Pumps – Ambulant – body supported – or with carrying handle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-19
2001-10-23
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
Ambulant, body supported, or with carrying handle
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305908
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a housing for a portable medical device, and more specifically, to a sealed metal housing for an ambulatory infusion pump, having shock absorbing ends.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Housings for portable electronic devices are often fabricated from injection molded plastic to minimize production costs and weight. For example, in a typical plastic clam shell housing for such a device, the two halves of the plastic housing are connected together with fasteners; internal components are typically connected to one half of the housing using fasteners. However, in addition to being relatively lightweight, portable medical devices, such as ambulatory infusion pumps, must also be relatively rugged and resistant to mechanical shock and breakage if accidentally mishandled or dropped. Failure of a portable medical device due to undetected damage sustained in a short drop or as a result of other mechanical shock could be life threatening to a patient. Because infusions pumps of this type are often carried about by a patient for extended periods of time, they are likely to be frequently bumped and occasionally dropped. Lightweight plastic cases or conventional metal housings are generally unable to withstand such rough handling without damage to either the housing or the internal components of an ambulatory infusion pump. A further drawback to using plastic housings for such devices is that it is often necessary to include a metal plate or foil layer within the plastic material to shield against electromagnetic or radio frequency noise. The additional metal shielding adds weight and cost.
Also, because an ambulatory infusion pump may have to be coupled to a patient's vascular system at all times, even when the patient is bathing or showering, the infusion pump must be sufficiently watertight to be briefly immersed in water or exposed to water droplets in a shower. Providing a sealed, watertight housing for an infusion pump that has patient actuated controls and a display panel, and which accepts disposable pumping cassettes is not a trivial task, particularly when the housing must also be lightweight, rugged, and relatively low in cost, as noted above. Previous attempts to provide such a housing fabricated using injection molded plastic or metal have generally not been successful. It is somewhat difficult to provide sealed closure of a battery compartment and of the components that interact with a disposable cassette in a housing that is also lightweight, low cost, and capable of withstanding physical shock. Accordingly, it will be apparent that there is a need for such a housing that is not met by the available prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accord with the present invention, a housing for an ambulatory infusion pump is defined that is impact resistant, sealed and substantially watertight. The housing includes an extruded metal housing in which are disposed a battery compartment, an electronic component compartment, and a pump chassis. The extruded metal housing has opposed first and second ends in which corresponding first and second openings are respectively formed. A first overmolded cap that is sized to fit the first opening includes a substantially rigid internal member covered with an elastomeric material. Similarly, a second overmolded cap, which is sized to fit the second opening, also includes a substantially rigid internal member covered with the elastomeric material. A plurality of fasteners are provided for coupling the first and the second overmolded caps to the extruded metal housing so that the overmolded caps seal the first and the second openings.
The extruded metal body includes ports adapted for sealingly mounting a keypad and a display. An adhesive sheet seals around the ports and secures a bezel over the ports In addition, one of the first and the second caps preferably includes an opening into the battery compartment. A battery compartment cover seats within the opening and seals it.
Also included is a gripping surface that is applied to an exterior of the extruded metal body, to facilitate gripping the housing.
Either the first or the second caps includes an aperture through which a pump cassette ejection button extends for access from outside the housing. The aperture through which the pump cassette ejection button extends is sealed.
A preferred form of the invention includes means for mounting an accessory to the housing. Specifically, a pair of generally parallel grooves are formed on the surface of the extruded metal body for mounting a clamp or other accessory thereto.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4741736 (1988-05-01), Brown
patent: 4890984 (1990-01-01), Alderson et al.
patent: 5370622 (1994-12-01), Livingston et al.
patent: 5415038 (1995-05-01), Rynhart et al.
patent: 5472317 (1995-12-01), Field et al.
patent: 5482446 (1996-01-01), Williamson et al.
patent: 5540561 (1996-07-01), Johnson
patent: 5718562 (1998-02-01), Lawless et al.
patent: 98/04316 (1998-02-01), None
Hermann Robert A.
Lawless Michael W.
Soberon Peter A.
Abbott Laboratories
Robinson Daniel
Vrioni Beth A.
Walberg Teresa
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