# US 9,039,653 B2 · Retention systems and methods

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- Number: US 9,039,653 B2
- Document ID: US9039653B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/974,117
- Filed: 2010-12-21
- Published: 2011-06-30
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-29
- Assignees: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
- Applicants: Colin A. Chong; Eric M. Lorenzen; Rafael Bikovsky; Arsen Ibranyan; Matthew William Yavorsky; Mona-Lisa Alexander; R. Paul Mounce; Paul F. Bente, IV
- Inventors: Colin A. Chong; Eric M. Lorenzen; Rafael Bikovsky; Arsen Ibranyan; Matthew William Yavorsky; Mona-Lisa Alexander; R. Paul Mounce; Paul F. Bente, IV
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039653B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/14248: {of the skin patch type}
- A61M 5/1456: {with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir}
- A61M 5/158: Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body}
- A61M 5/1413: {Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements}
- A61M 5/1684: {by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion}
- A61M 2005/14252: {with needle insertion means}
- A61M 2005/14268: {with a reusable and a disposable component}
- A61M 2005/1583: {Needle extractors}
- A61M 2005/1585: {Needle inserters}
- A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
- A61M 2205/332: Force measuring means
- A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence)
- A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A system for retaining a fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery device may include a reservoir and a plunger arm operatively connected to a plunger head arranged for movement within the reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion operatively engageable with a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head when the plunger arm and the plunger head are connected to the drive member. The system may include a rigid member arranged for movement and a bias member configured to urge the rigid member toward the plunger arm to force the plunger arm against the drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for retaining a fluid delivery device in a housing, the fluid delivery device comprising a reservoir, the system comprising:
a plunger arm operatively connected to a plunger head arranged for movement in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion operatively engageable with a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head in the axial direction when the plunger arm and the plunger head are connected to the drive member;
a casing arranged between the plunger arm and the drive member, the casing configured to support the plunger arm and to envelop at least a portion of the plunger arm, the casing having an opening for allowing the arm portion of the plunger arm to operatively engage the drive member;
a rigid member arranged for movement; and
a bias member configured to move the rigid member to bias the plunger arm in a first direction against the drive member to operatively engage the drive member for movement by the drive member in the axial direction;
wherein the first direction is transverse to the axial direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, the bias member configured to urge the rigid member toward the casing to cause the casing to force the plunger arm against the drive member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises a spring.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the bias member is configured to move the rigid member toward the plunger arm to move the plunger arm in the first direction toward the drive member to operatively engage the plunger arm to the drive member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1,
wherein the bias member is configured to prevent the plunger arm from moving in a second direction away from the drive member;
wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction and is transverse to the axial direction.

### Claim 6

A system for retaining a fluid delivery device in a housing, the fluid delivery device comprising a reservoir and a plunger arm operatively connected to a plunger head arranged for movement in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion operatively engageable with a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head in the axial direction when the plunger arm and the plunger head are connected to the drive member, the system comprising:
a rigid member arranged for movement; and
a bias member configured to move the rigid member to bias the plunger arm in a first direction against the drive member to operatively engage the drive member for movement by the drive member in the axial direction;
wherein the first direction is transverse to the axial direction; and
wherein the bias member is further configured to urge the rigid member such that the rigid member provides a force against the casing in a first direction to cause the casing to urge the plunger arm against the drive member, and in a second direction to urge the casing against a surface of the housing, the second direction being transverse to the first direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising:
the plunger arm; and
a casing arranged between the plunger arm and the drive member, the casing configured to support the plunger arm and to envelop at least a portion of the plunger arm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, the casing having an opening for allowing the arm portion of the plunger arm to operatively engage the drive member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, the housing configured to support the drive member, the plunger arm, the rigid member, and the bias member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to a direction in which the rigid member is urged.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6,
the rigid member having a contact surface for engaging the casing;
wherein the contact surface is substantially round.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the rigid member comprises a wedge-shaped member.

### Claim 14

A system for retaining a fluid delivery device in a housing, the fluid delivery device comprising a reservoir, the system comprising:
a plunger arm operatively connected to a plunger head arranged for movement in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion operatively engageable with a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head in the axial direction when the plunger arm and the plunger head are connected to the drive member;
a casing arranged between the plunger arm and the drive member, the casing configured to support the plunger arm and to envelop at least a portion of the plunger arm,
a rigid member arranged for movement; and
a bias member configured to move the rigid member to bias the plunger arm in a first direction against the drive member to operatively engage the drive member for movement by the drive member in the axial direction;
wherein the first direction is transverse to the axial direction;
wherein the rigid member has a contact surface for engaging the casing; and
wherein the contact surface is substantially flat.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14,
the casing having a contact surface for engaging the contact surface of the rigid member;
wherein the contact surface of the casing corresponds in shape with the contact surface of the rigid member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the contact surface of the rigid member is an angled surface of less than 90 degrees relative to a direction in which the rigid member is urged.

### Claim 17

A method of manufacturing a system for retaining a fluid delivery device in a housing, the fluid delivery device comprising a reservoir, the method comprising:
connecting a plunger arm to a plunger head arranged for movement in an axial direction within the reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion operatively engageable with a drive member configured to move the plunger arm and the plunger head in the axial direction when the plunger arm and the plunger head are connected to the drive member;
arranging a casing between the plunger arm and the drive member, the casing configured to support the plunger arm and to envelop at least a portion of the plunger arm, the casing having an opening for allowing the arm portion of the plunger arm to operatively engage the drive member;
arranging a rigid member for movement; and
configuring a bias member to move the rigid member to bias the plunger arm in a first direction against the drive member to operatively engage the drive member for movement by the drive member in the axial direction;
wherein the first direction is transverse to the axial direction.

### Claim 18

A system for retaining a fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery device comprising a reservoir and a plunger arm operatively connectable to a plunger head that is moveable within the reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion that is configured for operative engagement to a drive member configured to move the arm portion and the plunger head when the arm portion of the plunger arm is operatively engaged to the drive, the system comprising:
a housing configured to support the plunger arm and the reservoir, the housing having a recess for receiving the plunger arm;
the housing having a pair of protrusions arranged around the recess, the protrusions separated by a gap though which the plunger arm is received into the recess;
the protrusions configured to allow the plunger arm to be forced between the protrusions and received into the recess from a position outside of the recess when a first amount of force is applied on the plunger arm toward the recess;
the protrusions configured to prevent the plunger arm from being removed from the recess using the first amount of force when the plunger arm is in the recess;
the protrusions configured to allow the plunger arm to be removed from the recess through the gap between the protrusions to a position outside of the recess when a second amount of force is applied on the plunger arm away from the recess, the second amount of force being greater than the first amount of force.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein each protrusion has an upper surface that is angled in toward the recess to facilitate insertion of the plunger arm into the recess.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, the system further comprising:
the plunger arm;
wherein the plunger arm has a surface having an angle of less than 90° relative to an upper surface of the plunger arm for engaging each protrusion to facilitate insertion of the plunger arm between the protrusions into the recess.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, the system further comprising:
the plunger arm;
wherein the plunger arm is configured to compress to fit between the protrusions as the plunger arm is inserted between the protrusions into the recess.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the plunger arm includes an opening that allows the plunger arm to compress to fit between the protrusions as the plunger arm is inserted between the protrusions into the recess.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21,
wherein the plunger arm is made of a first material; and
wherein the protrusions are made of a second material that is more rigid than the first material.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, the system further comprising:
the plunger arm, the plunger arm having a width dimension transverse to a direction in which the plunger arm moves;
the gap having a width dimension less than the width dimension of the plunger arm.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, the system further comprising:
the plunger arm;
a plunger arm casing configured to support the plunger arm and to envelop at least a portion of the plunger arm.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the plunger arm casing has a surface having an angle of less than 90° relative to an upper surface of the plunger arm casing for engaging each protrusion to facilitate insertion of the plunger arm casing between the protrusions into the recess.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the plunger arm casing is configured to compress to fit between the protrusions as the plunger arm casing is inserted between the protrusions into the recess.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein the plunger arm casing includes an opening that allows the plunger arm casing to compress to fit between the protrusions as the plunger arm casing is inserted between the protrusions into the recess.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27,
wherein the plunger arm casing is made of a first material; and
wherein the protrusions are made of a second material that is more rigid than the first material.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, the system further comprising:
the plunger arm casing, the plunger arm having a width dimension transverse to a direction in which the plunger arm moves;
the gap having a width dimension less than the width dimension of the plunger arm casing.

### Claim 31 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the gap is in communication with the recess.

### Claim 32 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the protrusions define the gap and at least a portion of the recess.

### Claim 33 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein each of the protrusions extends into the recess.

### Claim 34

A method of manufacturing a system for retaining a fluid delivery device, the fluid delivery device comprising a reservoir and a plunger arm operatively connectable to a plunger head that is moveable within the reservoir, the plunger arm having an arm portion that is configured for operative engagement to a drive member configured to move the arm portion and the plunger head when the arm portion of the plunger arm is operatively engaged to the drive, the method comprising:
configuring a housing to support the plunger arm and the reservoir, the housing having a recess for receiving the plunger arm; and
arranging in the housing a pair of protrusions around the recess, the protrusions separated by a gap through which the plunger arm is received into the recess;
the protrusions configured to allow the plunger arm to be forced between the protrusions and received into the recess from a position outside of the recess when a first amount of force is applied on the plunger arm toward the recess;
the protrusions configured to prevent the plunger arm from being removed from the recess using the first amount of force when the plunger arm is in the recess;
the protrusions configured to allow the plunger arm to be removed from the recess through the gap between the protrusions to a position outside of the recess when a second amount of force is applied on the plunger arm away from the recess, the second amount of force being greater than the first amount of force.

### Claim 35

A delivery system for delivering fluidic media to a user, the delivery system comprising:
a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;
a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and a plunger head moveable within the interior volume of the reservoir along an axial direction of the reservoir, the plunger head operatively connected to a plunger arm;
a drive device supported by the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the reservoir such that upon the first housing portion and the second housing portion being operatively engaged, the reservoir is operatively coupled to the drive device to allow the drive device to move the plunger head via the plunger arm within the interior volume of the reservoir;
a pair of interactive elements including a first interactive element supported on the first housing portion and a second interactive element supported on the second housing portion at a location to be interactable with the first interactive element, the first interactive element comprising a protruding member arranged for movement by the drive device along with the plunger arm and the plunger head, the protruding member for interacting with the second interactive element in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and
electronic circuitry configured to provide a signal or a change in state in response to the protruding member interacting with the second interactive element when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein the first interactive element comprises a bias member configured to impart a bias force to bias at least one of the protruding member and the second interactive element toward each other.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The system of claim 36,
wherein the first interactive element further comprises a housing containing the bias member and at least a portion of the protruding member; and
wherein the housing is fit into the plunger arm.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The system of claim 36,
the bias member configured to cause the protruding member to impart the bias force on the second interactive element; and
the circuitry configured to provide the signal or the change in state based on the bias force imparted on the second interactive element.

### Claim 39 (depends on 36)

The system of claim 36,
the second housing portion having a recess in which the plunger arm is received;
the second housing portion having a securing structure configured to prevent the plunger arm from being removed from the recess unless a removal force in a direction away from the recess is greater than a minimum threshold;
wherein the bias force imported by the bias member is less than the minimum threshold.

### Claim 40 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein a position of the protruding member relative to the second interactive element corresponds to reservoir data.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein the reservoir data corresponds to a volume of fluidic media in the reservoir.

### Claim 42 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein the second interactive element is a sensor.

### Claim 43 (depends on 42)

The system of claim 42, wherein the sensor is a volume sensor.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The system of claim 43, wherein a position of the protruding member relative to the volume sensor corresponds to reservoir data.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The system of claim 44, wherein the reservoir data corresponds to a volume of fluidic media in the reservoir.

### Claim 46 (depends on 42)

The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first interactive element and the second interactive element comprise a linear sensor.

### Claim 47 (depends on 42)

The system of claim 42, the electronic circuitry configured to activate the sensor in response to the protruding member interacting with the second interactive element where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged.

### Claim 48 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein the protruding member is supported on the plunger arm for movement with the plunger arm.

### Claim 49 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35,
the second interactive element comprising a flexible conductive membrane, the protruding member configured to press against the flexible conductive membrane when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and
the electronic circuitry configured to provide the signal or the change in state in response to the protruding member pressing against the flexible conductive membrane.

### Claim 50 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, the electronic circuitry configured to provide the signal or the change in state in response to the protruding member moving relative to the second interactive element.

### Claim 51 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein a position of the protruding member relative to the second interactive element corresponds to a remaining quantity of fluidic media in the reservoir.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The system of claim 51, wherein the remaining quantity includes at least some fluidic media.

### Claim 53 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35,
wherein a first position of the first interactive element relative to the second interactive element corresponds to a first quantity of fluidic media in the reservoir;
wherein a second position of the first interactive element relative to the second interactive element corresponds to a second quantity of fluidic media in the reservoir; and
wherein the first position is different from the second position, and the first quantity is different from the second quantity.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The system of claim 53, wherein the first interactive element continuously interacts with the second interactive element as the first interactive element is moved from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 55 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, the second interactive element comprising a plurality of interactive elements, the protruding member for interacting with one or more of the interactive elements as the protruding member is moved.

### Claim 56 (depends on 35)

The system of claim 35, wherein the protruding member is arranged for movement in a linear direction as the protruding member interacts with the second interactive element.

### Claim 57

A method of manufacturing a delivery system for delivering fluidic media to a user, the method comprising:
adapting a first housing portion to be carried by a user;
configuring a second housing portion to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and a plunger head moveable within the interior volume of the reservoir along an axial direction of the reservoir, the plunger head operatively connected to a plunger arm;
supporting a drive device by the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion relative to the one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion supporting the reservoir such that upon the first housing portion and the second housing portion being operatively engaged, the reservoir is operatively coupled to the drive device to allow the drive device to move the plunger head via the plunger arm within the interior volume of the reservoir;
supporting a pair of interactive elements including a first interactive element supported on the first housing portion and a second interactive element supported on the second housing portion at a location to be interactable with the first interactive element, the first interactive element comprising a protruding member arranged for movement by the drive device along with the plunger arm and the plunger head, the protruding member for interacting with the second interactive element in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and
configuring electronic circuitry to provide a signal or a change in state in response to the protruding member interacting with the second interactive element when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged.