Abstract: A drug delivery device may include a pressure sensor, a microprocessor, a fluid pathway including a reservoir, a pump downstream of the reservoir, and/or a fluid line downstream of the pump. The reservoir may be configured to receive a fluid, and the pump may be configured to deliver the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid line. The pressure sensor may be configured to measure a pressure in the fluid pathway downstream of the pump. The microcontroller may be programmed and/or configured to: receive, from the pressure sensor, the pressure measured in the fluid pathway downstream of the pump as the fluid is delivered to the fluid line; determine, based on the pressure measured in the fluid pathway, whether the fluid delivered to the fluid line includes a gas bubble; and control an output device to provide an indication associated with the determination a gas bubble.

Abstract: A metering pump for a medical injector includes a housing, a sleeve at least partially received within the housing, a piston at least partially received within the sleeve, and an interlock. The piston has a first position where the chamber has a first volume and a second position where the chamber has a second volume, with the first volume larger than the second volume. The sleeve has a first rotational position where an inlet is in fluid communication with the chamber, a second rotational position where an outlet is in fluid communication with the chamber, and a third rotational position where the inlet and outlet are isolated from the chamber. The interlock includes an elastomeric member and a protrusion, where engagement between the elastomeric member and the protrusion is configured to restrict movement of the sleeve until the sleeve overcomes a predetermined torque value.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a housing, a reservoir positioned within the housing and configured to receive a fluid, a fluid line in fluid communication with the reservoir, a delivery sub-system configured to deliver a fluid from the reservoir to the fluid line, an insertion mechanism including a cannula in fluid communication with the fluid line, with the insertion mechanism configured to move the cannula from a retracted position where the cannula is positioned within the housing to an extended position where at least a portion of the cannula is positioned outside of the housing, a sensor configured to detect when air is present within the fluid line, and control electronics configured to actuate the insertion mechanism based on a signal from the sensor.

Abstract: An insertion mechanism for a drug delivery device including a reservoir and a pump configured to deliver fluid from the reservoir includes a fluid path configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir, an activation member in fluid communication with the fluid path, and an energy storage member connected to the activation member. The energy storage member has a stored state and a released state, where the energy storage member transitions from the stored state to the released state when fluid from the reservoir contacts the activation member.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a microcontroller, a pressure sensor, and/or a fluid pathway including a reservoir, a pump downstream of the reservoir, and/or a fluid line downstream of the pump. The reservoir may be configured to receive a fluid. The pump may be configured to deliver the fluid from the reservoir to the fluid line. The pressure sensor may configured to measure a pressure in the fluid pathway. The microcontroller may be programmed and/or configured to: receive, from the pressure sensor, the pressure measured in the fluid pathway; determine, based on the pressure measured in the fluid pathway, whether the reservoir is empty of the fluid; and/or control an output device to provide an indication associated with the determination of whether the reservoir is empty of the fluid.

Abstract: A needle hub for a drug delivery device includes a hub body, an activation button, a needle holder and a needle attached to the needle holder, a cannula holder and a cannula attached to the catheter holder, a needle actuation mechanism configured to move the needle holder and the cannula holder from a retracted position to an insertion position and configured to move the needle holder back to the retracted position, and a cannula spring biasing the catheter holder to a retracted position. Movement of the activation button is configured to cause the needle holder and the catheter holder to move from the retracted position to the insertion position, with the needle holder configured to return to the retracted position while the catheter holder remains in the insertion position.

Abstract: A needle hub for a drug delivery device includes a hub body, an activation button, a needle holder moveable relative to the hub body, a needle attached to the needle holder, a needle spring biasing the needle holder to a retracted position where the needle is positioned within the hub body, a cannula holder moveable relative to the hub body and the needle holder, a cannula attached to the cannula holder, with the cannula configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source, and a cannula spring biasing the cannula holder to a retracted position. Movement of a portion of the hub body is configured to disengage a connection between the cannula holder and the hub body to allow the cannula holder to return to the retracted position.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a housing, a fluid reservoir received within the housing, a drive assembly configured to dispense fluid from the fluid reservoir, a needle hub actuator attached to the housing, and a needle hub at least partially received by the housing. The needle hub includes a hub body, a needle holder with a needle attached to the needle holder, and a cannula holder with a cannula attached to the cannula holder. The needle hub actuator is configured to move the needle holder and the cannula holder from a retracted position where the needle and the cannula are positioned within the hub body to an insertion position where the needle and the cannula are positioned within the hub body. The needle hub is detachable from the housing.

Abstract: A needle hub for a drug delivery device includes an applicator having a needle holder, a needle attached to the needle holder, a needle retraction spring, and an activation button, and a hub body including a cannula holder, a cannula attached to the cannula holder, a cannula withdrawal button, and a cannula retraction spring. At least a portion of the hub body is configured to be received within the applicator, with the applicator configured to be separated from the hub body. Movement of the activation button is configured to move the needle holder and the cannula holder from a retracted position to an insertion position. The cannula withdrawal button locks the cannula holder in the insertion position against a biasing force of the cannula retraction spring when the cannula holder is moved from the retracted position to the insertion position.

Abstract: A needle hub for a drug delivery device includes a needle holder and a needle attached to the needle holder, a needle actuation assembly configured to move the needle holder from a retracted position, to an insertion position, and back to the retracted position, and a pressure interlock comprising an inlet configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source, an outlet in fluid communication with the needle, and a lock member. The lock member having a first position where the lock member prevents actuation of the needle actuation assembly and a second position where the lock member allows actuation of the needle actuation assembly. The lock member is moved from the first position to the second position based on a pressure within the pressure interlock.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a power source, a reservoir configured to receive a fluid, a fluid line in fluid communication with the reservoir, a pump configured to deliver a fluid from the reservoir to the fluid line, and a power limitation subsystem configured to limit a power level supplied to the pump.

Abstract: A method for testing a drug delivery device including a piezoelectric transducer, a microcontroller, and a DC power source, with the piezoelectric transducer having an operative state and inoperative state. The method includes providing a drive signal to the piezoelectric transducer of the drug delivery device, determining an actuation voltage value or an actuation current value, and comparing the actuation voltage value or the actuation current value to a baseline value to determine whether the piezoelectric transducer is in the operative state or the inoperative state.

Abstract: A method of pressure management for a drug delivery device including a pump, a fluid line, and a power source, includes: delivering fluid through the fluid line via the pump; determining a parameter indicative of pressure within the fluid line; determining whether the parameter indicative of pressure within the fluid line exceeds a pressure threshold level; pausing the delivery of fluid through the fluid line until a predetermined condition is satisfied; and resuming the delivery of the fluid through the fluid line after the predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: Capillary-based pressure threshold sensors are provided for liquids that exploit the properties of hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and amphiphobic porous membranes to detect when fluid passes through the membrane in the event of the pressure across the membrane rising above the breakthrough pressure of a fluid. Example implementations are provided of different configurations for a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor, and of how a capillary-based pressure threshold sensor is used in a medication delivery device or other fluid delivery devices to detect occlusion or other fluid flow condition.

Abstract: A lab-on-chip device for the processing, in particular the separation, of a fluid mixture comprising two immiscible phases (liquid and/or solid), said device comprising a fluid line (1,2,5,6) which successively includes an inlet reservoir (1), a separation channel (2), a collection channel (5) and an outlet (6), said separation channel (2) being designed in a way as to allow a separation of the fluid mixture into said two phases.

Abstract: The invention concerns an observation device such as cell culture wells comprising an optical element such as a lens or a filter, or even combinations thereof, for compensating an optical effect induced on a sample contained in the observation device and illuminated by a light beam traversing a meniscus. The interaction of a light beam with a meniscus interposed between said light beam and a sample to be visualized, alters the image readout of the sample so that the image thereof results negatively affected. By aligning the optical axis of the optical element with that of the meniscus, an optical effect such as non-uniform light distribution of illumination of the sample can be conveniently compensated. The invention further discloses the optical elements, characterising the observation device, per se.

Abstract: A device for detecting the deposition of a biological liquid sample for subsequent analysis, the device including a substrate for receiving the biological liquid sample, and two electrodes, each electrode having a free end, the respective free ends configured to be near or in contact with a surface of the substrate, the distance between the electrodes being such that the sample or at least a part of the sample is located between them.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipette tip comprising a thin holed membrane at its distal end, which is designed to be adapted with a system comprising at least an impedance analyser and a fluidic actuator to perform the dispensing and analysis of particles comprised within a conductive medium by exploiting the Coulter counter principle. The pipette tip can comprise attached or floating electrodes at its internal or external side for creating an electrical circuit. Also disclosed therein is a dispensing and analysis system, methods of using thereof and pipette tip's manufacturing methods.

Abstract: A lab-on-chip device for the processing, in particular the separation, of a fluid mixture comprising two immiscible phases (liquid and/or solid), said device comprising a fluid line (1,2,5,6) which successively includes an inlet reservoir (1), a separation channel (2), a collection channel (5) and an outlet (6), said separation channel (2) being designed in a way as to allow a separation of the fluid mixture into said two phases.