Patent Description:
In the therapy of diseases, infusion pump devices can provide for the administration of liquid medicaments to a patient. For example, an infusion pump device in the form of an insulin pump can provide for the administration of insulin to a patient suffering from diabetes. An infusion pump device can comprise a reservoir for storing the liquid medicament. In some applications, reservoirs of infusion pumps are also referred to as cartridges, containers, etc. A reservoir of an infusion pump can be designed to be filled and/or refilled with a liquid medicament according to the needs of the patient. For the purpose of filling or refilling a reservoir of an infusion pump device, the patient can have access to a cooled storeroom having stored storage containers. Each storage container can have stored a particular liquid medicament. The cooled storeroom can have the design of a refrigerator. Storage containers can have the design of vials, storage tanks, storage bottles, etc. Shortly before the patient needs to fill or refill a reservoir of an infusion pump device, the patient withdraws a storage container having stored the desired liquid medicament from the storeroom, heats the storage container to ambient temperature and fills or refills the reservoir of the infusion pump device with the liquid medicament from the storage container.

A reservoir of an infusion pump device can have various designs and can comprise various materials. For example, a reservoir can have a cylindrical design with a hollow body having two openings. The openings can be arranged at opposite sides of the cylindrical reservoir. At one of the openings, a septum can be arranged for covering, closing, etc. the opening of the reservoir. The other of the openings can support a plunger. The plunger can be movable in an axial direction of the cylindrical reservoir. The plunger can fit tightly in the cylindrical reservoir. The plunger can be moveably arranged for the purpose of filling and/or refilling the reservoir with the liquid medicament as well as for the purpose of administering the liquid medicament to the patient. The reservoir of an infusion pump device can be manufactured out of glass, for example in accordance to the standard DIN ISO <NUM> which specifies glass cylinders (part <NUM>), plunger stoppers (part <NUM>), and seals (part <NUM>) for pen-injectors for medical use.

When filling or refilling a reservoir with a liquid medicament from a storage container, it is very important that the reservoir remains without gas or gas bubbles, such as air or air bubbles, because gas or gas bubbles can have various negative effects. Gas or gas bubbles inside the reservoir can have a negative effect on the precision of an administered dosage of the liquid medicament. Gas or gas bubbles inside the reservoir can negatively influence the fluidic stiffness within the infusion pump device, due to the higher compressibility of gas or gas bubbles in relation to the compressibility of liquid medicaments. Gas or gas bubbles in the reservoir can have negative effects on the stability, effectiveness, etc. of the liquid medicament and can negatively influence the lifetime of the liquid medicament. Moreover, administering the liquid medicament to the patient together with gas or gas bubbles can have a negative effect on the patient's health conditions.

Methods are known for removing gas or gas bubbles from a reservoir, which were generated in the reservoir, for example, during transfer of the liquid medicament from the storage container to the reservoir. In a variant, gas bubbles can be removed in a procedure comprising the steps of separation and back transfer. In a step of separation, the reservoir is usually tapped for example with a fingernail, or the reservoir is slightly hammered to the edge of a table plate, wherein the vibrations have the effect that the gas bubbles rise to the top of the reservoir and are separated from the liquid medicament. In a step of back transfer, the gas or gas bubbles can be transferred back to the storage container or elsewhere, for example by slightly moving the plunger.

<CIT> discloses a bubble trap for removing bubbles from a stream of liquid in an infusion pump device. The bubble trap comprises a grate arranged in the stream. The grate is adapted to retain bubbles that are drifting in the stream. The grate comprises a grate wall and two or more inlets arranged on the grate wall. The stream of liquid can pass the grate through the inlets. The shape and the distribution of the inlets is designed such that a bubble larger than a certain minimum size cannot pass the grate without coming into contact with an inlet. Preferably the shape and the distribution of the inlets is designed such that a bubble below a certain maximum size that is retained in the grate can block only a part of the gross cross-sectional area of the arrangement of inlets.

<CIT> discloses micro-fluidic chambers for use in a liquid medicament delivery system. A micro-fluidic chamber has a bottom substrate and a top cover spaced from the bottom substrate so as to define a height of the chamber. Walls or fillings are positioned in the chamber and define a fluid channel that extends from an inlet of the chamber to an outlet. The walls or fillings have a height that is less the height of the chamber so as to define a gap between a top surface of the walls or fillings and the top cover. The gap is designed such that it is filled by capillary forces with liquid when liquid is introduced into the fluid chamber. The top cover can be a gas-permeable membrane. Gas in a gas bubble moving along the fluid channel passes the membrane. Gas solved in the liquid migrates into the gap and permeates through the membrane.

<CIT> discloses a container for storing a medical or pharmaceutical liquid. The container comprises a storage compartment for storing the liquid. The storage compartment comprises an inlet opening for filling the storage compartment and an outlet opening for discharging liquid out of the storage compartment. A hydrophilic membrane is arranged within the storage compartment, which is gas-tight in a wet condition and which at least covers the outlet opening and which contacts the liquid stored in the storage compartment.

<CIT> discloses a method and apparatus for detecting and removing air from a syringe containing a volume of liquid and a volume of gas. The method includes moving a piston in the syringe to expel gas through an orifice of the syringe, sensing a movement of the piston in the syringe, and determining when the volume of gas is expelled from the syringe based on a change in the sensed movement. Moving the piston may include applying oscillating force to the piston using an electromagnetic actuator, and displacement and speed of the piston during each oscillation may be sensed. Determining when the volume of gas is expelled may be based on a change in the sensed movement of the piston during one or more oscillations of the piston or based on comparison to a given reference value.

<CIT> discloses the transfer of fluidic media from a vial to a reservoir by moving a housing portion to move a plunger head located in the reservoir to draw fluidic media from the vial to the reservoir. The fluidic media may be transferred from the vial to the reservoir by a holding unit and vibrated by a vibrator to remove air from the fluidic media.

As described above, reservoirs can include materials such as glass. When applying methods for removing gas or gas bubbles from a glass reservoir, particular precautions as regards the fragility of the glass material have to be followed. For example, strokes to the glass reservoir or the falling of the glass reservoir to the floor may cause invisible micro-cracks in the glass reservoir, which may effect that the glass reservoir bursts apart during the administration of a liquid medicament with an infusion pump device having installed the glass reservoir with micro-cracks. Therefore, operating instructions in connections with glass reservoirs require that a glass reservoir must be replaced if the glass reservoir has dropped to the floor. Moreover, because of the fragility of glass, mechanical strokes to the glass reservoir, for example in order to separate gas bubbles, are strictly forbidden.

Stroking the glass reservoir to the edge of a table plate as well as tapping the glass reservoir with a hard piece is equally critical. However, because of properties of glass as regards stiffness and hardness, procedures involving stroking or tapping the glass reservoir would be particularly adapted for separating gas bubbles from the liquid medicament.

<CIT> relates to a device for filling or re-filling a container for an infusion fluid. The device comprises a receptacle for the container and a suction device for sucking an infusion fluid into the container. The suction device is actuated by a motor. The device includes a vibratory driving unit for vibrating the container and separating gas bubbles from the infusion fluid. The vibratory driving unit is connected to the container and vibrates the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an auxiliary device for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament stored in a reservoir for an infusion pump device, which do not have at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an auxiliary device for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament stored in a reservoir for an infusion pump device, which reduce mechanical stress to the reservoir. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an auxiliary device for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament stored in a reservoir for an infusion pump device, which reduce the risk of micro-cracks in the reservoir.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved through the features of the independent claims. In addition, further advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and the description.

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned objects are particularly achieved by a method for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament stored in a reservoir for an infusion pump device, wherein the reservoir comprises a displacing member which is at least partly displaceable relative to the reservoir thereby enabling receiving mechanical oscillations in order to generate mechanical waves in the liquid medicament, the method comprising: providing the reservoir; and transmitting a mechanical oscillation to the displacing member of the reservoir thereby generating a mechanical wave in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from the liquid medicament. At least a part of the mechanical oscillations received by the displacing member are not transmitted to the reservoir and mechanical stress to the reservoir is therefore reduced compared to mechanical stress resulting in the methods according to prior art, in which methods mechanical forces are directly applied to the reservoir. Hence, the risk of micro-cracks in the reservoir is reduced.

In an embodiment, a reservoir is provided in which the displacing member of the reservoir is a plunger which is arranged displaceable relative to the reservoir at an opening of the reservoir, and wherein the mechanical oscillation is transmitted to the plunger which generates the mechanical wave in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from the liquid medicament. In many applications, reservoirs comprise a plunger which is designed for filling the reservoir and which is designed for administering the liquid medicament to the patient. By applying the mechanical oscillation to the plunger, in existing reservoirs gas and/or gas bubbles can be removed from the liquid medicament while reducing mechanical stress to the reservoirs, and while reducing the risk of micro-cracks in the reservoirs.

In an embodiment, a reservoir is provided in which the plunger of the reservoir comprises a sealing element. The sealing element can be arranged between the plunger and the reservoir in order to provide a fluid tight sealing. The sealing element can be designed such that transmission of mechanical oscillations between the plunger and the reservoir are reduced. For example, the sealing element can be designed such that friction forces with the reservoir are reduced. For example, the sealing element can have a flexible design reducing transmission of mechanical forces to the reservoir.

In an embodiment, a reservoir is provided in which a plunger rod is connected to the plunger, wherein the mechanical oscillation is transmitted to the plunger via the plunger rod. Existing reservoirs often comprise a plunger connected to a plunger rod. By applying the mechanical oscillation to the plunger via the plunger rod, in existing reservoirs gas and/or gas bubbles can be removed from the liquid medicament while reducing mechanical stress to the reservoirs, and while reducing the risk of micro-cracks in the reservoirs.

In an embodiment, a reservoir is provided in which the displacing member is a flexible membrane which seals an opening of the reservoir, and wherein the mechanical oscillation is transmitted to the flexible membrane which generates the mechanical wave in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from the liquid medicament. For example, a reservoir is provided in which the flexible membrane is a septum. Existing reservoirs often comprise a flexible membrane such as a septum. Due to its flexibility, the flexible membrane is at least partly displaceable relative to the reservoir. By applying the mechanical oscillation to the flexible membrane, in existing reservoirs gas and/or gas bubbles can be removed from the liquid medicament while reducing mechanical stress to the reservoirs, and while reducing the risk of micro-cracks in the reservoirs.

In an embodiment, a reservoir is provided which has a cylindrical design, wherein the displacing member is displaceable in an axial direction of the reservoir. Existing reservoirs have often a cylindrical design with a displacing member such as a plunger, a flexible membrane, a septum, etc. which is displaceable in axial direction of the reservoir. Accordingly, in existing reservoirs gas and/or gas bubbles can be removed from the liquid medicament while reducing mechanical stress to the reservoirs, and while reducing the risk of micro-cracks in the reservoirs.

In an embodiment, the mechanical oscillation has the form of an impulse and/or is the result of a mechanical stroke. The form of an impulse or a mechanical oscillation which results from a mechanical stroke generate a mechanical wave in the liquid medicament comprising high frequencies, thereby enabling that gas and/or gas bubbles separate from the liquid medicament and rise to a top surface of the liquid medicament.

In an embodiment, the mechanical oscillation is such that the mechanical wave generated by the displacing member has the form of a positive pressure wave. A positive pressure wave effects that gas and/or gas bubbles sticking to a shell of the reservoir can be detached from the shell and therefore can rise to the top surface of the liquid medicament.

In an embodiment, the mechanical oscillation is such that the mechanical wave generated by the displacing member has the form of a negative pressure wave. A negative pressure wave effects an outgassing of gas or gas diluted in the liquid medicament and an increase of the size of existing air bubbles. This stimulates the combination of several small air bubbles into one larger air bubble. Larger air bubbles rise up to the top surface of the liquid medicament more easily.

In an embodiment, the mechanical oscillation results from an impulse hammer, a vibration motor, an ultra-sound generator, and/or an ultra-sound sonotrode. These are widely available and cheap devices, which enable removing of gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament stored in a reservoir.

In an embodiment, the mechanical oscillation results from an infusion pump device having installed the reservoir. In a phase of preparation, the mechanical oscillation can be transmitted to the displacing member in order to generate the mechanical wave in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles. After the phase of preparation, administering of an amount of the liquid medicament can be performed.

According to the present invention, an auxiliary device for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament which is stored in a reservoir for an infusion pump device, wherein the reservoir comprises a displacing member which is at least partly displaceable relative to the reservoir thereby enabling receiving mechanical oscillations in order to generate mechanical waves in the liquid medicament, comprises: an oscillation generator for generating a mechanical oscillation; and a transmission facility for enabling transmission of the mechanical oscillation from the oscillation generator to the displacing member of the reservoir, such that the displacing member can generate a mechanical wave in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from the liquid medicament.

In an embodiment, the transmission facility is adapted for enabling transmission of the mechanical oscillation from the oscillation generator to a displacing member which is a plunger displaceably arranged at an opening of the reservoir, such that the plunger can generate a mechanical wave in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from the liquid medicament.

In an embodiment, the transmission facility is adapted for enabling transmission of the mechanical oscillation from the oscillation generator to a displacing member which is a flexible membrane which seals an opening of the reservoir, such that the flexible membrane can generate a mechanical wave in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from the liquid medicament.

In an embodiment, the oscillation generator includes one or more of: an impulse hammer, a vibration motor, an ultra-sound generator, and an ultra-sound sonotrode.

The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawing, which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawing is illustrating schematically:.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a reservoir <NUM> for an infusion pump device (not shown in <FIG>), such as an insulin pump. The reservoir <NUM> is fluidically connected via a transfer appliance <NUM> to a storage container <NUM>. In some applications, the transfer appliance <NUM> is also referred to as transfer guard. The storage container <NUM> has stored a liquid medicament <NUM>. The liquid medicament <NUM> stored in the storage container <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG> by a plurality of horizontal dashes below a waved line. As illustrated schematically in <FIG>, the reservoir <NUM> also has stored an amount of the liquid medicament <NUM>, which has been transferred from the storage container <NUM> to the reservoir <NUM>. The liquid medicament <NUM> stored in the reservoir <NUM> is illustrated schematically by a plurality of horizontal dashes. As illustrated schematically in <FIG>, the reservoir <NUM> further comprises gas bubbles <NUM>, which were generated, for example, during the transfer of liquid medicament <NUM> from the storage container <NUM> to the reservoir <NUM>. The gas bubbles <NUM> are illustrated schematically by a plurality of circles.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a plunger end <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG> on the bottom of the reservoir <NUM>) comprises an opening. The opening is designed for supporting a plunger <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> is also supported by the reservoir <NUM> and is movable in an axial direction between the plunger end <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> and a connector end <NUM> (which will be described below) of the reservoir <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> typically comprises a sealing element <NUM> cooperating between the plunger <NUM> and a shell <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> and providing a fluid tight sealing while enabling movability of the plunger <NUM> in axial direction. The plunger <NUM> is connected to a plunger rod <NUM> for moving the plunger <NUM> in axial direction. The plunger <NUM> has the design of a displaceable member which enables transmission of mechanical oscillations to the liquid medicament <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> can receive mechanical oscillations in order to generate mechanical waves in the liquid medicament <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the connector end <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG> on the top of the reservoir <NUM>) is designed for connecting the transfer appliance <NUM>. The connector end <NUM> is further designed for connection with an infusion pump device thereby enabling administration of the liquid medicament <NUM> to a patient, for example via an infusion set. The connector end <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> comprises an opening which is sealed with a flexible membrane <NUM>, such as a septum. A region in the center of the flexible membrane <NUM> has the design of a displaceable member which enables transmission of mechanical oscillations to the liquid medicament <NUM>. The flexible membrane <NUM> can receive mechanical oscillations in order to generate mechanical waves in the liquid medicament <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the reservoir <NUM> and/or the plunger <NUM> have a cylindrical design. In some embodiments, the plunger <NUM> is displaceable in an axial direction of the reservoir <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the reservoir <NUM> or the shell <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> is manufactured out of glass.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an end of the plunger rod <NUM> on the opposite side of the plunger <NUM> is connected to an auxiliary device <NUM>. In the embodiment schematically illustrated in <FIG>, the auxiliary device <NUM> comprises an oscillation generator <NUM>, <NUM>, which includes a hammer element <NUM> which is deflectably supported by a spring element <NUM>. The hammer element <NUM> has the design of an impulse hammer. The hammer element <NUM> can be deflected and released in such a manner that after releasing the hammer element <NUM>, the spring element <NUM> accelerates the hammer element <NUM>, wherein the hammer element <NUM> impacts onto a surface of the auxiliary device <NUM>. Due to the impact, a mechanical oscillation <NUM> is generated in the auxiliary device <NUM>. As illustrated schematically in <FIG>, a transmission facility <NUM> of the auxiliary device <NUM> enables transmission of the mechanical oscillation <NUM> from the auxiliary device <NUM> via the plunger rod <NUM> to the plunger <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> receives the mechanical oscillation and generates a mechanical wave <NUM> in the liquid medicament <NUM> stored in the reservoir <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The mechanical wave <NUM> propagates in the liquid medicament <NUM>, thereby effecting that the gas bubbles <NUM> in the reservoir <NUM> rise up towards the connector end <NUM>.

In the step of separation effected by the mechanical oscillation <NUM> of the auxiliary device <NUM>, which is transmitted from the auxiliary device <NUM> via the transmission facility <NUM> to the plunger rod <NUM> and to the plunger <NUM>, a mechanical wave <NUM> is generated in the liquid medicament <NUM>, wherein the mechanical wave <NUM> propagates in the liquid medicament, and wherein the gas bubbles <NUM> are separated from the liquid medicament <NUM>.

Thereafter, in a step of back transfer, gas collected by separating gas bubbles <NUM> from the liquid medicament <NUM> can be transferred back to the storage container <NUM> (or elsewhere) by moving the plunger <NUM> in axial direction towards the connector end <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM>.

The mechanical oscillation <NUM> generated by the auxiliary device <NUM> is transmitted in axial direction via the plunger rod <NUM> to the plunger <NUM>. Accordingly, the plunger <NUM> oscillates in axial direction. Because the plunger <NUM> is displaceable relative to the reservoir <NUM> (in axial direction), transmission of the mechanical oscillation <NUM> to the reservoir <NUM> is only possible via friction forces between the plunger <NUM> and the reservoir <NUM>. Furthermore, transmission of the mechanical oscillation <NUM> to the reservoir <NUM> is additionally reduced by the sealing element <NUM> arranged between the plunger <NUM> and the shell <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM> can be manufactured out of a suitable flexible material having a predefined elasticity in order to reduce transmission of oscillations to the reservoir <NUM> even further. Accordingly, by performing the step of separation using the auxiliary device <NUM> as described above, mechanical stress to the reservoir <NUM> is reduced and the risk of micro-cracks in the reservoir <NUM> is thereby reduced.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the transmission facility <NUM> of the auxiliary device <NUM> is adapted for enabling transmission of the mechanical oscillation <NUM> from the oscillation generator <NUM>, <NUM> via the plunger rod <NUM> to the plunger <NUM>, such that the plunger <NUM> generates a mechanical wave <NUM> in the liquid medicament <NUM> for removing gas and/or gas bubbles <NUM> from the liquid medicament <NUM>. In order to enable transmission of the mechanical oscillation <NUM>, the transmission facility <NUM> can include a mechanical coupling for firmly coupling the auxiliary device <NUM> to the plunger rod, for example a snap mechanism, a screwed joint, etc..

In an embodiment, which is not illustrated in <FIG>, the transmission facility <NUM> of the auxiliary device <NUM> is adapted for enabling transmission of the mechanical oscillatioin <NUM> from the oscillation generator <NUM>, <NUM> to the flexible membrane <NUM>, such that the flexible membrane <NUM> generates a mechanical wave <NUM> in the liquid medicament for removing gas and/or gas bubbles <NUM> from the liquid medicament. In order to enable transmission of the mechanical oscillation <NUM>, the transmission facility <NUM> can include a transmission device adapted to the flexible membrane <NUM>, such as a sonotrode, a horn, etc..

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the mechanical oscillation <NUM> is the result of a mechanical stroke and the mechanical oscillation <NUM> has the form of an impulse.

In some embodiments, which are not illustrated in <FIG>, the mechanical oscillation results from a vibration motor, an ultra-sound generator, and/or an ultra-sound sonotrode.

In some embodiments, which are not illustrated in <FIG>, the reservoir <NUM> can be arranged in an infusion pump device and the mechanical oscillation <NUM> can be generated by the infusion pump device. In a phase of preparation, the mechanical oscillation <NUM> can be transmitted to the plunger in order to generate the mechanical wave <NUM> in the liquid medicament <NUM> for removing gas and/or gas bubbles <NUM>. After the phase of preparation, administering of an amount of the liquid medicament <NUM> can be performed.

Instead of moving the plunger <NUM> slowly in axial direction, as is the case when filling the reservoir <NUM> or when administering liquid medicament <NUM> to a patient, the mechanical oscillation <NUM> generated in the auxiliary device <NUM> effects a highly dynamic motion of the plunger <NUM>. The shell <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> remains completely free from mechanical stress, because the motion of the plunger <NUM> effected by the mechanical oscillation <NUM> is in the axial direction.

The wave <NUM> generated in the liquid medicament <NUM> propagates through the liquid medicament <NUM> because of the incompressibility of the liquid.

The wave <NUM> generated in the liquid medicament <NUM> can be in the form of a positive pressure wave. A positive pressure wave effects that gas and/or gas bubbles sticking to the shell <NUM> of the reservoir <NUM> can be detached from the shell <NUM> and therefore can rise to the top surface of the liquid medicament <NUM>.

The wave <NUM> generated in the liquid medicament <NUM> can be in the form of a negative pressure wave. A negative pressure wave effects an outgassing of gas or gas diluted in the liquid medicament <NUM> and an increase of the size of existing air bubbles <NUM>. This stimulates the combination of several small air bubbles into one larger air bubble. Larger air bubbles rise up to the top surface of the liquid medicament <NUM> more easily.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an embodiment of an auxiliary device <NUM>' for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament which is stored in a reservoir <NUM>' for an infusion pump device for an infusion pump device. The auxiliary device <NUM>' includes a housing which is configured to receive the reservoir <NUM>'. As illustrated in <FIG>, the reservoir <NUM>' is connected to a transfer appliance <NUM>'. The transfer appliance <NUM>' includes a holding fixture <NUM>' for holding a storage container (not shown in <FIG>). The transfer appliance <NUM>' includes a handle <NUM>' enabling that the patient can safely hold the transfer appliance <NUM>'. As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing of the auxiliary device <NUM>' includes a control element <NUM>' for controlling operation of the auxiliary device <NUM>' and a status indicator <NUM>', such as a light emitting diode, for indicating, for example, if the auxiliary device <NUM>' is operating or not.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an embodiment of an actuating mechanism <NUM>' of the auxiliary device <NUM>' illustrated in <FIG>. The actuating mechanism <NUM>' includes a hammer element <NUM>' and a transmission facility <NUM>'. The transmission facility <NUM>' is connected to a piston coupling element <NUM>' for connection to a reservoir <NUM>'. As illustrated in <FIG>, the actuating mechanism <NUM>' includes a free-wheel clutch <NUM>' which is connected to a gear reduction <NUM>' which is further connected to an electrical motor <NUM>'.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an enlarge view of the actuating mechanism <NUM>' illustrated in <FIG>. The actuating mechanism <NUM>' further includes a spring element <NUM>'. The spring element <NUM>' has the design of a flexible rod. The spring element <NUM>' is connected to the hammer element <NUM>' on one side and is connected to a basis structure of the actuating mechanism <NUM>' on the other side. The spring element <NUM>' enables that the hammer element <NUM>' can be displaced with respect to the transmission facility <NUM>'. The spring element <NUM>' further enables that after displacement and release of the hammer element <NUM>', the hammer element <NUM>' can be accelerated in order to impact with the transmission facility <NUM>', such that a mechanical oscillation is induced, wherein the mechanical oscillation is transmitted via the piston coupling element <NUM>' to the plunger of the reservoir <NUM>' in order to generate a mechanical wave in the liquid stored in the reservoir <NUM>'.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the actuating mechanism <NUM>' includes a driving pin <NUM>'. The driving pin <NUM>' is driven by the free-wheel clutch as indicated in <FIG> by a turning direction <NUM>'. The driving ping <NUM>' effects a displacement and release of the hammer element <NUM>', wherein after release the hammer element <NUM>' impacts with the transmission facility <NUM>' as described above.

In one turning direction, the electrical motor <NUM>' effects that the plunger of the reservoir <NUM>' is moved downwards. In the other turning direction, the electrical motor <NUM>' effects that the plunger of the reservoir <NUM>' is moved upwards. When the plunger moves downwards, liquid medicament flows from a storage container (not shown in <FIG>) into the reservoir <NUM>'. When the plunger moves upwards, a volume flows from the reservoir <NUM>' into the storage container. When the plunger moves upwards, gas above the surface of the liquid medicament stored in the reservoir <NUM>' can be transferred from the reservoir <NUM>' into the storage container (not shown in <FIG>). Gas bubbles which adhere to the plunger or to the shell (from the inside) of the reservoir <NUM>' cannot be removed by this procedure.

In order to remove gas bubbles contained in the liquid medicament stored in the reservoir <NUM>', the actuating mechanism is designed such that when the plunger is moved upwards, the hammer element <NUM>' is actuated via the free-wheel clutch <NUM>' and the driving pin <NUM>', such that mechanical waves are generated in the reservoir <NUM>' via the plunger.

The auxiliary device <NUM>' enables filling the reservoir <NUM>' with liquid medicament including the following steps:.

The auxiliary device <NUM>' according to <FIG> can include a battery or similar for providing electrical power for the electrical motor <NUM>' and possibly for a controller controlling operation of the auxiliary device <NUM>'.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a reservoir <NUM>' connected to a transfer appliance <NUM>' and arranged within a cylindrical handling device <NUM>. The cylindrical handling device <NUM> is configured for moving the plunger inside the reservoir <NUM>'.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a reservoir <NUM>' connected to a transfer appliance <NUM>' which are arranged for insertion into another embodiment of an auxiliary device <NUM>" for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament which is stored in a reservoir for an infusion pump device for an infusion pump device. The auxiliary device <NUM>" includes a control element <NUM>", which will described further below, and a plunger coupling element <NUM>' for coupling the auxiliary device <NUM>' with the plunger of the reservoir <NUM>'.

The auxiliary device <NUM>" illustrated in <FIG> and further described below has a mechanical design and does not require a battery or similar.

<FIG> illustrates schematically a storage container <NUM>' connected via a transfer appliance <NUM>' to a reservoir <NUM>' which is inserted into and connected with an embodiment of an auxiliary device <NUM>" for removing gas and/or gas bubbles from a liquid medicament which is stored in a reservoir for an infusion pump device for an infusion pump device.

The auxiliary device <NUM>" illustrated in <FIG> is configured such that the patient can move the plunger inside the reservoir <NUM>' in order to transfer liquid medicament from the storage container <NUM>' to the reservoir <NUM>'.

The control element <NUM>' serves for removing gas bubbles from the reservoir <NUM>'. The control element <NUM>' effects transmission of a mechanical oscillation to the plunger of the reservoir <NUM>' and generation of a mechanical wave in the liquid medicament stored in the reservoir <NUM>'. Using the auxiliary device <NUM>", the patient can transfer gas accumulated above the surface of the liquid medicament from the reservoir <NUM>' to the storage container <NUM>'.

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment of an actuating mechanism <NUM>" of the auxiliary device <NUM>" illustrated in <FIG>. The actuating mechanism <NUM>" includes the control element <NUM>'. The actuation mechanism <NUM>" further includes a hammer element <NUM>", which has a cylindrical design and includes guiding grooves for a flexible guiding pin <NUM>' connected to a basis structure of the actuating mechanism <NUM>'. Preferably, a pair of guiding grooves are included enabling that the control element <NUM>' can be manipulated in either direction such that left hand or right hand operation of the control element <NUM>' is possible equally well. The actuating mechanism <NUM>" includes a bearing shaft <NUM>' and a spring element <NUM>". The spring element <NUM>" has a coil spring design and is arranged along the bearing shaft <NUM>'.

Claim 1:
A method for removing gas and/or gas bubbles (<NUM>) from a liquid medicament (<NUM>) stored in a reservoir (<NUM>) for an infusion pump device, wherein the reservoir (<NUM>) comprises a displacing member (<NUM>, <NUM>) which is at least partly displaceable relative to the reservoir (<NUM>) thereby enabling receiving mechanical oscillations in order to generate mechanical waves in the liquid medicament (<NUM>), the method comprising:
providing the reservoir (<NUM>); and
transmitting a mechanical oscillation (<NUM>) to the displacing member (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the reservoir (<NUM>) thereby generating a mechanical wave (<NUM>) in the liquid medicament (<NUM>) for removing gas and/or gas bubbles (<NUM>) from the liquid medicament (<NUM>).