Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. The piston comprises a first member and a second member. The first member has an external proximate side and an external distal side. The external proximate side is adapted to contact the fluid and is made of a material having a first stiffness. The second member has a first side and a second side and is at least partially disposed within the first member. The first side of the second member is adjacent to the external proximate side of the first member and is made of a material having a stiffness which is greater than the first stiffness.

Abstract: An insertion set for insertion into a skin of a user. The insertion set includes an insertable substantially insoluble flexible portion and a soluble material. The insertable substantially insoluble flexible portion is capable of remaining in the skin after insertion. The soluble material is coupled to the insertable insoluble flexible portion and facilitates piercing the skin, and the soluble material dissolves in the skin of the user. Also, the soluble material holds the substantially insoluble flexible portion in a rigid state. Preferably, the insertion set is an infusion set or a sensor set. The sets may include a cannula as part of the insertable substantially insoluble portion. The cannula may be formed from a flexible material or a flexible metal tube. Preferably, the soluble material is formed from a at least one saccharide, such as a monosaccharide or a polysaccharide, a protein, a starch, other biocompatible materials, or the like.

Abstract: A Holter-type monitor system includes a remotely located data receiving device, an analyte sensor for producing signal indicative of a characteristic of a user, and a Holter-type recording device. The Holter-type recording device includes a housing, a sensor connector, a processor, and a data port. The sensor connector receives the produced signals from the analyte sensor. The processor is coupled to the sensor connector and stores the signals from the analyte sensor for delivery to the remotely located data receiving device. The recording device is coupled to the processor for downloading the stored signals to the remotely located data receiving device. The data receiving device may be a characteristic monitor, a data receiver that provides data to another device, an RF programmer, a medication delivery device (such as an infusion pump), or the like.

Abstract: A cartridge for containing a fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device, includes a cartridge housing for holding the fluid, and information providing source. The information providing source is coupled to the cartridge housing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device to provide predetermined information regarding the cartridge to the electronic delivery device. For example, the information providing source may be a set of wires and contacts, or contact bands, that provide the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by producing a binary code. Alternatively, the information providing source is a bar code that provides the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading of the bar code. The cartridge may be used in a system that includes an electronic delivery device, such as an electronic pen-type injector and/or infusion pump.

Abstract: A piercing member assembly, such as a needle assembly, a lancet assembly, or the like, includes a piercing member, a piecing member base, a slidable piercing member cover and a rotatable piercing member collar. The piercing member base holds and secures the piecing member in place so that it can be used. The slidable piercing member cover is non-rotatively coupled to the piercing member base to slide over and cover the piercing member resulting in the disabling piercing assembly being disabled. The rotatable piercing member collar is rotatably coupled to the piercing member base and the slidable piercing member cover so that when the rotatable piercing member collar is rotated relative to the piercing member base and the slidable piercing member cover, the slidable piercing member cover slides over and covers the piercing member to disable the disabling piercing assembly.

Abstract: A cartridge for containing a fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device, includes a cartridge housing for holding the fluid, and information providing source. The information providing source is coupled to the cartridge housing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device to provide predetermined information regarding the cartridge to the electronic delivery device. For example, the information providing source may be a set of wires and contacts, or contact bands, that provide the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by producing a binary code. Alternatively, the information providing source is a bar code that provides the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading of the bar code. The cartridge may be used in a system that includes an electronic delivery device, such as an electronic pen-type injector.

Abstract: A medication injection mechanism, for delivering a dosage of medication from a medication cartridge having a piston, includes a two-piece drive shaft, a rachet mechanism, and a drive mechanism. The two-piece drive shaft includes a plunger portion and a drive portion. The plunger portion has an end that contacts the piston of the medication cartridge, ratchet teeth disposed on the sides of the plunger portion that define a thickness of the plunger portion, and an opening to provide a passage through the plunger portion of the two-piece drive shaft. The drive portion is formed by rails that are coupled together by a connector that passes through the opening in the plunger portion so that the drive portion is coupled to the plunger portion, and can move relative to the plunger portion. Each of the rails forming the drive portion has threads on a surface that extend beyond the defined thickness of the plunger portion.