising:
- a reservoir configured to contain a liquid drug, the reservoir defining a fluid port at a distal end thereof and an opening in a wall thereof;
- a plunger disposed within the reservoir and configured to be linearly translated through the reservoir toward the distal end;
- a wire coupled to the plunger, the wire extending through the plunger and through the opening in the wall of the reservoir, wherein the wire comprises an insulating layer on an outer surface thereof;
- a first septum sealing the opening in the wall of the reservoir and forming a fluid-tight seal with the insulating layer of the wire;
- a second septum disposed in the plunger and forming a fluid-tight seal between the insulating layer of the wire and the plunger;
- and
- a drive mechanism comprising:
- a first roller and a second roller in frictional engagement with the wire on opposing sides thereof, the first and second rollers configured to rotate in opposite directions to pull the wire;
- a first spur gear coupled to the first roller and a second spur gear coupled to the second roller, the first and second spur gears being in rotational engagement with each other;
- and
- a motor coupled to at least one of the first and second spur gears and configured to drive rotation of the first and second rollers in opposite directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.