Fluid-connection mechanism and methods for patch-pumps
Embodiments may include a method of delivering a drug. The method may include removing or releasing a structure from a patch-pump assembly. The patch-pump assembly may include a sealed prefilled drug-reservoir, a fluid passageway, a cannula-containing assembly, and a penetrator. The method may also include penetrating the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir containing the drug to establish fluid communication between the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir and a fluid passageway by removing or releasing the structure. The method may further include flowing the drug from the prefilled drug-reservoir to the fluid passageway. In addition, the method may include flowing the drug from the fluid passageway to a cannula-containing assembly. Furthermore, the method may include delivering the drug subcutaneously to a subject using the cannula-containing assembly.
1. A method of delivering a drug, the method comprising:
removing or releasing a structure from a patch-pump assembly to automatically cause a penetrator to penetrate a sealed prefilled drug-reservoir containing the drug to establish fluid communication between the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir and a fluid-passageway, wherein the patch-pump assembly comprises the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir, the fluid-passageway, a cannula-containing assembly, and the penetrator;
flowing the drug from the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir to the fluid-passageway;
flowing the drug from the fluid passageway to the cannula-containing assembly; and
delivering the drug subcutaneously to a subject using the cannula-containing assembly.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing inadvertent activation of the patch-pump assembly with the structure.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
compressing the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir after penetration of the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the patch-pump assembly comprises a first spring-based mechanism, and
penetrating the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir comprises releasing a spring of the first spring-based mechanism.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising puncturing skin of the subject with the cannula-containing assembly before delivering the drug subcutaneously to the subject.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the penetrator comprises a hypodermic needle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patch-pump assembly is a single unit.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the patch-pump assembly comprises a first spring-based mechanism, and
removing or releasing the structure causes the first spring-based mechanism to propel the penetrator through the fluid-passageway.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein during initiation of penetration and during penetration of the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir, the sealed prefilled drug-reservoir remains stationary relative to a central longitudinal axis defined by the cannula-containing assembly.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
propelling the cannula-containing assembly toward proximally located skin of the subject after flowing the drug to the fluid-passageway.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
aligning an access port of the cannula-containing assembly with the fluid-passageway.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein aligning the access port comprises propelling the cannula-containing assembly to establish drug access from the fluid-passageway to the cannula-containing assembly.