CARTRIDGE SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF MEDICAMENT

Abstract

A cartridge system for delivery of medicament includes as membrane placed between two disk magnets that are housed within pump body inserts. The pump body inserts having flow channels and fluid openings are between two inlet/outlet members. The inlet/outlet members each having a fluid outlet component and fluid openings are securely engaged to two reservoirs containing fluid medicaments.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of medical devices and, in particular, to devices for delivery of medicament. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cartridge system for delivery of insulin or other medicament.

2. Description of the Related Art

Diabetes is a disease caused by the body's failure to produce adequate insulin or the cell's failure to respond to insulin resulting in high levels of sugar in the blood. If left untreated, diabetes can cause numerous complications. Typically, treatment for diabetes required both repeated checking of blood glucose levels and several injections of insulin throughout the day. Major drawbacks of such treatment were the need to draw blood and test glucose levels throughout the day, improper or low dosage amounts of insulin, contamination of the insulin delivery system, or lifestyle restriction. Low dosages of insulin over an extended period may cause heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, hypertension, or retinal damage.

Diabetes may be controlled by insulin replacement therapy in which insulin is delivered to the diabetic person, usually by injection, to counteract elevated blood glucose levels. Recent therapies include the basal/bolus method of treatment in which basal, a long acting insulin medication, for example, Humalog® and Apidra®, is delivered via injection once every day. The basal provides the body with a relatively constant dose of insulin throughout the day. At mealtime, an additional dose of insulin, or bolus, is administered based on the amount of carbohydrate and protein in the meal. Accurate calculations of various parameters including the amount of carbohydrates and proteins consumed, and the lapse in time since the last dosage are necessary to determine the appropriate dosage of insulin. The dosages are thus prone to human error and the method is ineffective when doses are skipped, forgotten or miscalculated. Exercise, stress and other factors can also cause the calculations to be inaccurate.

To address these problems, programmable insulin delivery devices or pumps were developed which seek to mimic the way a normal, healthy pancreas delivers insulin to the body. Insulin pumps are programmed to deliver a continual basal dose of insulin and occasionally a bolus dose in response to a patient's meal intake and physical activities. Additionally, the number of times a patient is required to draw blood and test their glucose during the day is reduced, thus lessening the pain and inconvenience of this disease.

Conventional insulin pumps are worn on the body and are connected to a patient via a cannula that is inserted somewhere on the patient's abdomen. The insulin is delivered under the skin and is absorbed into the body through the subcutaneous fat layer. Insulin pumps in the past have been quite large, some requiring the use of a shoulder bag to transport. Over time, they have become smaller in size and most pumps today are roughly the size of a deck of cards. Currently available insulin pumps include Animas OneTouch® Ping®, Deltec Cozmo®, Disetronic Accu-Chek Spirit®, Insulet OmniPod, Medtronic Paradigm™, Sooil USA Diabecarell, and Nipro Amigo®.

With the decreased size of the pump unit also comes a decreased size in the medication reservoir. This reduced reservoir size means more frequent refilling, greater potential for contamination of the reservoir, more frequent changes of the cannula and tubing, and greater expense overall in treating the condition. Recent medical data suggests that a combination of insulin and another medication, such as glucagon, infused at different times or simultaneously, leads to better results in patients.

Therefore, the need exists for a low-cost cartridge system, capable of working in tandem with a pump driver system, that contains a plurality of reservoirs for the delivery of more than one drug.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and fulfills the needs noted above by providing a drug delivery device having a pump driver system, and a cartridge system.

More specifically, the present invention includes a cartridge system having a plurality of reservoirs each with volume, preferably, of 1.5 ml. Each of the plurality of reservoirs can be pre-filled with different medicaments. A pump membrane is placed between two gold-plated neodymium-iron-boron disk magnets that are each housed within a pump body insert. Each of the pump body inserts has a fluid receiving opening, a fluid discharge opening, a plurality of inlet channels, and a plurality of outlet channels. The pump body inserts are placed between two inlet/outlet members. Each of the inlet/outlet members has a fluid receiving opening, a fluid discharge opening, and a fluid outlet component. Additionally, each of the inlet/outlet members has a male part that securely engages to a female part of the reservoir forming an airtight seal. The reservoir, the fluid receiving opening of the inlet/outlet member, the fluid receiving opening, the plurality of inlet channels, the plurality of outlet channels, and the fluid discharge opening of the pump body insert, the fluid discharge opening and the fluid outlet component of the inlet/outlet member are in fluid communication. The cartridge system further includes valve membranes that are placed between the fluid receiving openings of the pump body inserts and the inlet/outlet members, and between the fluid discharge openings of the pump body inserts and the inlet/outlet members.

The valve membranes of the cartridge system can be pre-stressed and formed, for example, of Silastic Q7-4840. The reservoirs can be formed, for example, of Silastic Q7-4840, or Medical Grade Polyisoprene. The pump body inserts and the inlet/outlet members can be formed, for example, of clear polypropylene homopolymer. The pump membrane can be formed, for example, of Silastic Q7-4840.

The present invention also includes a cartridge system having a plurality of orifices to fill or re-fill a plurality of medicaments in the reservoirs. The plurality of orifices can be located on the reservoirs, or on the inlet/outlet members and the plurality of orifices are in fluid communication with the reservoirs.

The present invention further includes a method of delivering medicament using a drug delivery device having a cartridge system. The method includes the steps of providing a drug delivery device having a pump driver system and a cartridge system, loading a plurality of pre-filled reservoirs containing fluid medicament to the cartridge system, engaging securely the cartridge system and the pump driver system, selecting various parameters on a user interface of the pump driver system including selecting pre-determined values or specifying user-defined values for the parameters, and connecting an infusion set to the drug delivery device.

The method of delivering medicament using the drug delivery device includes the additional steps of placing an inset of the infusion set on a body part of a patient, attaching the infusion set to the patient's body, and switching on the drug delivery device.

The method of delivering medicament using the drug delivery device wherein the step of connecting an infusion set to the drug delivery device further includes the steps of connecting one end of a Y-catheter to an outlet component of an inlet/outlet member, and delivering fluid medicament at a given rate. The step of delivering fluid medicament at a given rate can further include delivering fluid medicament at a controlled and continuous rate for a pre-determined or user-defined period of time. Alternatively, the step of delivering fluid medicament at a given rate can further include delivering fluid medicament at a programmable rate that is regulated by the patient.

The present invention also includes a method of delivering medicament using the drug delivery device having the cartridge system. The method includes the steps of providing a drug delivery device having a pump driver system and a cartridge system, loading a plurality of reservoirs to the cartridge system, using an instrument to inject a plurality of fluid medicaments into the plurality of reservoirs, engaging securely the cartridge system and the pump driver system, selecting various parameters on a user interface of the pump driver system including selecting pre-determined values or specifying user-defined values for the parameters, and connecting an infusion set to the drug delivery device. The step of connecting an infusion set to the drug delivery device further includes the steps of connecting one end of a Y-catheter to an outlet component of an inlet/outlet member, and delivering fluid medicament at a given rate. The step of delivering fluid medicament at a given rate can further include delivering fluid medicament at a controlled and continuous rate for a pre-determined or user-defined period of time. Alternatively, the step of delivering fluid medicament at a given rate can further include delivering fluid medicament at a programmable rate that is regulated by the patient.

The present invention further includes a drug delivery device having a pump driver system, a cartridge system, a cannula and an insertion mechanism, and a plurality of conduits. The pump driver system includes a driver that drives the magnets that applies a force to the pump membrane of the cartridge system, a controller in communication with the pump to adjust the force applied by the driver, a power source, and a user interface configured to present information to a user. The cartridge system of the device snaps into the pump driver system and is securely engaged to it. The plurality of conduits each includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from its proximal end to its distal end. The proximal ends of the plurality of conduits are securely engaged to the distal ends of the cannula and the insertion mechanism, and the distal ends are securely engaged to the proximal ends of the fluid outlet component of the inlet/outlet members of the cartridge system.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a perspective view, rear elevation and top view, respectively, of a cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a perspective view, front view and top view, respectively, of a reservoir of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2D illustrates a sectional view of a reservoir of the cartridge system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2E illustrates a sectional view of a reservoir of the cartridge system in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a perspective view, bottom view and top view, respectively, of a first pump body insert of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3D-3F illustrate a perspective view, bottom view and top view, respectively, of a second pump body insert of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate a perspective view and front view, respectively, of a pump membrane of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates perspective, front and top views of a magnet of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates perspective, front and top views of a valve membrane of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a perspective view, bottom view and top view, respectively, of a first inlet/outlet member of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7D-7F illustrate a perspective view, bottom view and top view, respectively, of a second inlet/outlet member of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a perspective view, respectively, of a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing that collectively comprise a reservoir shell of the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A illustrates a perspective view of a cartridge system, and a syringe, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9B-9C illustrate perspective views of the cartridge system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A-10F illustrate a perspective view, front view, rear view, right side view, left side view, and bottom view, respectively, of a drug delivery device comprising a pump driver system and the cartridge system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates the drug delivery device with accessories in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Disclosed embodiments relate to a cartridge system for delivery of medicament and a drug delivery device containing the same.

The term “fluid” is defined as a state of matter or substance (liquid or gas) whose particles can move about freely, and has no fixed shape or conform to the shape of their containers.

The term “channel” is defined as a passage for fluids to flow through.

The term “medicament” is defined as a substance used in therapy, a substance that treats, prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease, a medicine in a specified formulation, or an agent that promotes recovery from injury or ailment.

Referring now to the drawings, where like elements are designated by like reference numerals, FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a cartridge system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The cartridge system 100 includes a plurality of reservoirs 200a, 200b, a plurality of pump body inserts 300a, 300b, a pump membrane 400, and a plurality of inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b.

TABLE 1
Cartridge System of the Present Invention
Reservoir Shell
Overall dimensions: 1.56″ (length) × 0.80″ (width) × 0.71″ (height)
Basic shape:        Shape as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C
Material:           RTP 699 × 122676 NS-Acrylonitrile Butadiene
                    Styrene (ABS) Medical Grade
Number:             Preferably, two
Reservoir
Overall dimensions: 0.99″ (length) × 0.46″ (width) × 0.26″ (height)
Basic shape:        Shape as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, and made of a
                    material from a group consisting of elastomer, and the
                    material having property such that the geometry is
                    deformable
Material:           Silastic Q7-4840 or Medical Grade Polyisoprene
Number:             Preferably, two
Pump Body Insert
Overall dimensions: 1.1″ (length) × 0.7″ (width) × 0.09″ (height)
Basic shape:        Shape as shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, and having a
                    plurality of flow channels, a fluid receiving opening,
                    and a fluid discharge opening
Material:           Clear polypropylene homopolymer
Number:             Preferably, two
Inlet/Outlet Member
Overall dimensions: 1.37″ (length) × 0.49″ (width) × 0.2″ (height)
Basic shape:        Shape as shown in FIGS. 7A-7F, and having a fluid
                    receiving opening, a fluid discharge opening,
                    and a fluid outlet component
Material:           Clear polypropylene homopolymer
Number:             Preferably, two
Magnets
Overall dimensions: 0.13″ (diameter) × 0.06″ (height)
Basic shape:        Cylindrical
Material:           Neodymium-iron-boron grade N42 magnets, gold
                    plated NdFeB
Number:             Preferably, two
Pump Membrane
Overall dimensions: 1.07″ (length) × 0.67″ (width) × 0.01″ (thickness)
Basic shape:        Shape as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B
Material:           Silastic Q7-4840
Number:             One
Valve Membrane
Overall dimensions: 0.19″ (diameter) × 0.04″ (height)
Basic shape:        Cylindrical
Material:           Silastic Q7-4840
Number:             Four

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, a reservoir 200a having an opening 203 is shown. The reservoir 200a is preferably made of elastomers and preferably made by liquid injection molding of Silastic Q7-4840 or transfer molding of Medical Grade Polyisoprene.

The advantages of using polymer materials to make the reservoirs 200a, 200b, pump body inserts 300a, 300b, inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b, and any housing portion is that they can be made in any size, designed in any way and manufactured with biocompatible materials. The polymer reservoirs allow better use of the interior volume available within the pump body, and the collapsible nature of the material allows for more innovative methods for withdrawing the liquid contents. The methods used in the manufacture of the polymer components as well as the arrangement and design of the cartridge system lends itself to being readily adaptable to commonly used sterilization techniques such as gamma irradiation, steam sterilization, or fluidic chemical sterilization.

The reservoir 200a has a substantially symmetrical body having a top end (not shown), a bottom end (not shown), an inner wall 204, and an outer wall 202. The top end of the reservoir 200a has an opening 203 that is encircled by the inner wall 204 and the outer wall 202. At the top end, the inner wall 204 and the outer wall 202 project in an upward direction to form a female part 201. The female part 201 is preferably of length about 0.42 inches. The female part 201 is securely engaged to a male part 702 (FIG. 7A) of an inlet/outlet member 700a (FIG. 7A).

The thickness of the reservoir 200a is preferably between 50μ and 200μ. The top end, the bottom end, the inner wall 204 and the outer wall 202 enclose a reservoir space for storage of fluid medicament. The reservoirs 200a, 200b of the cartridge system 100 are preferably dual reservoir, pre-filled with fluid medicaments, each of the reservoirs 200a, 200b capable of holding 1.5 ml of fluid medicament. Although FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate reservoir 200a, it must be understood that reservoir 200b is substantially the same.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the reservoirs 200a, 200b can be any free-form shaped body. The reservoirs 200a, 200b can be mounted within a reservoir shell 206, the inside of the reservoir shell 206 having an insulation layer 205.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2D, the cartridge assembly 100 includes the reservoir 200a mounted within a reservoir shell 206. The inside of the reservoir shell 206 is provided with an insulation layer 205 that enables temperature control of the fluid medicament within the reservoir 200a. A cap 207 can be coupled, for example, through molding 208, to the inner wall 204 near the opening 203. The reservoir shell 206 is coupled to the cap 207 and the cap 207 is securely engaged to a male part of the inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b (FIGS. 7A-7F).

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2E, the cartridge assembly 100 includes the reservoir 200a mounted within a reservoir shell 206. The inside of the reservoir shell 206 is provided with an insulation layer 205 that enables temperature control of the fluid medicament within the reservoir 200a. A cap 207 can be coupled to the inner wall 204 near the opening 203. The reservoir shell 206 is coupled to the cap 207 and the cap 207 is threadedly 209 engaged to a male part of the inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b (FIG. 7A-7F).

It is to be understood that the reservoirs 200a, 200b mounted within a reservoir shell 206 having an insulation layer 205 or without the reservoir shell 206 can include a cap for removably closing the opening 203. The reservoirs may be designed to work with any drug delivery device for delivery of medicaments.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, a first pump body insert 300a having a fluid receiving opening 301, and a fluid discharge opening 302 is shown. The first pump body insert 300a also includes a plurality of output channels 307a, 307b, for example, two output channels, and a plurality of input channels 308a, for example, one input channel. The plurality of output channels 307a, 307b and the plurality of input channels 308a are in fluid communication with the fluid discharge opening 302, and the fluid receiving opening 301, respectively. The plurality of output channels 307a, 307b and input channels 308a are designed to provide membrane support thereby preventing deformation and reverse flow of fluids. The first pump body insert 300a has an opening 305 to house a magnet 500 (FIG. 5). Apertures 311a, 311b, 311c, 311d can be used to align and/or secure the first pump body insert 300a to other elements of the cartridge system 100.

The second pump body insert 300b, shown in FIGS. 3D-3F, is substantially symmetrical in geometry to the first pump body insert 300a except having a plurality of output channels 307a, for example, one output channel, and a plurality of input channels 308a, 308b, for example, two input channels. The first pump body insert 300a and second pump body insert 300b are preferably made of clear polypropylene homopolymer.

The cartridge system 100 has a pump membrane 400 as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. The pump membrane 400 is a biocompatible elastomer membrane, preferably made of Silastic Q7-4840. The pump membrane 400 is placed between two disk magnets 500, shown in FIG. 5, which are housed within opening 305 of the first pump body insert 300a and the second pump body insert 300b. The disk magnets 500 are preferably gold-plated neodymium-iron-boron grade N42 magnets. The volume of flow of fluid medicaments in the cartridge system 100 is related to the diameter of the magnets 500 and the stroke length. The stroke length can be electromagnetically controlled and monitored by a driver feedback system.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, a first inlet/outlet member 700a having a fluid receiving opening 704, and a fluid discharge opening 703 is shown. The inlet/outlet member 700a has a fluid outlet component 701 having a proximal end 701b, a distal end 701a and a cylindrical body connecting the distal and the proximal ends to form a hollow for receiving fluid medicament. In one embodiment, the proximal end 701b can preferably have a tapered end with a luer slip. The inlet/outlet member 700a includes a male part 702 that securely engages to the female part 201 of the reservoir 200a. Apertures 705a, 705b, 705c, 705d can be used to align and/or secure the first inlet/outlet member 700a to other elements of the cartridge system 100.

The second inlet/outlet member 700b, shown in FIGS. 7D-7F is substantially symmetrical in geometry to the first pump body insert 700a. Inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b are preferably made of clear polypropylene homopolymer.

The male part 702 of the inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b can have tooth-like channels to ensure that a low resistance path for fluid flow exists for all configurations of the reservoirs 200a, 200b. The reservoirs 200a, 200b, the pump body inserts 300a, 300b, the pump membrane 400, and the inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b are securely engaged using housing units 800a, 800b, 800c shown in FIGS. 8A-8C.

Four valve membranes 600, shown in FIG. 6, preferably made of Silastic Q7-4840, are placed between (i) the fluid receiving opening 301 of the pump body inserts 300a, 300b and the fluid receiving opening 704 of the inlet/out members 700a, 700b, and (ii) the fluid discharge opening 302 of the pump body inserts 300a, 300b and the fluid discharge opening 703 of the inlet/out members 700a, 700b. The introduction of the valve membranes 600 within said openings produce passive, one-way valves which direct fluid flow within the cartridge system 100.

When cartridge system 100 is assembled together, the first reservoir 200a, the fluid receiving opening 704 of the first inlet/outlet member 700a, the fluid receiving opening 301 of the first pump body insert 300a, the plurality of inlet channels 308a and the plurality of outlet channels 307a, 307b of the first pump body insert 300a, the fluid discharge opening 302 of the first pump body insert 300a, and the fluid discharge opening 703 and the fluid outlet component 701 of the first inlet/outlet member 700a are in fluid connection. Likewise, the second reservoir 200b, the fluid receiving opening 704 of the second inlet/outlet member 700b, the fluid receiving opening 301 of the second pump body insert 300b, the plurality of inlet channels 308a, 308b and the plurality of outlet channels 307a of the second pump body insert 300b, the fluid discharge opening 302 of the second pump body insert 300b, and the fluid discharge opening 703 and the fluid outlet component 701 of the second inlet/outlet member 700b are in fluid connection.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a system 900 is shown in FIG. 9A. Referring to FIG. 9A, in the system 900, the medicament can be filled in reservoirs 200a, 200b of a cartridge system 101 using an instrument, for example, a syringe 901. Referring to FIGS. 9B-9C, the cartridge system 101 has orifices 902a, 902b on the inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b which are in fluid connection with reservoirs 200a, 200b, respectively. Alternatively, the orifices 902a, 902b can be located on the reservoirs 200a, 200b.

Referring to FIGS. 10A-10D, a drug delivery device 1000 including a pump driver system 1001 and the cartridge system 100 is shown. The cartridge system 100 snaps into the pump driver system 1001 and is securely engaged to it. The pump driver system 1001 includes, among others, a driver, a controller, and a power source. The driver electromagnetically drives the magnets 500 that applies a force to the pump membrane 400 causing it to deflect resulting in precise volumetric delivery of the fluid medicament from the reservoirs 200a, 200b. The deflection of the pump membrane 400 results in a change of pressure within the chambers of the reservoirs 200a, 200b resulting in an outward flow of the fluid medicament contained within the reservoirs 200a, 200b. The force applied by the driver onto the pump membrane 400 can be adjusted using the controller. The drug delivery device 1000 can be powered by batteries, connected to a power outlet using an adapter, or other sources of power.

Referring to FIG. 11, the drug delivery device 1000 with accessories 1101, 1102 is shown. A conduit 1101 for delivering the fluid medicament from the drug delivery 1000 is preferably, a single tube catheter or a Y-catheter. The distal end of the conduit 1101 is securely attached to a luer slip on the proximal end 701b of the fluid outlet component 701 of the inlet/outlet member 700a in the cartridge system 100. The proximal end of the conduit 1101 is securely engaged to a cannula and insertion mechanism 1102 including a sensor and a needle. When the drug delivery device 1000 uses two reservoirs 200a, 200b, the conduit is preferably a duel tube Y-catheter whose distal ends are securely attached to the luer slips on the proximal ends 701b of the fluid outlet component 701 of the inlet/outlet members 700a, 700b. The proximal end of the conduit 1101 is securely engaged to a cannula and insertion mechanism 1102 including a sensor and a needle whereby the two medicaments are mixed in the canola before entering the needle. In another method of delivering the medicament, the cannula and insertion mechanism 1102 has a plurality of needles and the medicaments are delivered through separate needles.

A diabetic patient can use the drug delivery device 1000 along with the accessories 1101, 1102 shown in FIG. 11. In a method of delivering medicament using a drug delivery device 1000, a drug delivery device 1000 having a pump driver system 1001 and a cartridge system 100 is provided to the patient user. A plurality of pre-filled reservoirs 200a, 200b containing fluid medicaments are loaded to the cartridge system 100. The cartridge system 100 is then snapped into and securely engaged to the pump driver system 1001. The user then selects various parameters on a user interface on the pump driver system 1001. These parameters can include, but not be limited to, basal rate, insulin amount, bolus rate based on the calories of carbohydrates, protein, fat or fiber consumed, and the blood glucose level including the actual and target glucose levels. The user can either select pre-determined values or specify user-defined values for each of the parameters. The user connects an infusion set having accessories 1101, 1102 to the drug delivery device 1000.

The step of connecting an infusion set to the drug delivery device can include connecting the distal ends of a Y-catheter to the luer slips of the fluid outlet component of the inlet/outlet members. Subsequently, the patient user can place an inset of the infusion set on a body part of the patient, attach the infusion set to the body, and switch on the drug delivery device. When the patient user uses only one reservoir in the cartridge system, the step of connecting an infusion set to the drug delivery device can include connecting the distal end of the Y-catheter to the luer slip of the outlet component of the inlet/outlet member.

The delivery of medicaments can be at a controlled and continuous rate for a pre-determined or user-defined period of time. Alternatively, the delivery of medicament can also be at a programmable rate that is regulated by the patient. The drug delivery device can be preprogrammed to infuse medicaments at a constant basal rate or variable bolus rate over a certain period of time. The device can deliver micro-doses of medicaments—insulin, glucagon or other medication—at controlled and continuous rate for a pre-determined period of time.

In another method of delivering medicament using the drug delivery device 1000 having the cartridge system 100, a drug delivery device 1000 having a pump driver system 1001 and a cartridge system 100 is provided to the patient user. A plurality of reservoirs 200a, 200b are loaded to the cartridge system 100 and the reservoirs 200a, 200b are filled with medicaments using an instruments, for example, a syringe. The cartridge system 100 is then snapped into and securely engaged to the pump driver system 1001. The user then selects various parameters on a user interface on the pump driver system 1001. These parameters can include, but not be limited to, basal rate, insulin amount, bolus rate based on the calories of carbohydrates, protein, fat or fiber consumed, and the blood glucose level including the actual and target glucose levels. The user can either select pre-determined values or specify user-defined values for each of the parameters. The user connects an infusion set having accessories 1101, 1102 to the drug delivery device 1000. Subsequently, the patient user can place an inset of the infusion set on a body part of the patient, attach the infusion set to the body, and switch on the drug delivery device.

While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, embodiments and substitution of equivalents all fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A cartridge system, comprising: a first reservoir and a second reservoir, said first reservoir and said second reservoir each comprising a substantially symmetrical body comprising: a top end, a bottom end, an inner wall, and an outer wall, enclosing a reservoir space; an opening formed in said top end, said opening being encircled by said outer wall and said inner wall, and said walls projecting upwardly at said top end to form a female part;a first inlet/outlet member having a male part to securely engage said female part of said first reservoir, said first inlet/outlet member having a fluid receiving opening, a fluid discharge opening, and a fluid outlet component, said fluid receiving opening in fluid communication with said first reservoir and said fluid outlet component in fluid communication with said fluid discharge opening;a second inlet/outlet member having a male part to securely engage said female part of said second reservoir, said second inlet/outlet member having a fluid receiving opening, a fluid discharge opening, and a fluid outlet component, said fluid receiving opening in fluid communication with said second reservoir, and said fluid outlet component in fluid communication with said fluid discharge opening;a first pump body insert having a fluid receiving opening, a fluid discharge opening, a plurality of inlet channels, and a plurality of outlet channels, said fluid receiving opening in fluid communication with said plurality of inlet channels, said plurality of inlet channels in fluid communication with said plurality of outlet channels, and said plurality of outlet channels in fluid communication with said fluid discharge opening;a second pump body insert having a fluid receiving opening, a fluid discharge opening, a plurality of inlet channels, and a plurality of outlet channels, said fluid receiving opening in fluid communication with said plurality of inlet channels, said plurality of inlet channels in fluid communication with said plurality of outlet channels, and said plurality of outlet channels in fluid communication with said fluid discharge opening;a plurality of magnets, said plurality of magnets having a distal end, a proximal end and a cylindrical body connecting said distal and proximal ends, and said proximal end being in contact with said pump membrane and said distal end being housed within one of said first and second pump body inserts; anda pump membrane, said pump membrane being between said first pump body insert and said second pump body insert,wherein said fluid receiving opening of said first pump body insert is in fluid communication with said fluid receiving opening of said first inlet/outlet member, and said fluid discharge opening of said first pump body insert is in fluid communication with said fluid discharge opening of said first inlet/outlet member, andwherein said fluid receiving opening of said second pump body insert is in fluid communication with said fluid receiving opening of said second inlet/outlet member, and said fluid discharge opening of said second pump body insert is in fluid communication with said fluid discharge opening of said second inlet/outlet member.

2. The cartridge system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of valve membranes, atleast one of said valve membranes being placed between said fluid receiving openings of said pump body inserts and inlet/out members, and atleast one of said valve membranes being placed between said fluid discharge openings of said pump body inserts and inlet/out members.

3. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said fluid outlet component of said first inlet/outlet member and said second inlet/outlet member each has a distal end, a proximal end, and a cylindrical body connecting said distal and said proximal ends, said proximal end being in fluid communication with said fluid discharge opening of said inlet/outlet member.

4. The cartridge system of claim 3, further comprising: a plurality of reservoir shells; andan insulation layer provided inside said plurality of reservoir shells, wherein said first reservoir and said second reservoir is mounted within a said reservoir shell.

5. The cartridge system of claim 4, further comprising a cap, said cap being coupled to said inner walls near said opening of said first reservoir, wherein said cap securely engages said first reservoir to said male part of said first inlet/outlet member.

6. The cartridge system of claim 4, further comprising a cap, said cap being coupled to said inner walls near said opening of said first reservoir, wherein said cap threadedly engages said first reservoir to said male part of said first inlet/outlet member.

7. The cartridge system of claim 4, further comprising a cap, said cap being coupled to said inner walls near said opening of said second reservoir, wherein said cap securely engages said second reservoir to said male part of said second inlet/outlet member.

8. The cartridge system of claim 4, further comprising a cap, said cap being coupled to said inner walls near said opening of said second reservoir, wherein said cap threadedly engages said second reservoir to said male part of said second inlet/outlet member.

9. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of reservoirs are mounted within a housing unit.

10. The cartridge system of claim 9, wherein said housing unit is made of a material from the group consisting of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Medical Grade.

11. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said first reservoir contains a first fluid medicament and said second reservoir contains a second fluid medicament.

12. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said first reservoir and said second reservoir are pre-filled with said first fluid medicament and said second medicament, respectively.

13. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said first medicament is insulin and second medicament is glucagon.

14. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said pump membrane is pre-stressed and is made of a material from the group consisting of Silastic Q7-4840.

15. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of magnets are made of gold-plated neodymium-iron-boron.

16. The cartridge system of claim 2, wherein said first and second reservoirs are made of a material from the group consisting of Silastic Q7-4840, and Medical Grade Polyisoprene.

17. The cartridge system of claim 2, further comprising an orifice, said orifice being located on said inlet/outlet members.