Compact pump drive system
AssigneeMiniMed Inc.
InventorSheldon Moberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved pump is provided for controlled delivery of fluids wherein the pump includes a reservoir and a movable piston. A plunger slide is in removable contact with the movable piston. A motor, is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw. The motor is disposed in-line with the drive member and the plunger slide. The drive member is operably connected to the plunger slide and is disposed to be substantially enclosed by the plunger slide when the plunger slide is in at least one position. The drive member is adapted to advance the plunger slide in response to operation of the motor.
Claims26
A portable medical device for dispensing liquid from a liquid reservoir having a piston which defines an axis of travel, the medical device comprising:
- a drive motor having a rotating drive shaft which defines an axis of rotation, said drive shaft axis of rotation being coaxially aligned with the piston axis of travel;
- a gearbox coupled to the drive motor drive shaft;
- at least one plunger slider coupled to the gearbox and adapted to translate from a retracted position to an extended position to displace the piston along the piston axis of travel in response to rotation of the drive motor drive shaft wherein the at least one plunger slider substantially radially surrounds at least a portion of a length of the gearbox when the at least one plunger slider is in the retracted position;
- and
- a releasable coupler adapted to releasably couple the at least one plunger slider to the piston.
A medical device for dispensing liquid from a liquid reservoir having a piston which defines an axis of travel, the medical device comprising:
- a drive motor having a rotating drive shaft which defines an axis of rotation, said drive shaft axis of rotation being coaxially aligned with the piston axis of travel;
- a gearbox coupled to the drive motor drive shaft;
- a first drive gear positioned to be rotatably actuated by the gearbox said first drive gear having external threads;
- a second drive gear having internal threads positioned to be engaged by the first drive gear external threads and linearly actuated from a retracted position to an extended position by rotation of the first drive gear threads;
- wherein the second drive gear substantially radially surrounds at least a portion of a length of the gearbox when the second drive gear is in the retracted position;
- and
- a releasable coupler means for releasably coupling the second drive gear to the reservoir piston wherein linear actuation of the second drive gear linearly actuates the reservoir piston.
A method of dispensing liquid from a portable liquid reservoir having a piston which defines an axis of travel, the method comprising:
- coupling a first reservoir piston of a first reservoir to at least one plunger slider;
- rotating a motor drive shaft which defines an axis of rotation, said drive shaft axis of rotation being coaxially aligned with the piston axis of travel;
- rotating gears in a gearbox with the drive motor drive shaft;
- translating the at least one plunger slider from a retracted position to an extended position in response to rotation of the gears in the gearbox to move the reservoir piston along the piston axis of travel using the at least one plunger slider to dispense the liquid from the reservoir;
- and
- wherein the at least one plunger slider substantially radially surrounds at least a portion of a length of the gearbox when the plunger slider is in the retracted position;
- and
- releasing the first reservoir piston from the at least one plunger slider.
A portable medical device for dispensing liquid from a liquid reservoir having a piston which defines an axis of travel, the medical device comprising:
- a first drive member;
- means for driving the first drive member, said driving means being coaxially aligned with the piston axis of travel;
- a second drive member coaxially aligned with the piston axis of travel;
- means for linearly actuating the second drive member from a retracted position to an extended position with the first drive member;
- wherein the linear actuation of the second drive member linearly actuates the piston, and
- wherein the second drive member substantially radially surrounds at least a portion of a length of the driving means when the second drive member is in the retracted position;
- and
- means for releasably coupling the second drive member with the piston.
A portable medical device for dispensing liquid from a liquid reservoir having a piston which defines an axis of travel, the medical device comprising:
- a solenoid;
- a drive shaft mechanically coupled to rotate in response to actuation of the solenoid, and coaxially aligned with the piston axis of travel;
- and
- at least one plunger slider coupled to the drive shaft to translate from a retracted position to an extended position to displace the piston along the piston axis of travel and dispense liquid form the reservoir in response to rotation of the drive shaft, wherein the at least one plunger slider substantially radially surrounds at least a portion of a length of the solenoid when the at least one plunger slider is in the retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.