Abstract:
An improved indwelling catheter (10) adapted for long-term usage includes a stable enzyme coating (14, 40) to prevent occlusion of the catheter lumen (16). The enzyme coating includes a fibrinolytic and/or lipolytic enzyme incorporated in a catheter coating to resist or control proteolytic degradation, thereby maintaining the enzyme in an active state for dissolving clots and occlusions within the catheter lumen over an extended period of time.
Abstract:
A subcutaneous injection set comprises a base (10) adapted for press on attachment to the skin of a patient. The base includes a connector sleeve for connecting a length of infusion tubing to the soft cannula. The soft cannula is threaded through an eye formed near the distal end of the injection needle which is mounted on a collapsible injector (22) that is detachably mounted to the base.
Abstract:
An insertion set (10) is provided for transcutaneous placement of a sensor (12) such as a glucose sensor at a selected site within the body of a patient. The insertion set (10) comprises a slotted insertion needle (14) extending through a mounting base (26) adapted for mounting onto the patient's skin. A flexible thin film sensor (12) includes a proximal segment (20) carried by the mounting base (26) and defining conductive contacts, unnumbered, adapted for electrical connection to a suitable monitor (22), and a distal segment (16) protruding from the mounting base (26) with sensor electrodes (18) for transcutaneous placement. The distal segment of the sensor extends within a protective cannula (15), a portion of which is slidably disposed within the insertion needle (14). Placement of the mounting base (26) onto the patient's skin causes the insertion needle (14) to pierce the skin for transcutaneous placement of the cannula (15) with the sensor (12) therein.
Abstract:
A quick-connect coupling is provided for use in a medication infusion system, to permit temporary disconnection and subsequent re-connection of a medication infusion pump relative to a patient without requiring removal of a transcutaneous infusion cannula. The coupling is mounted in-line with a length of infusion tubing and includes a female component with a needle recessed therein and adapted for slide-fit connection with a male component having a self-sealing septum. Radial tabs on the male component slide freely into longitudinally open slots formed in the female component, whereupon the male component is rotatable to displace the tabs with interference fit past undercut cam surfaces into alignment with radially open ports formed in the female component. When connected, the male and female components are effectively locked against longitudinal separation. However, the male and female components can be separated safely and easily, and without applying substantial longitudinal forces, by rotating the male component to displace the tabs back to alignment with the longitudinally open slots in the female component.
Abstract:
A connector (10) is provided for electrical connection to a flex circuit (12) in a hermetically sealed manner. The flex circuit comprises thin film conductors (26) encased between layers of insulative material, and including a proximal end (20), with conductive contact pads (30) exposed through one of the insulative layers. In a preferred form, the proximal ends of two flex circuits are assembled in face-to-face relation and compressed by a clamp fixture (16) against opposite side faces of a compressible terminal block (18). The terminal block is formed from a resilient insulative elastomer such as silicone rubber with embedded conductive strips (40) having opposite edges exposed at the opposite side faces of the terminal block for electrically connecting aligned pairs of the contact pads on the two flex circuits.
Abstract:
A medication infusion device (10) such as a programmable infusion pump includes data input regarding a selected patient parameter such as a current blood glucose reading. The infusion device includes a controller responsive to this data input to develop a medication delivery protocol.
Abstract:
A homogenous polymer composition useful as a membrane for biosensors is disclosed. The polymer composition comprises the reaction products of a diisocyanate, a hydrophilic diol or diamine, and a silicone material. An aliphatic diol or diamine may also be included. Membranes prepared from the composition allow for increasing oxygen permeability and decreased analyte permeability (e.g. glucose). They also possess the necessary physical properties of an outer polymeric biosensor membrane.
Abstract:
An insertion set (10) is provided for transcutaneous placement of a sensor (12) such as a glucose sensor at a selected site within the body of a patient. The insertion set (10) comprises an insertion needle (14) extending through a mounting base (34) adapted for mounting onto a patient's skin. A flexible thin film sensor (12) includes a proximal segment (20) carried by the mounting base (34) and adapted for electrical connection to a suitable monitor and a distal segment (16) protruding from the mounting base (34) with sensor electrodes (18) thereon for transcutaneous placement. The distal segment (16) of the sensor (12) and a distal segment (66) of the insertion needle (14) are positioned within a flexible cannula (15) which extends from the mounting base (34), whereby placement of the mounting base (34) onto the patient's skin causes insertion needle (14) to pierce the skin for transcutaneous placement of the cannula (15) with the sensor (12) therein.
Abstract:
An improved medication infusion pump is provided of the type for receiving and supporting a medication-containing syringe, wherein the pump and syringe include matingly interfitted components to ensure use of the pump with a compatible and correctly installed syringe. The infusion pump comprises a pump housing defining a syringe compartment for receiving and supporting the syringe, in combination with a drive member for engaging and programmably displacing a syringe plunger to administer medication to a patient. In one preferred form, the drive member and plunger include a matingly interfitting tab and notch which are engaged when the syringe is fully and properly positioned within the syringe compartment. In another form, the tab and notch are formed on the syringe plunger and a portion of the pump housing.
Abstract:
A medication infusion pump is provided for use in the delivery of a selected medication to a patient, wherein the pump includes internal surface coatings defining protein stable surfaces. In accordance with the invention, hydrophilic internal surfaces and related coating methods are provided to reduce or eliminate accumulation of medication deposits which can otherwise occur when handling complex protein-based medication. Preferred hydrophilic pump surfaces include hydrophilic surfactants (PEO) or (PEG) coatings which exhibit very low protein adsorption characteristics. Several methods are disclosed for producing such coatings, including direct surface modification, covalent and noncovalent attachment of polymers, and covalent attachment through a saline primer.