Infusion system for preventing mischanneling of multiple medicaments

Exemplary embodiments provide a multi-medicament infusion system (10) for preventing the mischanneling of medicaments. The system may include an infusion pump (12), medicament reservoirs (16A,16B), a multi-channel lumen (18), and an infusion set (20). The medicament reservoirs may be sized and shaped differently such that the medicament reservoirs can only be inserted into the infusion pump in a unique configuration. The multi-channel lumen may include connectors that mate to corresponding connectors on the infusion pump and the infusion set only in a unique configuration. Because the various parts of the multi-infusion system may only be connected in the unique configuration, the expected medicaments may be administered appropriately and channeled to the correct infusion sites.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for administering medicaments to a diabetic patient. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method of preventing the mischanneling of medicaments so as to avoid the accidental administration of the wrong medicament to the diabetic patient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Diabetes mellitus, often referred to as diabetes, is a chronic condition in which a person has elevated blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin. There are three main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a condition wherein the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood stream. This type of diabetes can be autoimmune, genetic, and/or environmental and usually strikes children and young adults. Type 2 diabetes is a condition wherein the body does not produce or use insulin normally. This type of diabetes accounts for between 90-95% of diabetes cases and is linked to obesity and physical inactivity. Gestational diabetes is a form of glucose intolerance diagnosed during pregnancy and usually resolves spontaneously after delivery.

Insulin is used to control blood sugar in people who have Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that helps keep blood glucose levels on target by moving glucose from the blood into the cells of the body. The cells then use glucose for energy. In people who do not have diabetes, the body produces the correct amount of insulin on its own, whereas the bodies of diabetics do not. There are different types of insulin but they differ only in how quickly they begin to work and how long they continue to control blood sugar or glucose. Insulin is usually needed several times a day, and more than one type of insulin may be needed. Insulin helps control high blood sugar but unfortunately does not cure diabetes.

The number of diagnosed cases of diabetes continues to increase in the U.S. and throughout the world, creating enormous economic and public health consequences. Devices and therapies that improve the quality of life for the diabetic patient are important not only for the patient, but for society at large. One area in which recently developed technologies have been able to improve the standard of care has been in the maintenance of tight control over blood glucose levels. It is well known that if a diabetic patient's blood glucose values can be maintained in a relatively narrow and normal range (e.g., between about 80 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) to about 120 mg/dL) the physiologically damaging consequences of unchecked diabetes can be minimized.

Diabetes is managed primarily by controlling the level of glucose in the bloodstream. This level is dynamic and complex and is affected by multiple factors including the amount and type of food consumed and the amount of insulin (which mediates the transport of glucose across cell membranes) in the blood. Blood glucose levels are also sensitive to many different types of things, such as exercise, sleep, stress, smoking, travel, illness, and other psychological and lifestyle factors unique to individual patients. With better blood glucose information, diabetic patients can better control their blood glucose level through a variety of means, including diet, exercise, and medication. For this reason a large industry has developed to provide the diabetic population with ever more convenient and accurate ways to measure blood glucose levels and to deliver insulin to the patient. There are many forms of blood glucose measuring devices; one common type is represented by hand-held electronic meters which receive blood samples via enzyme-based “test strips”. In using these systems, the patient lances a finger or alternate body site to obtain a blood sample, the strip is inserted into a test strip opening in the meter housing, the sample is applied to the test strip and the electronics in the meter convert a current generated by the enzymatic reaction in the test strip to a blood glucose value.

Some diabetic patients require insulin for the treatment of their diabetes, in order to maintain their glucose levels within the desired range. These “insulin-dependent” diabetic patients have traditionally administered insulin doses to themselves subcutaneously via either a hypodermic syringe or with a specialized injector known as an insulin pen. Although these subcutaneous injection methods can deliver insulin at an appropriate time and at an appropriate total dosage, the single bolus aspect of the delivery is unlike a physiological profile of insulin production in the body, which involves a lower rate of insulin entry into the bloodstream, over a more extended time course.

In order to address this issue, conventional techniques have evolved to include insulin pumps. With the insulin pump, a diabetic receives a continuous dosage of insulin from a pump apparatus via an “injection device” mounted on his or her body. Insulin is supplied (e.g., pumped) from the insulin pump through a tube to the injection device. Injection devices generally include a delivery cannula mounted in a subcutaneous manner through the skin of the patient at an infusion site. The injection device typically includes a channel that transmits insulin from an inlet port to the delivery cannula which results in delivery to the subcutaneous tissue layer of the diabetic in which the delivery cannula is located.

Insulin pumps offer significant therapeutic value as they deliver insulin if desired in a more normal physiological manner, with measured doses of insulin being slowly infused over an extended period of time. Further, the rate at which insulin is delivered can be programmed so as to follow standard or individually-modified protocols, thus giving the user even better glucose control over the course of a day. Conventional insulin pumps have evolved to become small in size, which offers easier portability and unobtrusiveness, and with electronic advances, they have evolved to become more fully-featured, and thereby capable of enhanced performance.

As mentioned above, standard-of-care insulin therapies for regulating blood glucose in diabetes typically involve either multiple daily subcutaneous injections or subcutaneous infusion with an insulin pump. Occasionally, the amount of dosed insulin can prove excessive in the sense that it can lead to hypoglycemia or a situation of impending hypoglycemia. To combat and/or reverse such adverse situations, individuals typically consume additional carbohydrates (e.g. sweet juice or glucose tablets) and in some situations can also administer a so-called “rescue dose” of a counter regulatory agent, such as glucagon. In such an application, glucagon is typically reconstituted into solution from an emergency kit and manually administered intramuscularly.

Hence, one traditional approach for managing diabetes is to control blood glucose levels via a control system that automates the transcutaneous delivery of both insulin and glucagon, as needed. Such a control system can, for example, orchestrate the automatic administration of both insulin and glucagon. With such a multi-hormone system, there is a need to fill one infusion reservoir (or infusion cartridge) with one medicament, and another infusion reservoir (or infusion cartridge) with another medicament. During the filling process, each medicament needs to be transferred from a storage vial to the reservoir or cartridge and then ultimately delivered to the patient. Since multiple different hormones having very different physiological effects are being delivered to the patient, it is important to make sure that the correct medicament is being delivered to the patient.

A drawback of the present multi hormonal regimens which employ multiple medicaments is that the patient or other person may accidentally load, transfer and/or administer the incorrect medicament. The accidental administration of the incorrect medicament to the patient can have serious and potentially fatal consequences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a system and method to ensure the proper channeling of medicaments during the loading, transferal or administration process. The proper channeling of medicaments is especially important in the case of insulin and glucagon, since these medicaments produce opposite effects (e.g., lowering versus raising blood sugar levels). If the medicaments are accidentally loaded in the incorrect locations or reservoirs, the control system that automates delivery of the medicaments via the insulin pump can thus deliver the wrong medicament to the patient. Because the wrong medicament would have the opposite of the intended effect, this could not only fail to alleviate the patient's condition, but could make the patient's condition worse. Moreover, this improper channeling could cause a negative feedback loop, wherein the control system attempts to adjust the patient's blood sugar level in one direction, but the delivery of the incorrect medicament causes the blood sugar level to be altered in the opposite direction. Sensing this, the control system can trigger further doses of the wrong medicament in an attempt to control the patient's condition, causing the patient's condition to further deteriorate.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a system and method of preventing the administration of the incorrect medicament to the patient.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-medicament infusion system that helps prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. The system can include an infusion pump, medicament reservoirs, one or more manifold, a multi-channel lumen assembly, and an infusion set. The medicament reservoirs may be sized and shaped differently such that the medicament reservoirs can only be inserted into the infusion pump in a unique or selected configuration. The multi-channel lumen may include feature elements such as connectors or adapters, that mate to corresponding connectors or adapters on the infusion pump and if desired the infusion set only in a unique configuration. Because the various parts of the multi-infusion system may only be connected in the unique configuration, the expected medicaments may be administered appropriately and channeled to the correct infusion sites.

According to one practice of the invention, a system for delivering multiple fluids to a patient is provided and includes at least first and second reservoirs, where each of the reservoirs houses a fluid and has a feature element associated therewith. The feature element of the first reservoir is different than the feature element of the second reservoir. The system also includes at least first and second inlets or ports (functioning at least as inlet ports), where each of the inlet ports has a feature element associated therewith, and wherein the feature element of the first inlet port is different than the feature element of the second inlet port. Further, the feature element of the first reservoir is complementary to the feature element of the first inlet port or a first intermediary coupling piece between the first reservoir and the first inlet port and the feature element of the second reservoir is complementary to the feature element of the second inlet port, such that when assembled the first reservoir is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the first inlet port and the second reservoir is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the second inlet port, thereby preventing mischanneling of the fluid.

According to the system of the present invention, an infusion pump is provided and the first and second inlet ports are formed therein. Alternatively, the first and second inlet ports are manifolds disposed on the outside of the infusion pump or formed in the infusion pump. Additionally, the infusion pump can include a first outlet port fluidly coupled to the first inlet port, and a second outlet port fluidly coupled to the first inlet port.

The first reservoir can house for example a regulating agent, such as insulin, and the second reservoir can house a counter-regulatory agent, such as glucagon.

According to the present invention, the feature element of the first inlet port can comprise a first surface feature and the feature element of the second inlet port can comprise a second surface feature, where the first surface feature is different than the second surface feature. According to one embodiment, the first and second inlet ports each have formed therein a piercing element for piercing the first and second reservoirs, respectively. If desired, the first and second inlet ports can be removably and replaceably coupled together.

The system can also include a first cap element having a feature element associated therewith and is configured to engage at least the feature element of the first inlet port, and a second cap element having a feature element associated therewith and is configured to engage at least the feature element of the second inlet port. The feature element of the first cap element is complementary in shape to the feature element of the first inlet port and the feature element of the second cap element is complementary in shape to the feature element of the second inlet port, such that when assembled the first cap element is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the first inlet port and the second cap element is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the second inlet port. Further, the first and second cap elements simultaneously respectively engage with the first and second reservoirs and the first and second delivery ports so as to secure the reservoirs in place.

The system in addition to the infusion pump can include a multi-channel lumen assembly having a first tube having an inlet port fluidly coupled to the first outlet port of the infusion pump and an outlet port, and a second tube having an inlet port fluidly coupled to the second outlet port of the infusion pump and an outlet port, and an infusion set having a first inlet port fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the first tube and a second inlet port fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the second tube.

According to another practice, the first outlet port of the infusion pump has a feature element associated therewith and the second outlet port of the infusion pump has a feature element associated therewith. The inlet port of the first tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly has a feature element associated therewith and the second tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly has a feature element associated therewith. The feature element of the first outlet port of the infusion pump is complementary in shape to the feature element of the inlet port of the first tube and the feature element of the second outlet port of the infusion pump is complementary in shape to the feature element of the inlet port of the second tube, such that when assembled the first outlet port is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the first tube and the second outlet port is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the second tube.

According to still another practice, the outlet port of the first tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly has a feature element associated therewith and the outlet port of the second tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly has a feature element associated therewith. Further, the first inlet port of the infusion set has a feature element associated therewith and the second inlet port of the infusion set has a feature element associated therewith. The feature element of the outlet port of the first tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly is complementary in shape to the feature element of the first inlet port and the feature element of the outlet port of the second tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly is complementary in shape to the feature element of the second inlet port, such that when assembled the outlet port of the first tube is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the first inlet port and the outlet port of the second tube is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the second inlet port.

According to yet another embodiment, the inlet port of the first tube has one or more feature elements to serve as a first intermediary coupling piece by attaching to the feature element of the first reservoir and the feature element of the first inlet port, and the inlet port of the second tube has one or more feature elements to serve as a second intermediary coupling piece by attaching to the feature element of the second reservoir and the feature element of the second inlet port. When assembled, the first reservoir is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the first tube and the second reservoir is capable of only being fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the second tube, thereby preventing mischanneling of the fluid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention described herein relates to an infusion system10for subcutaneously delivering a plurality of medicaments or infusates, and preferably different types of medicaments or infusates, to a patient. Specific examples are set forth below with respect to a dual-medicament delivery and infusion system for delivering multiple medicaments, such as for example insulin and glucagon, to the patient. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the infusion system10of the present invention may be used with other types of medicaments or infusates, and may be used, configured or designed to deliver more than or less than two medicaments.

In a conventional infusion system suitable for delivering a single type of medicament to the patient (e.g., a conventional insulin pump), it is generally unnecessary to ensure that the expected or correct medicament has been properly installed in the expected configuration or orientation within the pump. Because the conventional system utilizes only a single medicament that is typically carefully sourced, there is limited cause for concern that the wrong medicament is used or that the medicament is installed in an incorrect manner.

When increasing the number of medicaments to be delivered to or infused within the patient, however, the correct installation of the medicaments becomes a potential source of problems. Especially in the case of a system for delivering counter-acting medicaments (such as glucagon and insulin), the results of a mis-installed or mischanneled medicament can be harmful or potentially fatal. Furthermore, if the medicaments are to be installed by the end-user (e.g., in the patient's home), it may be quite easy to incorrectly install the medicaments and/or the various parts of the system that channel the medicaments to their infusion sites if the user has no formal medical training.

The present application addresses these and other problems. Exemplary embodiments provide a safe and reliable multi-medicament infusion system that prevents the incorrect installation and mischanneling of medicaments. The systems and methods of the present invention as described herein can be used in an in-patient setting or an out-patient setting, and can be used in the context of an autonomous or semi-autonomous closed-loop glucose control system (e.g. sensor-augmented infusion system).

FIGS. 1 and 2are schematic diagrams depicting an overview of a multi-medicament infusion system10according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated infusion system10includes for example a delivery device such as an infusion pump12for delivering one or more medicaments to a patient. The infusion pump12is coupled to a manifold14that is shaped and configured for accepting a plurality of medicament reservoirs16A and16B. The manifold14allows the medicament reservoirs16A,16B to be fluidly coupled to the infusion pump12. Alternatively or in addition, the medicament reservoirs16A,16B can be inserted directly into manifolds that can be formed directly and integrally within the infusion pump without the use or need for an external manifold14. The infusion pump12serves to deliver (i.e., pump) the medicaments from the medicament reservoirs16A,16B to a multi-channel lumen or tube assembly18, which carries the medicaments to an infusion set20that subcutaneously delivers the medicaments to the patient.

The medicament reservoirs16A,16B may be inserted into the infusion pump12via an inlet. The inlet can function as an inlet port, an outlet port or both. For example,FIG. 2shows (in phantom) two connectors or caps68covering inlet ports into which the medicament reservoirs16A,16B may be inserted and two caps or connectors85,87that are coupled to the outlet ports. As used herein, the term “inlet” or “port” is meant to include any suitable aperture for receiving a medicament reservoir16A,16B and/or delivering a medicament from the medicament reservoir16A,16B to another device. In some embodiments, an inlet may receive the medicament on a first device and a separate aperture or outlet may deliver the medicament from a first device to a second device. In other embodiments, the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture may be integral, or no outlet aperture may be provided at all. As such, the inlet hence functions as a combination inlet/outlet port or aperture. The presence of an inlet with a corresponding inlet port or aperture on a device does not necessarily require the presence of a distinct outlet or outlet port or aperture on that device.

Alternatively or in addition, a manifold14may be provided in place of the inlet ports/caps68. Medicament from the medicament reservoirs may be delivered to the multi-channel lumen18through an outlet port of the infusion pump12.

In some embodiments, the inlet port of the infusion pump12(through which the medicament is received by the infusion pump12) and the outlet port of the infusion pump12(through which the medicament is pumped to the multi-channel lumen18) may be the same. For example, the multi-channel lumen18may be provided with an integrated first medicament inlet/outlet interface85and an integrated second medicament inlet/outlet interface87. Specifically, the inlets covered by the connectors68,68can be eliminated and the inlets covered by the connectors85,87thus function as combined inlet/outlet ports. In such an embodiment, the medicament reservoirs16A,16B may be inserted into respective ports or openings in the infusion pump12. The integrated first and second medicament inlet/outlet connectors or interfaces85,87may interface with the inlet/outlet ports or openings of the infusion pump12to receive medicaments pumped by the infusion pump12. The infusion system employing connectors and ports of this type are also illustrated inFIGS. 4, 6D, 7A-7C, 14, 17A-17B, and 18.

The multi-channel lumen assembly18can include two or more channels, where each channel is adapted to deliver a particular type of medicament to an appropriate inlet port on the infusion set20. The multiple channels (e.g., fluid pathways) formed by the multi-channel lumen assembly18may be coupled and uncoupled together in order to assist the patient in assembling the infusion system, replacing one or more tubes of the assembly, or preventing the tubes of the lumen assembly from becoming tangled or caught on objects during daily use and during the performance of normal daily activities.

The multiple channels may bridge the span between the infusion pump12and the infusion set20by independent channels where each channel can be a single or multiple-lumen channel, by channels joined by webbing or by some other manner where each channel can be a single or multiple-lumen channel, or by a single multiple-lumen channel where the enclosed lumens are arranged in an array or as concentric lumens.

The infusion set20can connect the multi-channel lumen assembly18to a delivery system, such as a cannula, for delivering the medicaments to the user. The infusion set20can include one or more infusion ports that adheres to the skin of the patient and which contains one or more piercing elements, such as needles or cannulas, and which are inserted on, into, or under the skin and which can reside there for one to several days before being replaced by a new infusion set.

The illustrated infusion pump12can be any suitable infusion pump sized and configured to deliver a plurality of medicaments as set forth herein. The infusion pump12may be programmed with suitable logic for controlling the delivery of the medicaments based on measurements associated with a condition of the user. For example, in the case of an infusion pump12for delivering medicaments, such as insulin and glucagon, the infusion pump may control the delivery of the medicaments based on real-time measurements of the user's blood glucose level measured from, for example, a glucose sensor (not shown) that is operatively coupled to the patient and if needed to the pump. The infusion pump10may be manually operated, semi-autonomous with some manual control by the user, or part of a fully autonomous multi-hormone glucose-control system, an example of which is a closed-loop glucose control system that uses a sensor-augmented infusion pump mechanism to automatically administer both insulin and glucagon or other medicaments. As such, the infusion pump12can be coupled if desired to a controller (not shown) that assists with the control and operation of the delivery device. An example of a system and associated control logic suitable for use with the infusion system of the present invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,854, assigned to the assignee hereof, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The infusion pump12can be any pump suitable for delivering via a catheter and tubing assembly a plurality of medicaments to the patient. The infusion pump12for example can be an ambulatory infusion pump that can deliver the medicament (such as insulin) through the tubing assembly18and associated infusion set20, thereby permitting the subcutaneous infusion of the desired medicine. Features of the illustrated infusion pump12may include, for example and without limitation, basal and/or bolus delivery programs, bolus calculation estimators, limit alarms, reminders, visual, vibratory and auditory alarm indications, pump operation logging and analysis, and optionally, a food database to assist in calculating meal carbohydrate amounts. Although not illustrated herein, the infusion pump12can communicate via a cable or wirelessly to a computing device. Those of ordinary skill will readily recognize that the computing device can include a controller and other associated hardware and software capable of communicating with or controlling the infusion pump, and providing if desired information or other data to the infusion pump, such as configuration settings and personal data. The computing device may include software for maintaining or storing logs, displaying pump data in text or graphical format and may provide analysis to the user and/or healthcare professionals. The infusion pump can also include a display screen and an on-board power source for providing power to the pump.

In the illustrated infusion system10, there are several locations at which a medicament can be mis-installed or mischanneled. For example, the incorrect medicament reservoir can be placed or mounted in the incorrect manifold14or coupled to the incorrect inlet port of the infusion pump12. The outlet ports of the infusion pump12can be connected incorrectly to the respective channels of the multi-channel lumen assembly18, and thus even if the medicament reservoirs were properly installed, they can be improperly channeled to the infusion site. Finally, the end portions or outlets of the multi-channel lumen assembly18can be connected to the incorrect inlets of the infusion set20.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention address these concerns by providing feature elements and/or mating connectors or adapters on certain components of the infusion system10. The unique mating connectors and feature elements ensure that each portion of the system can only be connected to the system in a unique way or configuration, thus preventing the mischanneling of medicaments. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may have the following advantages: (1) the infusion system allows the user to easily connect and disconnect the channels independently from both medicament sources as well as from the infusion ports or sites; (2) the infusion system mitigates the possibility of mischanneling by accidentally connecting the wrong tubing to the wrong medicament source or infusion site (e.g., by having a connector that is disposed between one tube and one pump reservoir of one medicament system differ from the connector of the other tube and reservoir); and (3) the infusion system allows for a single or multistep insertion of the dual-cannula infusion site or port.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the infusion system depicted inFIGS. 1-2is intended to be exemplary only. A suitable medicament delivery system may include more or fewer parts than depicted. For example, it is contemplated that the multi-channel lumen assembly18may be omitted, so that the infusion pump12is integral with the infusion set20. Control logic for controlling the infusion pump12may be built into the infusion pump12, or may be separate from the infusion pump (e.g., being provided in a separate computing device, such as a mobile phone or handheld pump controller, which communicates wirelessly with the infusion pump12).

In such an embodiment, the reservoirs16A,16B may be bladders in the infusion pump12that are manually filled, such as by a syringe. The syringe may include surface features designed to mate with a filling port on the infusion pump12, such that only one type of syringe is able to fill a respective bladder. In another embodiment, the infusion pump12may be of a clamshell design, folding open in order to allow one or more cartridges to be inserted as the reservoirs16A,16B, in which case the cartridges may be provided with surface features such that the cartridges may only be inserted into an appropriate slot or port of the infusion pump. In yet another embodiment, the cartridges may be loaded into an intermediate loading device which transfers the fluids from the cartridges to the infusion pump12, in which case the intermediate loading device may be provided with surface features matching inlet ports of the infusion pump12.

With reference toFIGS. 3A-3E, the infusion system10of the present invention may further include a plurality of manifolds14for housing and fluidly coupling a reservoir thereto. Like reference numerals denoting like or similar structure will be used throughout the various Figures and views. Each manifold can be an external manifold that is provided external to the infusion pump or the manifold can be an internal manifold that is housed within the pump, such as illustrated for example inFIGS. 4, 7A-7C, 14, and18. According to exemplary embodiments, the manifold14forms in essence a docking port for the medicament reservoir16that allows for the reliable transfer of one or more medicaments or infusates from the reservoir to the infusion pump12in such a manner as to prevent the mischanneling of the medicaments or infusates during the transferal or administration process. For the sake of simplicity, the manifold is illustrated external to the infusion pump12. The manifold preferably forms a plurality of chambers, which are typically separate and distinct from each other, and which are configured to house a specific medicament reservoir. Although the chambers are preferably fluidly isolated from each other, those of ordinary skill will readily recognize that the manifold can be configured to house multiple reservoirs. According to yet another practice, the manifold can be constructed to hold multiple reservoirs in a common chamber.

The manifold14can be shaped, sized or configured for coupling, either directly or indirectly through any suitable intermediate mechanical device, to the reservoirs16A and16B. The reservoirs can be any housing or structure suitable for containing or holding a selected fluid. The fluid holding structure can be flexible or relatively rigid depending upon the application or use of the reservoir. The fluid can be any suitable fluid such as for example a medicament or infusate. Examples of suitable fluid holding structures include vials, cartridges, bladders, ampoules, or other suitable containers for holding the fluid. Moreover, the reservoir can be configured to include a septum as is known in the art. For purposes of simplicity, we reference below the delivery of a medicament. The medicament can include any suitable compound or drug for treating, regulating, controlling or addressing one or more conditions of the patient. In the present embodiment, the condition is diabetes mellitus, although those of ordinary skill will readily recognize that other conditions can be addressed as well. The medicament can include for example a regulating agent, such as insulin, for regulating the blood glucose levels in the patient and/or a counter-regulatory agent, such as glucose or glucagon, for more effective blood glucose regulation in certain circumstances. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other type of agents can be used as well.

The present invention provides for a selected feature element or connector/adapter to be disposed on either or both the manifold or reservoir for ensuring that the proper medicament reservoir is coupled to the proper or correct manifold. This arrangement of components helps prevent the accidental coupling of a reservoir containing a specific medicament to an incorrect manifold. For example, according to one practice, the manifold includes two separate manifolds each configured to mate with a specific reservoir. Hence, a first manifold can be adapted to accommodate a first reservoir containing a first medicament, such as insulin, and a second manifold can be adapted to accommodate a second reservoir containing a second medicament, such as glucagon. In this example, it is important to ensure that the glucagon reservoir is not accidentally coupled to the insulin manifold and vice versa.

One or more components of the infusion system, including for example the manifold, reservoir, pump, or any combination of components, can include a selected feature element that ensures the proper coupling together of the components to help prevent the mischanneling or mis-loading of medicaments. The term “feature” or “feature element” as used herein can include any suitable structure, coupler, connector, adapter or feature having any suitable size, shape, dimension, or surface element or surface feature that allows, permits, enables or facilitates the coupling together of one or more system components, such as for example a selected reservoir to a selected manifold or portion of a manifold, whether external to the infusion pump or internal to the infusion pump, in selected ways so as help prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. The feature element can include for example the size, area or volume of a component, such as the volume or size of a chamber defined by the manifold. The feature element is also intended to include any suitable surface feature, which can include for example, any element formed on, within or which protrudes from a surface of one or more components of the infusion system, such as for example the manifold, reservoir, pump, tubes of infusion set, that also allows, enables or facilitates the coupling together of one or more system components. Examples of suitable surface features can be detents, ribs, slots, keys, grooves, holes, corrugations, indentations, or any other suitable mechanical and/or electrical coupling or attaching element. When a surface feature is formed for example on the reservoir or manifold, the present invention contemplates forming a complementary shaped surface feature on the other mating system component or element, thus allowing the reservoir and the manifold to be coupled together. If the corresponding surface feature is absent from the corresponding element, then the reservoir and manifold cannot be coupled together. The feature element is also intended to include any suitable connector, coupler, fastener or adapter that is also adapted and configured to mechanically and/or fluidly couple together one or more components of the infusion system. In some embodiments, two elements (such as the medicament reservoirs16A,16B and the infusion pump12or lumen18) may be indirectly coupled to each other through an intermediary coupling piece. For example, the intermediary coupling pieces may be connectors or caps (such as the caps68,84,86) or the inlet ports of lumen18(such as the inlet ports85,87) that capture the medicament reservoirs16A,16B and couple to the infusion pump12, as described in exemplary embodiments below.

Preferably, the feature elements when employed help form specific dedicated fluid pathways that helps prevent the mischanneling of medicaments and hence helps prevent the accidental administration of an incorrect medicament to the patient.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3E, the manifolds14A,14B can include differently sized or configured chambers or slots which are adapted to only couple to matching medicament reservoirs16A,16B filled with the proper medicaments. The manifolds allow the specific or unique engagement with or insertion of one or more specific medicament reservoirs of different cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes or profiles. The manifold allows the medicament reservoirs to be secured in place so that they can be captured by and/or carried within the manifold housing. This capture may be a permanent capture or can employ a multi-use capture and release methodology, as is known in the art.

Further, the manifolds and reservoirs can have any selected shape, size or design. To that end,FIGS. 3A-3Eillustrate one embodiment of a manifold and reservoir combination that is suitable for use with the infusion system10of the present invention.FIG. 3Ais a cross-sectional view of a single port manifold14and associated reservoir16A. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that another manifold and reservoir assembly can be provided so as to be able to administer multiple medicaments to the patient. For the sake of simplicity, only one manifold is illustrated and described herein. The illustrated manifold14can include for example a housing24having an inner wall28that defines an interior chamber26. The chamber has a bottom surface that has a piercing element, such as a needle portion36, extending outwardly therefrom. The piercing element can include any suitable structure configured for piercing the reservoir in order to draw or extract the medicament therefrom. The needle portion is adapted to pierce or penetrate a reservoir when mounted in the chamber26so as to fluidly couple the medicament housed within the reservoir with the infusion pump. The housing also includes a base portion38that has a fluid or medicament passage40formed therein. The fluid passage terminates in a coupler portion or connector end42. The reservoir is hence fluidly coupled with the infusion pump via the needle36and fluid passage40. The base elements can be a separate base structure that has a single chamber housing associated therewith,FIG. 3D. Hence, a separate, second base portion and associated housing can be provided to deliver a second medicament to the infusion pump. The base portions can be configured if desired to be coupled together in a removable and replaceable manner or the base portion be formed as a unitary structure that has associated therewith multiple housings,FIG. 3E.

The manifold14can also include a cap element30that helps seal the top portion of the chamber26when attached to the housing24. The cap element30can be coupled or secured to the housing24by any suitable mechanism. In the illustrated example, the cap includes a groove32formed on an underside of the cap that is adapted to mate with the top edge of the housing.

As shown inFIGS. 3D and 3E, the manifolds and/or reservoirs can be configured such that only a selected reservoir is capable of being mounted or seated within a selected manifold. The feature elements employed to effectuate this can be varied, as described above. For example, as shown inFIG. 3D, the manifolds can be sized such that the chamber of a first manifold14A is larger than the chamber of a second manifold14B. In this scenario, the chamber of the first manifold14A is larger (e.g., has a larger diameter and hence has a greater volume) than the chamber of the second manifold14B. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when employing insulin and glucagon as medicaments, since the commercially available prefilled reservoirs containing insulin tend to be larger, and oftentimes significantly larger (e.g., three times as large), than the commercially available reservoirs containing glucagon. Hence, in the current example, the reservoir16A can contain insulin and is adapted to be mounted within the larger manifold14A. Likewise, the smaller reservoir16B can contain glucagon and is adapted to be mounted within the smaller manifold14B. The patient is thus able to easily and readily determine which reservoir16A,16B is adapted to seat within which manifold14A,14B simply based on the sizes of the reservoirs and associated chambers. This arrangement helps provide a safe and reliable multi-medicament infusion system that prevents the incorrect installation and mischanneling of medicaments.

Furthermore, as illustrated, the base portion of the manifolds14A,14B can be separate and distinct from each other. Although not shown, the base portions can also be configured to be easily assembled and disassembled. The base portions can be coupled together using known connection techniques, including the use of snap fit features and the like. When designed as such, the based portions allow the patient to configure and customize the infusion system in a manner that best suits the patient's needs by the ability to detach and reattach the base portions as needed or desired.

Alternatively, and according to another practice, the manifolds and the reservoirs can include one or more surface features that helps determine which reservoir is intended to be accommodated in a particular manifold. As illustrated inFIG. 3E, the first manifold14A can include one or more surface features, such as ribs48, that are formed on and extend outwardly from the inner wall28into the chamber. The ribs can be spaced apart and disposed at selected locations about the circumference of the inner wall. The reservoir16A can also include one or more mating or complementary shaped surface features, such as for example grooves50, that are formed within an outer surface of the reservoir and which are spaced at selected locations that correspond to the locations of the ribs48. Hence, the reservoir16A having the grooves50formed therein is adapted to seat within and mate with the corresponding ribs48of the manifold14A.

Similarly, the second manifold14B can include one or more surface features, such as ribs54, that are formed on and extend outwardly from the inner wall28into the chamber. The ribs54can be spaced at selected locations about the circumference of the inner wall. The second reservoir16B can also include one or more mating or complementary shaped surface features, such as grooves56, that are formed within an outer surface of the reservoir and which are spaced at selected locations that correspond to the locations of the ribs48. Hence, the reservoir16B having the grooves56formed therein is adapted to seat within and mate with the corresponding ribs54of the manifold14B. In the current example, the locations of the ribs54and grooves56differ from the locations of the ribs48and grooves50. As such, the reservoir16B is prevented from being mounted within the manifold14A, and the reservoir16A is prevented from being mounted within the manifold14B. This configuration prevents the accidental loading of a medicament reservoir in the incorrect manifold, thus avoiding the accidental administration to the patient of the incorrect medicament.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that many different types and shapes of feature elements and surface features can be employed by the manifold and reservoir of the present invention. For example, although a pair of protruding surface features are employed by the manifolds and a pair of groove style surface features are employed by the reservoirs of the present invention, the surface features can also be reversed where the grooves are formed in the inner wall of the manifolds and the ribs are formed on the outer surface of the reservoirs. Alternatively, the manifold chambers can have different shapes relative to each other and the reservoirs can be configured to have a shape complementary to its associated chamber to allow seating within the manifold. Furthermore, the feature elements can also be formed on the cap portion of the manifold rather than on the housing portion.

The illustrated base portion38is a single unitary base such that the manifolds14A and14B are coupled thereto and extend outwardly therefrom. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the base portion can also be split into separate portions; one portion associated with each manifold. Moreover, the separate base portions can be configured such that the base portions can be assembled and disassembled as needed.

According to another practice, the feature element can be constructed to include the piercing element rather than have the piercing element formed as part of the manifold. As such, in this potential configuration, the reservoir can be mounted within a manifold, such as for example a manifold formed internally within the infusion pump. A reservoir and a feature element, such as a connector, can be mounted within the manifold. The connector can include a piercing element for piercing the reservoir.

In use, the reservoirs are inserted within the chambers of the manifolds14. Specifically, the reservoir16A is mounted within the manifold14A and the reservoir16B is mounted within the manifold14B. After properly seating or docking the medicament reservoir in the manifold, the cap is snapped into position, thus securely capturing the medicament reservoir within the manifold housing20.FIG. 3Billustrates the manifold14with the medicament reservoir16A captured within the housing. The cap30may permanently snap in place after capturing the medicament reservoir14, resulting in a permanent capture of the medicament reservoirs14, or the cap can be readily and easily removable to allow replacement of the reservoir. The needle portions formed in the chambers pierce the tip or head portions of the reservoirs when loaded within the chambers. When the reservoirs are pierced by the needle, the medicaments contained therein flow from the reservoirs through the fluid passage40and then eventually to the infusion pump12. The infusion pump can then administer the medicament to the patient through the lumen or tube assembly18to the infusion set20as needed or desired. The infusion pump can be programmed to administer the various medicaments continuously or at selected intervals as is known in the art.

Furthermore, the manifolds14allow for automatic air-pressure equalization as fluid is drawn from the reservoirs16A,16B. The manifold may also allow a transparent view of the amounts of medicament resident in the reservoirs that are inserted within the chambers of the manifolds. Furthermore, the manifold12may detach into separate single manifolds/ports, and may be re-attached, or the manifold can be integrated together, such as on a common base portion.

In order to further prevent the accidental mischanneling or mis-loading of medicaments during the transfer of the medicament from the reservoirs to the infusion pump, the outlet ports of the manifold assembly and/or the inlet ports of the infusion pump can be configured to have different feature elements. According to one practice, each manifold can have an outlet port (e.g., coupler portion42) that has a feature element that is different than the feature element formed on the outlet port of the other manifold. That is, the shape, size or design of the outlet ports of the manifolds can differ. The outlet ports are adapted to mate with a corresponding inlet port of the infusion pump or a tube having an inlet end that is shaped in a complementary manner to the associated manifold outlet port so as to form a fluid pathway between the manifold and the tube or between the manifold and the infusion pump. This fluid pathway allows the drawing of the medicament from the reservoir for the purpose of filling a corresponding cartridge or reservoir in the infusion pump.

The infusion pump can also have formed at outlet ports selected feature elements, such as connectors or adapters, that are also differently designed or configured so as to mate with a specific tube of the lumen assembly18. This design feature can be in addition to the unique connecting arrangements of the inlet ports. Nonetheless, the formation of fluid pathways that are specific or unique to particular medicaments serve to help prevent the accidental administration of the wrong medicament to the patient. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the feature elements of the infusion system of the present invention can be deployed in multiple parts of the multi-medicament infusion system, such as at the connection between the medicament reservoir16and the manifold14, the connection between the manifold14and the infusion pump12, the connection between the infusion pump12and the multi-channel lumen assembly18, and the connection between the multi-channel lumen assembly18and the infusion set20.

FIG. 4illustrates an infusion pump12having the manifolds14A,14B formed within the housing62of the pump. The reservoirs16A,16B can take many forms, and can include vials, cartridges or ampoules of selected medicaments, such as insulin and glucagon. As set forth above, the internal manifolds can have different or asymmetric feature elements, thus forming dissimilar engagement interfaces. Specifically, the manifolds can have different sizes or shapes so as to only accommodate a reservoir having a similar or complementary size or shape. When constructed in this manner, the system helps prevent the mis-loading of reservoirs in the pump and hence to prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. Once the reservoir having the appropriate feature element is installed in the correct manifold, a cap can be used to close the end of the manifold to ensure that the reservoir does not become dislodged during use.

According to another practice, one or more of the connector or cap, pump housing62, or reservoir may have asymmetric features that lead to dissimilar engagement interfaces in terms of loading a selected reservoir. Specifically, a separate connector or adapter type feature element can be used in connection with the reservoir and/or pump housing to create the dissimilar interface. Examples of suitable asymmetric feature elements, as set forth above, can include slots with inside versus outside threads (matched by their corresponding caps), slots with distinct bayonet style latching mechanisms, slots, reservoirs or manifolds with corresponding docking keys or keyways, or a combination of these features, so as to help prevent the mis-loading and mischanneling of the incorrect medicament.

The feature elements (such as adapters or connectors) may be permanently or temporarily attached to one or more of the medicament reservoirs16A,16B so that they are distinguishable in terms of their connector ends, cross-sections, shapes, profiles, grooves, threading, or other properties. As such, each medicament reservoir uniquely matches its corresponding slot in the pump housing and/or uniquely connects to its corresponding infusion tube, including any associated connector, septum, or piercing element. Alternatively, the reservoir can have a neck or head portion that is configured to have a selected feature element (e.g., differently shaped necks) that are designed to match selected connectors employed therewith. The pump housing can further be designed to accommodate a selected connector only at a selected location (e.g., a selected manifold), thus creating fluid specific pathways.

As shown inFIGS. 4-6D, the pump housing62can include a plurality of inlet ports or slots64,72. The inlet port64and associated cap68can be designed to mate together. For example, one or more of the inlet ports64,72can have a feature element formed thereon that is adapted to mate with a corresponding feature element formed on the cap68.FIGS. 5A-5Cshow the inlet port64having formed thereon a corresponding groove74. The cap68can be configured to cooperate and mate with the inlet port to form for example a bayonet style mount. For example, the cap can include a pair of pins76that extend outwardly from the cap surface.

The cap can also function as a connector whereby it mates with a selected feature element formed on the reservoir, such as on the neck portion thereof. According to the illustrated embodiment, the cap can optionally include a central passage70that is sized and configured to seat over an end or neck portion58of a selected reservoir. The reservoir16A can include a neck portion having a selected size and/or shape that is adapted to seat within the central passage70of the cap68or designed to couple with the cap. After the reservoir16A is mounted within the corresponding manifold14A, the cap68is inserted in the inlet port64by aligning the pins76with the keys or grooves74, inserting the cap over the end of the appropriate reservoir in the appropriate slot, and then turning the cap to lock the cap to the pump housing. This arrangement serves to ensure that the correct reservoir is mounted and retained within the correct reservoir.

In some embodiments, the cap68may mate directly with the reservoir16A, such as by permanently capturing the neck portion58of the reservoir16A. Alternative or in addition, any combination of elements68,86, and87may mate with the reservoir16A. In some embodiments, the neck portion58of the reservoir16A may be provided with a feature that corresponds to a feature on the cap68, so that the cap68may mate with and permanently capture only a single type of reservoir16A (and not mating with and capturing the other reservoir16B).

Alternatively or in addition, the cap68may mate with a feature of the inlet of the infusion pump12, such as by mating threading or other non-permanent securing features. The cap68may be designed to mate with only one inlet of the infusion pump.

By combining the permanent mating of the cap68with one type of reservoir16A and one inlet of the infusion pump, an appropriate reservoir16A may be permanently captured by the cap68while the cap68mates with an appropriate inlet on the infusion pump12in a non-permanent manner. Thus, a two-stage mating to prevent mishandling may be accomplished, which may be particularly useful in the case where the reservoirs16A,16B are provided by a third party and it may not be possible to provide distinguishing features on the reservoirs16A,16B. Further, the cap68with the attached reservoir16A may be removed and discarded when the reservoir16A is depleted.

The other inlet port72of the pump is adapted to receive a separate reservoir containing a different medicament. The reservoir, cap, and pump housing can be configured in a different manner to accept reservoir16B while simultaneously being unable to accept reservoir16A. For example, the inlet can mount a standard cap78that secures the reservoir16B within the pump housing and/or mate with a feature element formed on the neck of reservoir16B. For example, as illustrated, the neck portions of the reservoirs16A and16B can be configured differently.

The infusion pump12may include one or more pumping mechanisms61for dispensing the medicaments from the reservoirs16A,16B. In an exemplary embodiment, the pumping mechanism61may be a lead screw for actuating a plunger at the rear of each of the reservoirs16A,16B. By pushing on the plunger, medicament may be forced out of the front of the reservoirs16A,16B. In other embodiments, the pumping mechanisms may include a lever, pneumatically actuated pump, hydraulically actuated pump, electrical pump, or any other device suitable for exerting pressure on, or otherwise dispensing medicament from, the medicament reservoirs16A,16B. The pumping device may be driven by a motor63, such as an electric motor. The motor63may be powered, for example, by batteries65disposed in the pump housing62.

In exemplary embodiments, the infusion pump12may be provided with hardware and/or software control logic associated with the pumping mechanism61. For example, one of the medicament reservoirs16A,16B may include less medicament than the other reservoir, or may be smaller than the other reservoir. In order to further ensure that the wrong reservoir is not inserted into the wrong inlet port, the logic may prevent the infusion pump12from dispensing the medicament if the pumping mechanism61fails to make contact with a plunger on the end of one of the reservoirs16A,16B after being extended for more than a predetermined threshold distance.

For example, if one of the medicaments is insulin and the other medicament is glucagon, the glucagon may be provided in the medicament reservoir16A in a smaller amount than the insulin is provided in the medicament reservoir16B. In one embodiment, the medicament reservoir16A may include about one-third as much glucagon as the medicament reservoir16B includes insulin. Even if the reservoirs16A,16B are of the same size, the plunger at the rear of the glucagon reservoir16A will initially be deployed two-thirds of the distance into the medicament reservoir16A. If the glucagon reservoir16A is inadvertently inserted into the slot intended for the insulin, then the pumping mechanism61will need to extend much further than expected in order to make contact with the plunger at the rear of the medicament reservoir16A. Once it is determined that the pumping mechanism61has extended to or more than the predetermined extension distance, logic in the infusion pump12may recognize that a problem has occurred and may prevent medicament from being dispensed. Optionally, an error warning indicating that the wrong reservoir16A has been inserted into the wrong inlet port may be displayed on a display device of the infusion pump12.

The above process may be employed with a minimum threshold as well. For instance, if in the above example the insulin reservoir16B is inadvertently inserted into the inlet slot intended for the glucagon, then the pumping mechanism61may extend only a short distance before making contact with the plunger at the rear of the reservoir16B. Because logic stored in the infusion pump12expects that it will be necessary to extend the pumping mechanism more than a minimum threshold distance in order to make contact with the plunger, the infusion pump12may prevent medicament from being dispensed and an error warning may be displayed.

Alternatively or in addition to the above embodiments, the pumping mechanism61for one of the medicament reservoirs16A,16B may be initially deployed at a different distance than the other pumping mechanism61. In the above example, the pumping mechanism61associated with the inlet slot intended for the glucagon reservoir16A may be initially deployed further than, or in a more extended position than, the pumping mechanism61associated with the inlet slot intended for the insulin reservoir16B. In this case, it may be difficult or impossible to insert the insulin reservoir16B into the slot intended for the glucagon16A, since the plunger at the rear of the insulin reservoir16B will make contact with the pumping mechanism61for the glucagon slot before the insulin reservoir16B is fully inserted. This may provide a further mechanism for preventing the wrong medicament reservoir from being inserted into the wrong inlet slot.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the configuration depicted inFIG. 4is intended to be exemplary. Other suitable configurations for an infusion pump12may use more, fewer, or different parts.

FIGS. 6A-6Dillustrate other embodiments of the present invention where the system can employ asymmetric interfaces to help prevent the mis-loading of reservoirs in the incorrect manifold to help prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. The illustrated infusion pump12has inlet ports72,64that are specially configured to receive connectors or caps84,86respectively. The inlet port72can have associated therewith a feature element, such as a threaded adapter88and the inlet port64can associated therewith a threaded adapter90. The adapter88can be configured as a female threaded connector that is adapted to receive and secure a cap84having formed thereon a male threaded region80. The adapter90can be configured as a male threaded connector having an external threaded region82that is adapted to receive and secure a cap86having formed therein a set of female threads94.

The manifold adapted to receive the reservoir16A can be sized to accommodate only the reservoir16A, and the manifold adapted to receive the reservoir16B can be sized to accommodate only the reservoir16B. Thus, when the reservoir16A is seated within the corresponding manifold, the cap86is threaded on the male threaded region82of the adapter90. Similarly, when the reservoir16B is seated within the corresponding manifold, the threaded region80of the cap84is threaded into the female threaded region94of the adapter88. The adapters, caps and manifolds thus form fluid pathways that are specific to the reservoirs16A and16B such that the reservoirs are unable to be mounted within the other manifold. This asymmetric arrangement helps prevent the mis-loading of reservoirs in the incorrect manifold, thus helping to prevent the mischanneling of medicaments.

In some embodiments, there may be multiple points of capture at the inlet or outlet ports of the infusion pump12. For example, the reservoirs16A,16B may be provided with collars or swages83that may be permanently or non-permanently captured by one or more prongs or other capture devices placed or formed on the caps84,86. The caps may non-permanently attach to the infusion pump12through the threading80,90. If the caps84,86permanently capture the collars83of the medicament reservoirs16A,16B, then the medicament reservoirs16A,16B may be withdrawn from the infusion pump12when the caps84,86are removed from the infusion pump12.

Another embodiment is shown inFIG. 6D. In this embodiment, the multi-channel lumen assembly18includes male or female threading to allow the lumen assembly18to connect directly to the infusion pump12. The lumen assembly18may include in one channel thereof a piercing element such as needle36that is positioned inside of and near the end of the lumen18. The needle36may function similarly to the needle36of the manifold14, described above, in that the needle36may pierce the septum end of the medicament reservoir16A,16B and receive medicament pumped from the reservoir16A,16B by the infusion pump12.

Thus, in this embodiment the inlet ports72,64of the infusion pump12serve to receive the medicament reservoirs for pumping by the infusion pump12, and furthermore serves as the outlet ports of the infusion pump12. Accordingly, the interface between the lumen assembly18with an internal needle36and the inlet ports72,64of the infusion pump12forms an integrated inlet/outlet port for the infusion pump12.

The embodiments ofFIGS. 6C and 6Dmay also be combined. For example, caps84,86may be respectively provided with needles36mounted inside the caps84,86. The lumen18may connect to the rear of the caps84,86, and may be secured in the caps (for example) by an adhesive. The lumen assembly18be affixed to a channel in the cap that is fed by the needle36. The caps84,86may be attached to the infusion pump12by any suitable mechanism, including those shown inFIGS. 7A-7C. The collars83of the reservoirs16A,16B may be permanently captured by the caps so that, when the combined lumen18and cap84,86is removed, the reservoir16A,16B is removed along with the lumen18and cap84,86.

FIGS. 7A-8Cillustrate other feature elements that can be mounted on the inlet or outlet ports of the infusion pump12and on the inlet ports or connector ends of the tubes or channels forming the multi-channel lumen assembly18to help prevent the mischanneling of medicaments by the use of unique coupling methods for each medicament. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the infusion pump12can have inlets formed as separate inlet and outlet ports, or combined inlet/outlet ports.FIGS. 7A and 8Ashow an infusion pump12having outlet ports102,104formed therein. The outlet ports are adapted to be coupled to the multi-channel lumen assembly18. In this regard, the multi-channel lumen assembly can comprise for example a pair of tubes that can be attached and detached as desired. Each tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly18is adapted to be coupled to a particular outlet port of the infusion pump so as to deliver medicaments to the patient via the infusion set20. The tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly and the outlet ports of the infusion pump can include feature elements, such as selected connectors or adapters, that create multiple unique fluid pathways between specific medicament reservoirs and infusion sites. As shown, the outlet port102can have a first feature element, such as a female portion114of a bayonet style connector, coupled thereto. The corresponding feature element, such as a male portion116of the bayonet style connector, can be coupled to a first tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. A similar feature element can be coupled to the second outlet port. Specifically, the outlet port104can have the male portion116of the bayonet style connector coupled thereto. The corresponding female portion114can be coupled to a second tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. The male portion116of the connector has formed at a mating end thereof an engagement portion118configured as a partial thread. The female portion114of the connector has internal threads (not shown) formed in a rotatable housing that is adapted to engage the engagement portion118of the male portion of the connector. In order to couple the two connector portions together, the male portion is inserted into the female portion and then the female portion is rotated so as to lock the two portions together.

When the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly are coupled to the outlet ports as described above, the infusion system creates a pair of specific, dedicated and non-interchangeable fluid pathways. The first tube that is coupled to the male connector can only be connected to the outlet port102and the second tube that is coupled to the female connector can only be coupled to the outlet port104.

FIGS. 7B and 8Billustrate another embodiment of a feature element that can be used to form specific fluid pathways between selected medicament reservoirs and the infusion sites in order to help prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. The illustrated infusion pump12has outlet ports102,104formed therein. The outlet ports are adapted to be coupled to the first and second tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. Each tube of the assembly18is adapted to be coupled to a particular outlet port of the infusion pump so as to deliver particular medicaments to the patient via the infusion set20. As shown, the outlet port102can have a first feature element, such as a female connector portion124, coupled thereto. The corresponding feature element, such as a male portion126, can be coupled to the first tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. A similar feature element can be coupled to the second outlet port. Specifically, the outlet port104can have the male portion126of the feature element coupled thereto. The corresponding female portion124can be coupled to the second tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. The male portion126of the connector has formed at a mating end thereof an engagement portion128configured as a spaced pair of flexible legs130. The female portion124of the connector has a pair of grooves132formed therein that are sized and configured to engage the legs130of the male portion of the connector. To couple the two connector portions124,126together, the legs of the male portion126are inserted into the female portion124until the legs engage and seat within the grooves132so as to lock the two portions together. Similar to the connectors114,116, when the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly are coupled to the outlet ports as described above, the infusion system creates a pair of specific and non-interchangeable fluid pathways. That is, the first tube that is coupled to the male connector can only be connected to the outlet port102and the second tube that is coupled to the female connector can only be coupled to the outlet port104.

FIGS. 7C and 8Cillustrate still another embodiment of a feature element that can be used to form specific fluid pathways between selected medicament reservoirs and the infusion sites in order to help avoid the mischanneling of medicaments. The illustrated infusion pump12has outlet ports102,104formed therein. The outlet ports are adapted to be coupled to the first and second tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly18so as deliver medicaments to the patient via the infusion set20. As shown, the outlet port102can have a first portion140of a selected feature element having a base portion144that has attached thereto a female connector portion134and a male connector portion136. A corresponding second portion142of the feature element can be coupled to the first tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. The second feature element portion142also includes a base portion144having attached thereto a female connector portion134and a male connector portion136, where the positions of the male and female connector portions are reversed so as to be able to properly engage the connector portions of the first feature element portion140.

A similar feature element can be coupled to the outlet port104. Specifically, the outlet port104has the first portion140of the feature element attached thereto. The first feature element can also have a base portion144having attached thereto the female connector portion134and the male connector portion136. The corresponding second portion142of the feature element can be coupled to the second tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. The second feature element portion142also includes a base portion144having attached thereto a female connector portion134and a male connector portion136, where the positions of the male and female connector portions are reversed so as to be able to properly engage the connector portions of the first feature element portion140. In order to couple the two connector portions140,142together, the male and female portions of the first portion140are inserted into the corresponding male and female portions of the second portion142so as to lock the two portions together. Further, the first and second portions140,142of the feature element coupled to the first outlet102and the first tube of the multi-channel lumen assembly can have a first selected size that is smaller than the size of the connector portions140,142coupled to the second outlet port104, as shown. This size difference ensures that the first tube can only be coupled to the first outlet102and that the second tube can only be coupled to the second outlet104. Similar to the connectors114,116,124, and126, when the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly are coupled to the outlet ports as described above, the infusion system creates a pair of specific and non-interchangeable fluid pathways.

The first and second portions140,142of the feature element can also be configured to include additional features such as unique keys or grooves such that they uniquely engage with the ends of the connectors that are distal (i.e., attached to the tubes) to the infusion pump and that are of matching sizes and shapes.

With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 9A and 9B, the multi-channel lumen assembly18of the infusion system10is shown in more detail. The multi-channel lumen assembly is typically provided to help convey the medicaments from the infusion pump to the infusion set20. The manner of connection between the multi-channel lumen assembly18and the site of infusion and/or infusion pump can employ feature elements (e.g., asymmetric positioning features) to ensure the correct channeling of medicaments to the patient. The infusion set20can also incorporate a channeling system that can pair with each of the tubes or channels of the multi-channel lumen assembly that spans the gap between the infusion pump and the site of infusion. The infusion set can be connected, disconnected, or reconnected with the multi-channel lumen assembly. The infusion set preferably infuses medicaments to the patient through multiple channels. These channels can infuse medicaments intradermally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously using one or more piercing elements, as is known in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the tubing assembly can be combined with the infusion set to form, when coupled to the infusion pump, the infusion system10of the present invention. However, for purposes of clarity, the tubing assembly will be discussed separately from the infusion set20.

The illustrated multi-channel lumen assembly18includes first and second tubes150and152, respectively, forming medicament passages or channels. For example, the first tube150forms a medicament channel154and the second tube152forms a medicament channel156. As described above in connection withFIGS. 7A-8C, the end portions of the first and second tubes can include if desired a feature element to help prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. For example, either or both end portions172and174of the first tube150can employ the feature element, and similarly either or both of the end portions176and178of the second tube152can employ a feature element. The first ends172and176of the first and second tubes150and152, respectively, form the infusion pump side166of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. The second ends174and178of the first and second tubes150and152, respectively, form the infusion set side168of the multi-channel lumen assembly18.

The tubes150and152of the multi-channel lumen assembly18can be configured so as to be able to be coupled together and then, if desired, be detached or decoupled from each other. This can preferably be done repeatedly. As shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B, the tubes150and152can have formed thereon mating connecting features that allow the tubes to be coupled together over at least a portion of the length of the tubes. According to one embodiment, the first tube150can employ a surface feature, such as a tongue-like rail portion160, that is formed on and extends outwardly from the main body of the tube150. The second tube can have formed thereon a surface feature, such as an extension portion having a groove162formed therein, that is complementary to the surface feature160. Hence, the first and second tubes can be coupled together by inserting the tongue160of the first tube into the groove162of the second tube along the length of the groove. The ability to repeatedly couple and decouple the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly allows the patient significant flexibility in using the infusion system, and especially the multi-channel lumen assembly. Moreover, the patient can replace one or both of the tubes as needed rather than dispose of both tubes at the same time as is required in prior art systems. That is, in prior art systems, the first and second tubes are permanently coupled together. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other types of surface features can be used to join the first and second tubes together, while concomitantly providing the ability to repeatedly decouple the tubes from each other when needed, such as by spliced joints and the like. Moreover, the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly can be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic. Those of ordinary skill will readily recognize that the multi-channel lumen assembly can include more than two tubes or can include a single tube forming multiple channels. Further, the channels can include a single passage, as illustrated, or each tube can include multiple channels or lumens.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2, the tubes150and152can be coupled together along at least a portion of the length of the tubes, such as by webbing or by feature elements such as those described above in connection withFIGS. 9A and 9B. This connection can be either permanent along at least a portion of the length of the tubes, or the connection can be configured to allow the tubes to be easily separated from each other and reconnected as appropriate. The tubes150and152, however, are not connected together in a region adjacent the infusion set20. That is, the infusion set can be formed into a pair of separate and distinct medicament administration regions that are spaced from each other.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 10A-14Cillustrate the infusion set20according to the teachings of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the use of an infusion pump requires the use of a disposable component, typically referred to as an infusion set, which helps convey the medicament from the reservoir and pump into the skin of the patient. Conventional infusion sets typically consist of a pump connector, a tubing assembly, and a hub or base from which one or more piercing elements extend therefrom. The piercing element can include for example a needle, infusion cannula, a flexible catheter and the like. The hub or base has an adhesive (not shown) which retains the base on the skin surface during use, and which may be applied to the skin manually or with the aid of a manual or automatic insertion device. In most cases, a detachable fluid connector is provided to allow the pump tubing to be disconnected from the hub or base when the user wishes to shower, bathe or swim.

The infusion set20of the present invention includes a multi-channel infusion device where each channel infuses a medicament into the patient. The channels are connected to the infusion sites by way of asymmetric positioning feature elements that help prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. The medicaments can be supplied from a single or multichannel system or directly from one or more medicament sources, such as a pumping system having one or more external or internal medicament reservoirs. The infusion set infuses medicaments either intradermally, transdermally, subcutaneously, and/or percutaneously.

The multi-channel lumen assembly18is coupled to the infusion set20. The infusion pump side166of the multi-channel lumen assembly18can include one or more feature elements, as described above in connection withFIGS. 7A-9B, that only allows the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly18to connect to particular medicament reservoirs, thus preventing the mischanneling of medicaments. Likewise, the infusion set side168of the multi-channel lumen assembly18can also include one or more feature elements that help prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. In this regard, the feature elements are adapted to interface with like feature elements formed in the infusion set.

The illustrated infusion set20includes a base portion192that seats the medicament delivery components of the infusion set. The infusion set can include one or more infusion sites having associated therewith one or more piercing elements. The piercing elements can be formed from any suitable material, including metal and non-metal materials. According to one embodiment, the delivery components can include multiple piercing elements, such as first and second spacially separated cannulas196A and196B, a portion of which protrude from an underside or bottom surface198of a common base192. The cannulas form first and second medicament infusion sites182and184from the common base. The cannulas can be attached to the base portion192via a support structure202. The support structure forms inlet ports206A and206B. The connector ends174,178of the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly18are adapted to couple with the inlet ports206A,206B, respectively. We describe the embodiments herein as employing cannulas for the sake of simplicity, although those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other types of piercing elements can also be used. Moreover, the infusion sites can be formed from a common base192or from separate base elements,FIG. 2. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that if separate base elements are employed, then each base element can employ one or more piercing elements.

The connector ends174,178and/or the inlet ports206A,206B can have the feature elements formed thereon. As shown for example inFIG. 11, the ports and connector ends can preferably mount the respective portion of a bayonet style connector or adapter. The bayonet style connector can be arranged on the connector ends and inlet ports, if desired, such that the connector end174only mates with the inlet port206A and the connector end only mates with the inlet port206B. In this way, similar to the various feature elements described above, and specifically consistent with the bayonet style adapter illustrated inFIGS. 5A-5C and 8A, the multi-channel lumen assembly18and infusion set20can create a first discrete fluid pathway in the system solely for the first medicament (e.g., insulin) and a second discrete fluid pathway solely for the second medicament (e.g., glucagon). Thus, the connector ends174,178of the tubes of the multi-channel lumen assembly18and the inlet ports206A,206B associated therewith can differ by way of for example geometrical, dimensional, and/or positioning physical feature elements that are unique to each medicament source or reservoir.

The medicaments are delivered to the patient at the infusion sites182,184by the cannulas196A,196B. As shown inFIG. 13A, the cannulas196A,196B can be the same. Specifically, the cannulas can be formed of the same material, such as from metal or non-metal. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 13B, the cannulas196A,196bcan be different and formed from different materials. According to one practice, the cannula196A can be formed from metal and the second cannula196B can be formed form plastic (e.g. Teflon®). The plastic cannula can be introduced into the infusion set via a supplemental device, such as a trocar.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the cannulas196A,196B in the infusion set20can be inserted to the same or different depths under the skin. Moreover, the cannulas can have different lengths, shapes, and profiles. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that the medicaments can be infused into the patient by mechanisms other then the illustrated piercing elements, such as for example by micropore transfer via a transdermal tape activated by chemical, electrical or other means.

A selected cover190can be mounted to the base portion192be way of, for example, a hinge. The cover190serves to cover and hence protect the medicament delivery components of the infusion set20. Alternatively, the cover190can be a static lid, and can if desired be transparent or opaque. The infusion set could also be constructed without a cover. An adhesive can be mounted to the bottom surface198of the base192so as to secure the infusion set to the infusion site selected by the patient.

The present invention thus contemplates a multi-channel infusion set20where each channel infuses a medicament and a manner of connecting to plural infusion sites that uses asymmetric positioning features to prevent the mischanneling of medicaments. The multiple channels of the multi-channel lumen assembly18can bridge the span between the infusion sources and the sites of infusion by way of separate, independent channels (where each channel can be a single channel or a multiple-lumen channel), or by way of channels that are joined or coupled together by webbing or by some other manner. The infusion set can also employ one or more septums that prevent the unwanted leaking of medicaments when connecting and disconnecting the ports from the multi-channel lumen assembly18.

The present invention mitigates the possibility of mischanneling by connecting the wrong tubing to the wrong infusion cannula by using feature elements having different geometrical, dimensional, and/or positioning physical features that are unique to each medicament source and channel in a manner that uniquely matches the infusion set connection interfaces. The infusion set20can be connected, disconnected, or reconnected from the multiple channels in a single engagement step or separately, and the connection provides a secure fluid path from each channel into the infusion sites. The connection between the channels and the infusion set can be released, separately for each channel, and re-connected for multiple use. The infusion set can itself house a channeling system that employs independent channels (where each channel can be a single or multiple-lumen channel), or a single multiple-lumen channel (where the enclosed lumens are arranged in an array, or as concentric lumens), or by any combination of the above.

FIGS. 14-17B and 22illustrate another embodiment of the multi-medicament infusion system10of the present invention. Like reference numerals denoting like or similar structure will be used throughout the various Figures and views. The illustrated infusion system includes an infusion pump12having inlets226and228formed therein. The inlets226,228can be formed as combined inlet/outlet ports as described above in connection with the system illustrated for example inFIG. 4. The manifolds formed within the infusion pump can be sized and configured to accommodate the reservoirs16A,16B. The reservoirs are configured to house medicaments. The reservoir16A has a connector230associated therewith and the reservoir16B has a connector232associated therewith. Although not illustrated, the multi-channel lumen assembly18can be coupled to the connectors230,232at an end opposite the reservoirs by way of a piercing element assembly. The multi-channel lumen assembly18can in turn be coupled to the infusion set20.

The illustrated infusion system10of the present invention provides for one or more selected feature elements or connectors to be disposed on the pump housing, the reservoir, and the connector for ensuring that the proper medicament reservoir is coupled to the proper or correct manifold of the infusion pump12. This arrangement of components helps prevent the accidental coupling of a reservoir containing a specific medicament to an incorrect manifold. For example, according to one practice, the pump includes two separate manifolds each configured to mate with a specific medicament reservoir. Hence, a first manifold can be adapted to accommodate a first reservoir containing a first medicament, such as insulin, and a second manifold can be adapted to accommodate a second reservoir containing a second medicament, such as glucagon. In this example, it is important to ensure that the glucagon reservoir is not accidentally coupled to the insulin manifold and vice versa. The unique mating connectors and feature elements thus ensure that each portion of the system can only be connected to the system in a unique way or selected configuration, thus preventing the accidental mischanneling of medicaments.

The connectors230,232can have formed therein a piercing element for piercing a septum formed as part of the neck or swage of the reservoirs. The piercing element can be formed as part of a piercing element assembly that seats within a central opening240formed in the connector,FIG. 22. For example, the reservoir16A includes a swage83that typically includes a septum and the connector230is adapted to be coupled to the reservoir16A. The reservoir can contain any suitable medicament, and preferably contains insulin. The swage can be constructed to have a feature element, here denoted as a round neck portion, that is adapted to seat within a corresponding and complementary shaped feature element, such as a recess or chamber234, formed in the connector housing254. Preferably, the feature elements help form a specific dedicated fluid pathway that helps prevent the mischanneling of medicaments and helps prevent the accidental administration of an incorrect medicament to the patient. The connector is adapted to permanently or non-permanently capture the reservoir16A, as described further below. According to one practice, the connector when mounted over the swage83of the reservoir16A permanently captures the reservoir.

The illustrated connector230can also include one or more feature elements in the form of a plurality of surface features236,238that extend outwardly from an outer surface of the connector230. The surface features can include a plurality of tabs or detents, a subset of which is radially movable relative to the connector housing. According to one practice, the tabs238are formed on the outer surface of the connector housing and are fixed in place. That is, the tabs are not radially movable relative to the connector housing. The tabs236as shown inFIGS. 15A, 15B and 22are movable tabs that can be moved between an extended position, where the tabs extend outwardly through an aperture246formed in a sidewall252of the connector housing, and a retracted position, where the tabs are radially movable such that they are primarily disposed within the housing, such as in the chamber234. The tabs can be placed on or extend outwardly from the connector housing outer surface at any suitable location and preferably are placed at positions that correspond to the location of feature elements formed on a corresponding inlet or port (e.g., inlet port) of the pump housing, such as port228. The tabs help prevent the loading of the incorrect reservoir in the pump housing. For example, if the connector is coupled to an incorrect reservoir, the movable tabs will not be disposed in the retracted position. When disposed in the extended position, the tabs prevent the reservoir from being fully placed and seated within the manifold of the pump.

As shown inFIGS. 15A, 15B, and 22, when the connector230is separately disposed relative to the reservoir, the tabs of the connector extend radially outwardly from the housing. The reservoir has a feature element formed on a neck portion thereof that is complementary in shape to a feature element formed in the connector. In the illustrated example, the feature element can include a round swage element formed on the neck portion of the reservoir16A, which in turn seats within a round chamber234(i.e., feature element) formed in the underside of the connector. When the connector is coupled to the reservoir16A, the neck portion engages the movable tabs236or any other suitable cooperating structure to move the tabs from the extended position into the retracted position. When coupled together in this manner, the connection between the reservoir and the connector can be non-permanent or permanent in nature, and the reservoir is preferably permanently retained or coupled to the connector.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that any suitable structure can be employed that is capable of moving the exposed portion of the tabs236between the extended and retracted positions upon insertion of the neck of the reservoir into the chamber234of the connector230. According to one practice, the movable tabs236can have an elongated, slightly arcuate main body236A which is attached at one end236B to the housing of the connector. The opposed free end of the tab extends outwardly through the aperture246formed in the sidewall of the housing. In this configuration, the tab is disposed in the extended position. The arcuate structure of the tab provides for a selected amount of resilience and elasticity such that as the reservoir is inserted into the chamber and engages with the tab main body236A, the flexible tab bends by a selected amount such that the free end portion of the tab that extends through the aperture246is retracted inwardly into the chamber234and hence into the retracted position. Other tab designs can also be employed in the present invention, including designs where the tab main body has an angled cam surface such that the tab pivots between the retracted and extended positions.

Once the reservoir16A and the connector230are attached together, the combined unit can be mounted within the corresponding port or inlet of the infusion pump12. According to one practice, the inlet228functions as a combined inlet/outlet port or aperture. The inlet228preferably has one or more feature elements associated therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet228has a pair of keys or slots248,FIG. 17A, formed in the inlet at locations that correspond to the locations of the fixed tabs238of the connector230. As shown and not to be construed in a scope limiting way, the keys for example can be spaced apart by about 120 degrees. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the keys can be formed at any selected location provided that they are disposed at locations that are different than those formed in inlet226, or any other similar inlet formed in the infusion pump12. Hence, once the movable tabs are disposed in the retracted position by the coupling together of the connector and the reservoir, the combined unit can be mounted within the inlet228since the fixed tabs238can be aligned with the keys248formed therein. Further, the other inlet226has feature elements formed at locations that are different than the locations of the fixed tabs238of the connector230, thus preventing the reservoir16A from being accidentally seated within the incorrect inlet226. This helps prevent the mischanneling of medicaments and the accidental administration of an incorrect medicament to the patient. Once the tabs238are aligned with the keys248of the correct inlet228, the reservoir can be mounted therein,FIG. 17B. The reservoir can be retained within the infusion pump12by rotating the connector when coupled to the inlet so that the tabs and the keys are no longer aligned, thus locking the connector in place.

As illustrated inFIGS. 16A and 16B, the reservoir16B includes a neck portion or swage83and the connector232is adapted to be coupled to the reservoir. The reservoir can contain any suitable medicament, and preferably contains glucagon. The swage can be constructed to have a feature element, here denoted as a generally square neck portion, that is adapted to seat within a corresponding and complementary shaped feature element, such as a chamber, formed in the underside of the connector housing. This is similar to the chamber formed in the connector230and illustrated inFIG. 22. Preferably, the feature elements help form a specific dedicated fluid pathway that helps prevent the mischanneling of medicaments and helps prevent the accidental administration of an incorrect medicament to the patient. Specifically, since the recess of the connector232is configured differently than the recess of the connector230, the connector232is unable to be coupled to the insulin reservoir16A. The connector is adapted to permanently or non-permanently capture the reservoir16B. According to one practice, the connector232when mounted over the swage83of the reservoir16B permanently captures or is coupled to the reservoir.

The illustrated connector232can also include one or more feature elements in the form of a plurality of surface features242,244that extend outwardly from an outer surface of the connector housing254. The surface features can include a plurality of tabs or detents, a subset of which is radially movable relative to the connector housing. According to one practice, the tabs244are also formed on the outer surface of the connector housing and are fixed in place. That is, the tabs244are not radially movable into the housing. The tabs242are configured as movable tabs that can be radially moved between an extended position, where the tabs extend outwardly from the connector housing outer surface254through the aperture246, and a retracted position, where the tabs are primarily disposed within the chamber formed in the housing (similar to chamber234). The tabs244can be placed on or extend outwardly from the connector housing outer surface at any suitable location and preferably are placed at positions that correspond with the location of feature elements formed on a corresponding inlet or port (e.g., inlet port) of the infusion pump housing, such as port226. The operation and function of the movable tabs is similar or identical to that described above in connection with connector230, and as illustrated for example inFIG. 22.

When the connector232is separately disposed relative to the reservoir, the tabs242,244extend radially outwardly from the housing. When the connector is coupled to the reservoir16B, the neck portion engages the movable tabs242or any other suitable cooperating structure to move the tabs242from the extended position into the retracted position. When coupled together in this manner, the connection between the reservoir and the connector can be non-permanent or permanent in nature, and the reservoir is preferably permanently retained or coupled to the connector. The tabs244can also be configured similar to the tabs236,FIG. 22.

Once the reservoir16B and the connector232are attached, the combined unit can be mounted within the corresponding port or inlet of the infusion pump12. According to one practice, the inlet226functions as a combined inlet/outlet port or aperture. The inlet226preferably has one or more feature elements associated therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet226has a pair of keys or slots250,FIG. 17A, formed in the inlet at locations that correspond to the locations of the fixed tabs244of the connector232. As shown and not to be construed in a scope limiting way, the keys in the illustrated embodiment are formed at locations that are roughly opposite to each other. Hence, once the movable tabs242are disposed in the retracted position by the coupling together of the connector and the reservoir, the combined unit can be mounted within the inlet226since the fixed tabs244can be aligned with the keys250formed in the inlet. Further, the inlet226has feature elements formed at locations that are different than the locations of the fixed tabs244of the connector232, thus preventing the reservoir16B from accidentally being mounted in the incorrect inlet228. This helps prevent the mischanneling of medicaments and the accidental administration of an incorrect medicament to the patient. Once the tabs244are aligned with the keys250, the reservoir can be mounted within the inlet226,FIG. 17B. The reservoir can be retained within the infusion pump12by rotating the connector when coupled to the inlet so that the tabs and the keys are no longer aligned.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the inlets226,228can have feature elements of any suitable design or shape, and any suitable number of feature elements can be provided on the connectors230,232and at any suitable location.

According to another practice, the connector can be configured so that there is no rotation needed to attach the connector to the pump housing. An embodiment suitable for this purpose is illustrated inFIGS. 18-21. Like reference numerals denoting like or similar structure will be used throughout the various Figures and views. As shown, a connector260can be employed that is configured to couple to a reservoir, such as reservoir16A, and to an inlet, such as port258, of the infusion pump12. The connector260has a housing262having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a chamber264. The chamber is sized and configured to be able to be attached to a reservoir, such as for example reservoir16A. The outer surface of the housing has a pair of opposed grip sections266. The grip sections266are configured so as to have a series of ridges that enables a user to be able to securely grip and manipulate the connector260during use.

The connector housing262has a central opening or passage268that is adapted to accommodate a piercing element assembly270. The piercing element assembly270includes a piercing element, such as a needle272, that is in fluid communication with a channel or lumen274. The lumen can form part of the multi-channel lumen assembly18. The piercing element assembly270can be secured to the connector260and within the opening268by any suitable means known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as by a suitable adhesive.

A bottom portion of the connector housing262has a connection assembly that includes a plurality of flexible retaining fingers or tabs276. The retaining tabs have an inner surface that has a cam feature or surface278formed thereon. The cam feature is adapted to engage with a neck portion83of the reservoir16A. As the neck portion is inserted into the opening or chamber264formed or defined by the retaining tabs276and the inner surface of the housing262, the neck engages the cam surfaces and serves to flex or bend the retaining tabs in a radially outward direction as the neck travels axially along the cam surface. Once the neck portion of the reservoir passes the cam surface (i.e., disengages from the cam surface), the neck portion then seats in an annular groove280. When the neck portion83is seated in the groove280, the reservoir16A is captured and retained by the connector260.

As further illustrated inFIGS. 19 and 20, when the connector260is separated and axially spaced from the reservoir16A, the needle272does not engage the reservoir. When the neck portion83, which typically includes a septum, is inserted into the chamber264of the connector housing262, the needle272pierces the septum so as to be able to withdraw the medicament contained in the reservoir into the channel274.

The retaining tabs276or a selected subset of the retaining tabs can have a cam or securing feature282formed on an outer surface thereof. The cam feature282is formed at a location that is axially spaced from the groove280so as to allow the retaining tabs to flex under selected conditions without allowing the reservoir16A to disengage from the connector260. The cam feature282has an angled surface, similar to the cam feature278, that allows the connector260when inserted within the inlet258to squeeze or move the retaining tabs radially inwardly to allow the cam feature to travel along the axial length of the inlet. When fully inserted within the inlet258, the cam features282engage an underside or undercut portion of the pump housing284. This securing technique allows the connector to be attached to the pump housing without requiring rotation of the connector. To remove or disengage the connector260from the pump housing, the user applies radially inward pressure (i.e., squeezes) to the grip sections266. The application of this radially inward force serves to disengage the cam feature from the undercut284by moving the cam feature radially inwardly and into the inlet. This allows the user to disengage the connector from the pump and thus remove the reservoir from the manifold formed within the pump housing.

In a multi-medicament infusion system according to the teachings of the present invention, the pump housing can include a pair of inlets as set forth above in connection with other embodiments. The inlets can have different feature elements relative to each other. According to one practice, the inlets can have different sizes relative to each other such that only a connector having the same size and hence having a corresponding or complementary surface feature can be coupled thereto. Additionally or alternatively, the reservoirs can include collars having different surface features, such as different sizes or shapes. These various feature elements help prevent the accidental mischanneling of medicament to the user by preventing the accidental loading of a selected medicament reservoir in the incorrect manifold.

It will thus be seen that the invention efficiently attains the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description. Since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.