INFUSER

Abstract: An infuser for infusing a liquid from a reservoir, comprising a durable part (1, 2, 3) forming a housing and a disposable part (4) containing the liquid reservoir and an energy reservoir for energizing the pumping function. The infuser, further, contains in its disposable part (4) all liquid-contacting elements of the pump mechanism pumping the liquid and of pressure sensors measuring the pressure in the outlet from the pumping mechanism, and the disposable part (4) and the durable part (1, 2, 3) are provided with mating coupling means (10, 11). A controlling unit in an electronic compartment (3) of the durable part (1, 2, 3) has a socket (12) into which a plug (13) may be inserted, the plug (13) having a ROM carrying information defining infusion data. The plug (13) has a transparent sheet (14) covering a display (8) of the durable part when the plug (13) is inserted in the socket (12). The sheet (14) carries a graphic representation of the information in the ROM to be seen in relation to information displayed on the display (8).

Description: INFUSER The invention relates to pumps for current infusion of liquid, preferably insulin. By insulin treatment of type 1 diabetes a syringe, a pen, or a pump are used. The pump offers the possibility of a good controlling of the glucose concentration as it may simulate the course of the insulin production by a non- diabetic. However, the use of insulin pumps has been rather limited as pump treatment has been looked on as a strict treatment and as the pumps have been complex to operate. Consequently, the basis for the invention is the wish of making it clear that an insulin pump allows a free life style with a good control of the glucose and may be very simple to use. The object of the invention is to provide an insulin pump which may be worn without dislike and which is extremely simple to operate. This is obtained by a pump according to claim 1. By integrating more disposable parts in a single unit the apparatus is made more simple to handle than known apparatus wherein a cartridge, an infusion line, and batteries for the pumping motor must be changed individually. From WO 85/00523 it is known to integrate the power source for the pump into a disposable part which further comprises an infusion line for insertion into a pump head to provide a peristaltic pump. This insertion complicates the mounting of the disposable part. Such complications are overcome as according to this invention all liquid contacting parts of the pumping mechanism and of possible sensors measuring the pressure in the catheter directly in the outlet from the pumping mechanism are integrated in a unit to be mounted concomitantly to the durable part by a single operation bringing into engagement mating coupling elements on the durable part and on the disposable part. The means for setting the controlling unit may comprise a socket with electric contacts, which socket is designed to receive and communicate with a plug having corresponding electric contacts and carrying a programmed ROM-circuit defining the infusion data. The plug may further carry a graphic representation of the infusion data stored in the ROM, i.e. how the infusion of a set 24-hours' dose is distributed over the 24 hours. This graphic representation may be marks on a transparent sheet so secured to the plug that it covers a watch dial display when the plug is inserted in the socket, the marks indicating periods with increased or decreased infusion. By this construction the user may avoid the relatively complicated programming of the pump as he may plan the needed infusion profile or profiles in cooperation with his medical adviser and thereafter he will only have to insert the plug which is in accordance with his immediate life style. The disposable part may further comprise a memory keeping an account of the amount of liquid left in the reservoir. By enclosing such a memory in the disposable part containing the liquid reservoir, this memory is firmly connected to the reservoir. This is appropriate if the memory shall be able to keep an account of the amount of liquid left in the reservoir. Data in the memory may be read out by the control unit and represented on the display. According to the invention the durable part may comprise one or more of the elements: A controlling unit, a display, means for setting the controlling unit, a drive unit delivering mechanical energy for driving the pump mechanism and a long life electric cell energizing the controlling unit. The pumping mechanism may be a complete low cost pump, e.g. a piezoelectric membrane pump, which may be disposed of after use. In other embodiments the pump mechanism is only the part comprising a pumping chamber and valves, and this mechanism is driven by an electric motor which is integrated in the durable part. When the controlling unit is energized by its own electric cell it is avoided that data stored in this unit are deleted during the change of the disposable part. It is possible to energize the controlling unit from the energy reservoir in the disposable part so that only during change the energizing is switched over to the long life cell in the durable part whereby this cell only acts as an emergency power supply. To establish the necessary communication between the durable and the disposable part, these parts are provided with cooperating sets of electric contacts and cooperating coupling parts so that electrical and mechanical connections are established concomitantly when the disposable part is mounted to the durable part. The mounting may easily be made when the durable and the disposable parts in a complementary way fill the inner space of the housing whereby the disposable part is unambiguously secured in the housing. As a result no problems exist whether the cartridge is correctly inserted, the infusion line is correctly coupled to the pump, or the batteries could be used for the infusion of the content of one cartridge more. All that should be done is to place a new disposable part in the housing and dose this housing. The invention will now be explained in further details with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows the durable part of a pump according to the invention, Fig.2 shows the disposable part of a pump according to the invention, Fig.3 shows the disposable part of Fig.2 mounted in the durable part, which is shown with its lid open, and Fig. 4 shows an infusion data carrying plug with an attached information sheet. The infusion apparatus shown in Fig. 1 has a durable part forming a housing and comprising a bottom part 1 and a lid 2 hinged to this bottom part. In one end of the bottom part 1 there is an electronic compartment 3 comprising a controlling unit and a display 8. in the other end of the bottom part 1 space is left for receiving a disposable part 4 as shown in Fig. 2. This disposable part contains an insulin reservoir made inspectable through a window 5. The disposable part further contains a pump mechanism for delivering the insulin through an infusion line 6 to a needle 7 for insertion in the tissue of the patient. The energy for the pump is supplied by a battery in the disposable part. This battery is designed with a capacity sufficient to energize the pump during the emptying of the insulin reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the disposable part comprises a sensor placed at the inlet of the infusion line and designed to be coupled to a measuring device. As it appears, all parts which have to be changed frequently are integrated in the disposable part. The time for changing is defined by the draining of the insulin reservoir and it is automatically ensured that also the battery and the infusion line are changed. 5 In this preferred embodiment, also members which are not normally changed so as the pump mechanism and the sensor are integrated in the disposable part. Fig. 3 shows a pump with the disposable part mounted in the bottom part. By this mounting sets of electrical contacts 10 and 11 in the disposal and the ιo durable part, respectively, establish electrical connections between the disposable part 4 and the durable part 3 which controls the infusion. When a disposable part is mounted in the bottom part 1 of the housing, the lid 2 is closed and is kept closed by a locking mechanism. The lid 2 is provided with a window 9 which reveals the relevant part of the display when the lid s 2 is closed. In Figure 1 another set of electric contacts are provided in a socket 12 mating a linear plug 3 as shown in Figure 3. In the plug a ROM circuit is provided, in which circuit information is stored defining how a set 24-hours * dose should be distributed taking into account that the need for insulin varies during a day and a o night depending on the patient's life style. This feature makes it easy for the patient to change the 24 hours' infusion profile in accordance with changes in life style, e.g. from working days to week-ends or holidays, just by inserting another plug 13 into the socket. Figure 4 shows such a plug 13 being provided with a transparent sheet which is attached to the plug 13 so that it covers the display 8 of the durable part of the pump when the plug 13 is inserted into the socket 12 of this durable part. The sheet 14 may carry information of the infusion profile obtained with the current plug. The sheet being transparent the information may be graphic and may be seen in connection with information shown on the display 8. The apparatus is described as a pump for infusing insulin, but may be used for other kinds of timed medication without deviating from the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A pump for infusing a liquid from a reservoir, comprising a durable part forming a housing and a disposable part containing the reservoir and an energy reservoir for energizing the pumping function, characterized in that the disposable part further contains all liquid contacting elements of a pump mechanism pumping the liquid and of possible sensors measuring the pressure in an outlet from the pumping mechanism and that the disposable part and the durable part are provided with mating coupling means. 2. A pump according to claim 1 , characterized in, that the disposable part further comprises a memory keeping an account of the amount of liquid left in the reservoir. 3. A pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the durable part comprises one or more of the elements: A controlling unit, a display, means for setting the controlling unit, a drive unit delivering mechanical energy for driving the pumping mechanism and a long life electric cell for energizing the control unit. 4. A pump according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for setting the controlling unit comprises a socket with electric contacts, this socket being designed to receive and communicate with a plug having corresponding electric contacts and carrying a programmed ROM-circuit defining the infusion data. 5. A pump according to claim 4, characterized in that the plug further carries a graphic representation of the infusion data stored in the ROM. 6. A pump according to claim 4, characterized in that the graphic representation is provided as marks on a transparent sheet secured to the plug so that it covers a watch dial display on the durable display, when the plug is inserted into the socket. 7. A pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the durable part and the disposable part are provided with cooperating sets of electric contacts and cooperating coupling parts so that electric and mechanical connections are established concomitantly when the disposable part is mounted to the durable part. 8. A pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the durable and the disposable parts in a complementary way fill the inner space of the housing whereby the disposable part is unambiguously secured in the housing.

Inventors: MOELLER-JENSEN JENS, PLUM THOMAS MUNK, POULSEN JENS ULRIK, MOELLER-JENSEN, JENS, PLUM, THOMAS, MUNK, POULSEN, JENS, ULRIK
Applicants: NOVONORDISK AS, NOVO NORDISK A/S
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A61M5
IPC codes: A61M5