Abstract: A drug delivery investigation device includes a needle insertion mechanism having a cannula, a flow path having an inlet configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source and an outlet, connection tubing extending between the outlet of the flow path and the needle insertion mechanism, with the connection tubing in fluid communication with the cannula and the flow path, a flow sensor positioned between the inlet and the outlet of the flow path, and a pressure sensor positioned between the inlet and the outlet of the flow path.

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 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 reservoir configured to receive a fluid, a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir, with the cannula configured to be inserted into subcutaneous tissue or muscle tissue of a patient, and a pump configured to deliver a fluid from the reservoir to the cannula. The cannula includes a bioactive agent configured to cause a tissue response to decrease a pressure required to deliver fluid from the reservoir. The tissue response can include vasodilation, vasoconstriction, increased tissue permeability, increased flow of interstitial fluid or enzymatic deterioration of extracellular matrix.

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: 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 system for detecting a marker of abnormal skin tissue to assess the suitability of a site for subcutaneous injection of a drug, includes a housing, one or more sensors received by the housing, the one or more sensors configured to detect a marker of abnormal skin tissue susceptible to impair the absorption dynamics of the drug to be injected, one or more indicators configured to provide an indication from the one or more sensors whether a marker of abnormal skin tissue has been detected, and one or more computing devices in communication with the one or more sensors and the one or more indicators.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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: 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.