Abstract: Disclosed is a valve drive unit that has first and second SMA wires that can be alternatively activated. The valve drive unit further includes a pivoting member pivotably arranged around a pivoting member axis, the pivoting member including a valve driver arranged at a distance from the pivoting member axis. The first and second SMA wires are coupled to the pivoting member such that an activation of the first SMA wire causes the pivoting member to pivot into a first direction and an activation of the second SMA wire causes the pivoting member to pivot into a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. The valve driver is configured to releasably engage a valve driver coupler of a valve unit, such that, in the engaged state, a pivoting of the pivoting member is transmitted to the valve driver coupler via the valve driver.

Abstract: An implantable medical device has an implantable power supply and an implantable medical unit. The implantable supply powers the device and it includes a hermetically sealed supply housing, a battery, and a supply power coupler that powers the implantable medical unit from the battery via a wireless coupling. The implantable medical device also has a hermetically sealed medical unit housing, and it includes a functional medical module including a continuous glucose meter module. In use, the implantable medical unit is releasably mechanically coupled to the implantable supply and a wireless coupling of a medical unit power coupler with a supply power coupler is made, thereby powering the medical unit from the battery of the implantable supply.

Abstract: An inventive drive system for an insulin pump includes a motor configured to rotate at a predetermined revolution speed. It also includes a gear box configured for acting on a piston of the insulin pump to thereby convert a rotation of the motor into a continuous linear motion of the piston via a threaded rod mechanically coupled to the piston. The continuous linear motion of the piston determines a basal rate of insulin delivery. Additionally, a mechanical displacer is provided to act on the piston by adding a mechanical displacement of the threaded rod to the continuous linear motion of the piston, such as during a time then a bolus of insulin is to be delivered in addition to the basal rate. The threaded rod is mechanically coupled to the piston independent of the basal rate. An insulin pump and a method for driving an insulin pump are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for managing refilling a first reservoir of an ambulatory infusion system from a first container that stores a first drug and for managing refilling a second reservoir of the ambulatory infusion system out of a second container that stores a second drug is disclosed. The method includes repeatedly and automatically carrying out a filling volume assessment routine, which involves determining the expected infusion of the first drug and the second drug between the present time tp and the end of an estimation time interval tf and determining if the first reservoir shall be refilled and/or if the second reservoir shall be refilled at tp based on the expected infusion of the first drug and the second drug determined in step (a). Ambulatory infusion device control units and ambulatory infusion devices that are configured for carrying out such method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sampling element (110) for generating a sample of a body fluid is disclosed. The sampling element (110) comprises a housing (114), the) housing having a chamber (122) with at least one puncture element (112) stored therein. A tip (132) of the puncture element (112) is movable through at least one puncture opening (124) of the housing (114) in order to perforate a skin portion of a user. The sampling element (110) further comprises at least one compression element (150), which is adapted to increase a pressure of the body fluid within a body tissue of the user in a region of puncturing when pressed onto the skin portion of the user. The compression element (150) is movably mounted to the housing (114). The sampling element (110) comprises at least one locking mechanism (168) for releasably locking the compression element (150) in at least two positions. The at least two positions comprise a first position (170) and a second position (172), the second position (172) being offset from the first position (170).

Abstract: A contact assembly for electrically interconnecting at least two modules is disclosed. The contact assembly has a first module having a first contact pad and a second module having a second contact pad. The first and second contact pads are arranged nonparallel to one another. One of the first and second contact pads exerts pressure on an electrically conductive elastomer to thereby deform it, and the deformation results in the other one of the first and second contact pads being contacted by the electrically conductive elastomer. An electrochemical sensor may be part of the first module and an electronics assembly may be part of the second module. An insertion needle may also be provided to insert the sensor transcutaneously. Associated methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A sampling element (110) for generating a sample of a body fluid is disclosed. The sampling element (110) comprises a housing (114), the housing having a chamber (122) with at least one puncture element (112) stored therein. A tip (132) of the puncture element (112) is movable through at least one puncture opening (124) of the housing (114) in order to perforate a skin portion of a user. The sampling element (110) further comprises at least one compression element (150), which is adapted to increase a pressure of the body fluid within a body tissue of the user in a region of puncturing when pressed onto the skin portion of the user. The compression element (150) is movably mounted to the housing (114). The sampling element (110) comprises at least one locking mechanism (168) for releasably locking the compression element (150) in at least two positions. The at least two positions comprise a first position (170) and a second position (172), the second position (172) being offset from the first position (170).

Abstract: The present invention includes a system for withdrawing body fluids. The system includes a drive unit having a plunger which is moved from a resting position into a lancing position in order to carry out a lancing process and a lancing unit containing a lancet with a needle. The plunger and lancet are coupled together by a form fit in order to carry out a lancing process. The invention additionally concerns a method for temporarily extending a needle from a device for withdrawing body fluid as well as a lancing unit that can be attached to the drive unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fully implantable sensor for detecting at least one analyte in a sample of body fluid. The sensor has a measurement chamber plate that receives the sample of bodily fluid and a quantum cascade laser illumination source that generates an illumination light beam in the spectral range and transmits it to the measurement chamber plate. The illumination light beam at least partially illuminates the measurement chamber plate and the measurement chamber plate generates a reflection light beam in response to the illumination by the illumination light beam. The reflection light beam at least partially illuminates the sample of body fluid within the measurement chamber plate. An optical detector detects at least one property of the reflection light beam and generates a sensor signal dependent on the presence of the analyte. A controlled evaluates the sensor signal. A method using an inventive fully implantable sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining and analyzing a blood sample is presented. The apparatus comprises an integrated drive unit having a common drive source and a drive force transmission gearing that couples a lancet drive, a device for advancing a magazine, and a sample transfer device to the drive source. A tensioning rotor and a drive rotor are mounted so that they are rotatable coaxially to one another. A first cam control converts the rotation of the drive rotor into a radial forward and reverse movement of a drive rod. A second cam control converts the rotational movement of the tensioning rotor into a linear movement of a link slide. A switching link moved by the link slide rotates the magazine an additional step. A third cam control converts the rotational movement of the tensioning rotor into a linear movement of a pressure tappet perpendicular to the piercing axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for initializing an ambulatory infusion system. The method includes providing a liquid drug cartridge including a cartridge body, and a cartridge piston. The method further includes providing a dosing unit including a metering pump unit with a dosing cylinder and a dosing piston. The dosing unit further includes a valve unit configured for switching between a filling state and a draining state. The filling port being fluidically coupled with the dosing cylinder in the filling state and the draining port is fluidically coupled with the dosing cylinder in the draining state. The method further includes a) exerting an initialization force displacing the cartridge piston, and b) increasing a fluidic volume of the dosing cylinder by displacing the dosing piston, thereby sucking liquid out of the liquid drug cartridge into the dosing cylinder and further displacing the cartridge piston, without the initialization pushing force being exerted.

Abstract: A method for connecting a force sensor to a circuit board is disclosed. A circuit board having first and second conductive leads located on the same surface of the circuit board is provided. Also provided is a force sensor with a first flexible contact tab having a first contact pad and a second flexible contact tab having a second contact pad. The first contact pad is arranged to face the first conductive lead. A first conductive rubber element establishes an electrical connection between the first contact pad and the first conductive lead, and the second contact pad and the second conductive lead are arranged to face in the same direction. A second conductive rubber element establishes an electrical connection between the second contact pad and the second conductive lead. Also disclosed are an associated device for determining fluid pressure in an insulin pump and an insulin pump.

Abstract: An ambulatory infusion device including a pump drive unit, a valve drive unit and a control unit. The pump drive unit includes a pump actuator and a pump driver coupled to a piston of a metering pump unit. The valve drive unit includes a valve actuator and a valve driver coupled to a valve unit for transmitting a valve switching force or torque. The control unit controls a repeated execution of: (a) placing the valve unit in a filling state; (b) displacing the piston in a retraction direction; (c) displacing the piston in an advancing direction by a backlash compensation distance; (d) switching the valve unit from the filling state into a draining state; and (e) further displacing the piston in the advancing direction in a number of incremental steps over an extended time period.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reservoir (1) for storing a liquid medicament. The reservoir (1) comprises a flexible container (10) which includes one folding layer (12), wherein the folding layer (12) includes a seam (13) which provides for a sealing of the flexible container (1). The reservoir comprises a rigid part (20) which is connected to the flexible container (10) and which includes a support (25) extending into the flexible container (10) and which includes one or more ports (21, 22) providing fluidic access to the flexible container (10). The reservoir comprises a porous hydrophilic membrane (26) which is connected to the support (25) of the rigid part (20). The invention further concerns a method for producing of a reservoir (1).

Abstract: A drug delivery device comprises first and second liquid drug reservoirs and first and second outlet ports. A drive is configured for expelling a first liquid drug from the first reservoir to the first outlet port and for expelling a second liquid drug from the second reservoir to the second outlet port. A memory is provided that contains a drug dosing scheme specifying a desired liquid drug type, and at least one sensor is provided that detects information concerning the type of liquid drug contained in the first and/or second reservoir. A processor receives the information from the at least one sensor and thereby determines the type of liquid drug retained in the first reservoir and/or the second reservoir, and uses the drug dosing scheme and the determined type of liquid drug to operate the drive. Associated devices this disclosure and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first disclosed connector part (110) for establishing a fluid connection with a second connector part comprises a valve (111) with a valve seat (112), the valve seat comprising a valve chamber (116), and a circular opening with a circumferential sealing lip (114); a valve member (113), the valve member being provided in the valve chamber, and being able to sealingly close the circular opening of the valve seat when being pushed against the circular opening; and a resilient element (115) that subjects the valve member to a bias force pushing the valve member against the circular opening of the valve seat. The valve member further comprises a circumferential wall around the circular opening, located on the side of the circular opening opposite to the valve chamber.

Abstract: A puncturing system has a carrier tape carrying multiple lancets, a device housing comprising a conveying facility for moving the lancets into a usage position consecutively by moving the carrier tape in a conveying direction, a puncturing drive for accelerating one of the lancets that is positioned in the usage position in a puncturing motion, an opening in the device housing for touching against a body part in which a puncture is to be made by the puncturing motion of one of the lancets, an actuation facility for driving the conveying facility, and an unlockable interlock comprising a stop that blocks further transport of the carrier tape as soon as one of the lancets has reached the usage position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flow detector (1) for releasable coupling with a flow channel (20) in a channel coupling area and detecting a flow of liquid drug in the flow channel (20), the flow detector including: an upstream thermoelectric element (10a) and a downstream thermoelectric element (10b), wherein the upstream thermoelectric element (10a) and the downstream thermoelectric element (10b) are arranged spaced apart from each other and movable independent from each other; an upstream biasing element (15a) and a downstream biasing element (15b), wherein the upstream biasing elements (15a) acts on the upstream thermoelectric element (10a), thereby biasing the upstream thermoelectric element (10a) towards the channel coupling area, and the downstream biasing element (15b) acts on the downstream thermoelectric element (10b), thereby biasing the downstream thermoelectric element (10b) towards the channel coupling area independently from the upstream biasing element (15a).

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (1) for measuring a fill level of a flexible medicine reservoir (6). The device (1) comprises a support (2) for supporting the flexible medicine reservoir (6) and a leaf spring member (3). A first section (31) of the leaf spring member (3) is mounted to a fixed bearing. A second section (32) of the leaf spring member (3) is guided by a floating bearing. The leaf spring member (3) is designed for contacting the flexible medicine reservoir (6) and for providing that changes in the fill level of the flexible medicine reservoir (6) effect changes of the form of the leaf spring member (3). A detector (5) is arranged for detecting the effected changes of the form of the leaf spring member (3) and for enabling measuring of the fill level of the flexible medicine reservoir (6).

Abstract: Disclosed is a supervision device (9) for supervising liquid drug flow in a flow channel (20). The supervision device (9) includes a flow detector (1), arranged for operatively coupling with the flow channel (20) and generating a flow detector signal in dependence of a flow in the flow channel (20) at a flow detection location. The supervision device (9) further includes a gas detector (8), arranged for operatively coupling with the flow channel (20) and generating a gas detector signal in dependence of whether liquid drug or gas is present in the flow channel (20) at a gas detection location at a distance upstream from the flow detection location.