Sealing assembly for a fluid reservoir of a fluid infusion device

摘要

Disclosed herein is a fluid infusion device of the type that delivers medication fluid to the body of a patient. The device includes or cooperates with a fluid reservoir, and the device has a sealing assembly to receive and form a fluid seal with the fluid reservoir. A retractable sealing element surrounding a hollow fluid delivery needle may be used to seal a port of the fluid reservoir. The port may include a pressure vent that is sealed by the retractable sealing element. In one variation, the reservoir includes a moving valve sleeve that holds a septum. The septum moves to allow the reservoir to vent, and to form a seal with the port when the needle pierces the septum. In another variation, the device includes a needleless sealing assembly. In yet other variations, the device uses a needled fluid reservoir.

主权项

1. A sealing assembly for a fluid infusion device, the sealing assembly comprising:
a durable housing that receives and mates with a removable fluid reservoir having a fluid delivery port extending from the fluid reservoir and having a funnel-shaped interior defined therein, wherein the durable housing houses the removable fluid reservoir and retains the removable fluid reservoir in a particular position and orientation; a base plate having an adhesive layer of material to adhere the base plate to skin of a patient, and having a coupling structure to removably couple the base plate to the durable housing of the fluid infusion device; a reservoir port receptacle integrally formed with the base plate to receive and engage the fluid delivery port of the fluid reservoir in the particular position and orientation when the durable housing is coupled to the base plate, wherein the fluid delivery port of the fluid reservoir resides within the reservoir port receptacle when the durable housing is coupled to the base plate; a hollow fluid delivery needle coupled to the base plate and extending within the reservoir port receptacle to provide a fluid flow path from the fluid reservoir to a user of the fluid infusion device when the durable housing is coupled to the base plate; and a sealing element coupled to the base plate and overlying at least a portion of the hollow fluid delivery needle, the sealing element comprising:
a base section;a tip section extending from the base section, the tip section shaped to enter and seal with the funnel-shaped interior of the fluid delivery port when the durable housing is coupled to the base plate;a retractable body section between the base section and the tip section;a needle cavity formed in the retractable body section and continuing through the base section to define a needle opening in the base section, the needle cavity sized to receive the hollow fluid delivery needle; anda self-sealing slit formed in the tip section to accommodate the hollow fluid delivery needle when the sealing element is in a retracted position caused by coupling of the durable housing with the base plate.