Infusion device and driving mechanism for same

A drive mechanism for delivery of infusion medium comprising:

• an inlet for receiving infusion medium;
• an outlet for discharging infusion medium;
• a piston channel through which infusion medium is communicated between the inlet and the outlet;
• a piston located within the piston channel and moveable axially within the piston channel between a retracted position and a forward position, the piston defining a piston chamber at one end of the piston, the piston chamber having a first volume for containing infusion medium received by the inlet when the piston is in the retracted position, wherein the piston chamber volume reduces as the piston is moved from its quiescent position toward its forward position, to drive infusion medium from the piston chamber toward the outlet;
• an armature located on one side of the piston channel and moveable between an retracted position and a forward position;
• a coil located in a position relative to the armature to generate an electromagnetic field upon energization sufficient to cause the armature and piston to move from their quiescent positions to their forward positions;
• and
• an adjuster for allowing adjustment of the first piston chamber volume, wherein the adjuster comprises a threaded plunger located adjacent one end of the piston.

A drive mechanism for delivery of infusion medium comprising:

• an inlet for receiving infusion medium;
• an outlet for discharging infusion medium;
• a piston channel through which infusion medium is communicated between the inlet and the outlet;
• a piston located within the piston channel and moveable axially within the piston channel between a retracted position and a forward position, the piston defining a piston chamber at one end of the piston, the piston chamber having a first volume for containing infusion medium received by the inlet when the piston is in the retracted position, wherein the piston chamber volume reduces as the piston is moved from its quiescent position toward its forward position, to drive infusion medium from the piston chamber toward the outlet;
• an armature located on one side of the piston channel and moveable between an retracted position and a forward position;
• a coil located in a position relative to the armature to generate an electromagnetic field upon energization sufficient to cause the armature and piston to move from their quiescent positions to their forward positions;
• an adjuster for allowing adjustment of the first piston chamber volume;
• and
• a cover member having a threaded aperture and wherein the adjuster comprises a threaded plunger threadingly engaged to the threaded aperture, the plunger extending through the aperture and having an internal end extending within the cover toward the armature and piston and an external end exposed external to the cover for receiving an externally applied rotational force to adjust the amount that the internal end extends within the cover.

A method for delivery of infusion medium comprising:

• providing an inlet for receiving infusion medium;
• providing an outlet for discharging infusion medium;
• providing a piston channel through which infusion medium is communicated between the inlet and the outlet;
• providing a piston located within the piston channel and moveable axially within the piston channel between a retracted position and a forward position, the piston defining a piston chamber at one end of the piston, the piston chamber having a first volume for containing infusion medium received by the inlet when the piston is in the retracted position, wherein the piston chamber volume reduces as the piston is moved from its quiescent position toward its forward position, to drive infusion medium from the piston chamber toward the outlet;
• providing an armature located on one side of the piston channel and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position;
• providing a coil located in a position relative to the armature to generate an electromagnetic field upon energization sufficient to cause the armature and piston to move from their quiescent positions to their forward positions;
• providing an adjuster for allowing adjustment of the first piston chamber volume, and
• adjusting the first piston chamber volume subsequent to sealing the first piston chamber volume.

A method for delivery of infusion medium comprising:

• providing an inlet for receiving infusion medium;
• providing an outlet for discharging infusion medium;
• providing a piston channel through which infusion medium is communicated between the inlet and the outlet;
• providing a piston located within the piston channel and moveable axially within the piston channel between a retracted position and a forward position, the piston defining a piston chamber at one end of the piston, the piston chamber having a first volume for containing infusion medium received by the inlet when the piston is in the retracted position, wherein the piston chamber volume reduces as the piston is moved from its quiescent position toward its forward position, to drive infusion medium from the piston chamber toward the outlet;
• providing an armature located on one side of the piston channel and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position;
• providing a coil located in a position relative to the armature to generate an electromagnetic field upon energization sufficient to cause the armature and piston to move from their quiescent positions to their forward positions;
• providing an adjuster for allowing adjustment of the first piston chamber volume,
• wherein the adjuster comprises a threaded plunger located adjacent one end of the piston.

A method for delivery of infusion medium comprising:

• providing an inlet for receiving infusion medium;
• providing an outlet for discharging infusion medium;
• providing a piston channel through which infusion medium is communicated between the inlet and the outlet;
• providing a piston located within the piston channel and moveable axially within the piston channel between a retracted position and a forward position, the piston defining a piston chamber at one end of the piston, the piston chamber having a first volume for containing infusion medium received by the inlet when the piston is in the retracted position, wherein the piston chamber volume reduces as the piston is moved from its quiescent position toward its forward position, to drive infusion medium from the piston chamber toward the outlet;
• providing an armature located on one side of the piston channel and moveable between a retracted position and a forward position;
• providing a coil located in a position relative to the armature to generate an electromagnetic field upon energization sufficient to cause the armature and piston to move from their quiescent positions to their forward positions;
• and
• providing an adjuster for allowing adjustment of the first piston chamber volume;
• and
• providing a cover member having a threaded aperture and wherein the adjuster comprises a threaded plunger threadingly engaged to the threaded aperture, the plunger extending through the aperture and having an internal end extending within the cover toward the armature and piston and an external end exposed external to the cover for receiving an externally applied rotational force to adjust the amount that the internal end extends within the cover.