IP Library Granted Patent US 11,458,250
Granted Patent B2
US 11,458,250 · App. 16/428,294 · Granted Oct 4, 2022

System and techniques for drug reservoir volume detection

Inventors: Kenneth Phillips (Boston, MA); Steven Cardinali (Woburn, MA); David Nazzaro (Groveland, MA)
Assignee: INSULET CORPORATION
A61M5/1684A61M5/14248A61M5/14593G01F17/00G01F23/263A61M5/14586A61M2205/3317A61M2205/3389A61M2205/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,458,250
App. No.
16/428,294
Granted
Oct 4, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Reservoir systems with improved wake up and fill volume detection techniques are provided. An example reservoir system may include a flexible reservoir and electrical components for detecting fill volume of the flexible reservoir without adversely affecting performance of the flexible reservoir when receiving or dispensing a liquid drug.

Claims (18)

1. A system, comprising:

a flexible reservoir;

a pair of electrical contact elements operable to contact one another when the flexible reservoir is empty;

a fluid path component coupled to the flexible reservoir; and

a controller component coupled to the electrical contact elements.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of electrical contact elements include:

a first clamp component positioned under the flexible reservoir; and

a second clamp component positioned over the flexible reservoir.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller component is operable to:

detect a capacitance between the first and second clamp components when the flexible reservoir is filled with a first amount of the liquid;

use the detected capacitance to determine a distance between the first and second clamp components; and

determine a fill volume of the flexible reservoir based the determined distance.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second clamp component positioned over the flexible reservoir is operable to move as the flexible reservoir fills.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second clamp component is further operable to move away from the first clamp component.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first clamp component and the second clamp component are coupled together by one or more springs.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second clamp component contacts the first clamp component at an outer portion of the second clamp component.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fluid path component extends into an interior of the flexible reservoir.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid path component is operable to enable a fluid to enter or exit the reservoir.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2021
From: INSULET CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056135/0974 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2019
From: PHILLIPS, KENNETH; CARDINALI, STEVEN; NAZZARO, DAVID
To: INSULET CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049427/0030 →