Pump with venting
View Patent ↗A medication pump includes a housing including an external wall and a plurality of internal adjoining housings, including a first housing enclosing a cartridge. The pump includes a primary vent for venting the medication pump to atmosphere, the primary vent including a primary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough. The pump includes a secondary vent on the first housing, the secondary vent including a secondary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough to an interior of the housing while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.
1. A medication pump, comprising:
a housing including an external wall and a plurality of internal adjoining housings, including a first housing enclosing a cartridge and a second housing;
a primary vent for venting gas between the medication pump and atmosphere outside the medication pump, the primary vent including a primary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough; and
a secondary vent on the first housing for internally venting gas between the first housing and the second housing, the secondary vent including a secondary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough to an interior of the housing while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.
2. The medication pump of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a third housing enclosing a battery.
3. The medication pump of claim 1 , wherein the primary liquid barrier is attached to the housing a pressure sensitive adhesive.
4. The medication pump of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is replaceable.
5. The medication pump of claim 1 , wherein the first housing is liquid sealed from a remainder of the medication pump.
6. A medication pump, comprising:
an outer housing defining an interior with one or more walls coupled to the housing that divide the interior into at least first and second chambers, the first chamber being a cartridge chamber including a drive rod extending therein, the drive rod configured to couple to a plunger of a cartridge; and
an interior vent formed between the first and second chambers, the interior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas between the first and second chambers while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.
7. The medication pump of claim 6 , wherein the housing includes an exterior vent formed on the housing for venting to atmosphere, the exterior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.
8. The medication pump of claim 7 , wherein the first chamber is a cartridge chamber sized to receive a cartridge containing a medication, and the second chamber forms an open interior of the outer housing.
9. The medication pump of claim 8 , wherein the exterior vent is formed between the open interior and the atmosphere.
10. The medication pump of claim 6 , wherein the cartridge is replaceable.
11. The medication pump of claim 6 , wherein the cartridge chamber is liquid sealed with respect to the second chamber of the housing.
12. The medication pump of claim 6 , further comprising a battery chamber positioned in the housing, the battery chamber being sized to enclose a battery.
13. The medication pump of claim 6 , wherein the liquid barrier of the interior vent is attached to the first chamber using a pressure sensitive adhesive.
14. A method of venting a medication pump, the method comprising:
forming an interior vent between first and second chambers defined by a wall in an interior of a housing of the medication pump, the interior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas between the first and second chambers while preventing passage of liquid therethrough;
forming the first chamber as a cartridge chamber including a drive rod extending therein, the drive rod configured to couple to a plunger of a cartridge; and
allowing gas to pass through the interior vent from the first chamber to the second chamber.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
forming an exterior vent in the housing of the medication pump, the exterior vent including a liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough; and
allowing gas to pass through the exterior vent to atmosphere.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
forming the first chamber as a cartridge chamber sized to receive a cartridge containing a medication, and the second chamber as an open interior of the housing; and
allowing gas to pass from the open interior through the exterior vent and to the atmosphere.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sealing the cartridge chamber from the second chamber of the housing.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising attaching the liquid barrier of the interior vent to the second chamber using a pressure sensitive adhesive.