Method and apparatus for transferring a liquid drug to a collapsible reservoir

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for transferring an amount of a liquid drug (11) from a supply container (1) having stored the liquid drug (11) to a collapsible reservoir (2), the method including and the apparatus enabling the steps of: a) providing a fluid connection (3) between the supply container (1) and the collapsible reservoir (2); b) subjecting the liquid drug (11) stored in the supply container (1) to an environmental pressure; c) subjecting the collapsible reservoir (2) to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure, thereby collapsing the collapsible reservoir (2) and transferring gas comprised in the collapsible reservoir (2) from the collapsible reservoir (2) to the supply container (1); d) subjecting the collapsible reservoir (2) to a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure, thereby expanding the collapsible reservoir (2) and transferring the amount of the liquid drug (11) from the supply container (1) to the collapsible reservoir (2).

Claims

1. An apparatus for transferring an amount of a liquid drug, the apparatus comprising: a supply container storing the liquid drug; a collapsible reservoir; a fluid connection connected to and providing a fluidic communication between the supply container and the collapsible reservoir; an environment connection connected to the supply container and configured to subject the liquid drug stored in the supply container to an environmental pressure; and a pressure chamber, the collapsible reservoir being arranged within the pressure chamber, the pressure chamber having a first condition subjecting the collapsible reservoir to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure to collapse the collapsible reservoir and transfer a gas comprised in the collapsible reservoir from the collapsible reservoir to the supply container through the fluid connection, the pressure chamber having a second condition subjecting the collapsible reservoir to a negative pressure or no pressure relative to the environmental pressure to expand the collapsible reservoir and transfer the amount of the liquid drug from the supply container to the collapsible reservoir through the fluid connection.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber is configured to repeatedly subject the collapsible reservoir to consecutive application of a positive pressure and a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pump device connected to the pressure chamber and in the first condition subjecting the collapsible reservoir to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure and/or to subject the collapsible reservoir to a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a valve device connected to the pressure chamber and subjecting the collapsible reservoir to the environmental pressure.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor and an optical sensor for determining a parameter reflecting the amount of remaining gas in the collapsible reservoir, and a controller for determining from the parameter the amount of remaining gas in the collapsible reservoir.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the supply container being positioned at a higher level above ground than the collapsible reservoir.

7. A kit comprising an apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second collapsible reservoir.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to adjust the pressure chamber to have a positive pressure, a negative pressure, or no pressure relative to the environmental pressure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to repeatedly subject the collapsible reservoir to consecutive applications of a positive pressure and a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising a pump device connected to the pressure chamber and configured to subject the collapsible reservoir to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure or to subject the collapsible reservoir to a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure, the controller further being configured to operate the pump device to apply either the positive pressure or the negative pressure.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising a valve device connected to the pressure chamber and configured to subject the collapsible reservoir to the environmental pressure, the controller further being configured to operate the valve device to subject the collapsible reservoir to the environmental pressure.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor and an optical sensor for determining a parameter reflecting the amount of remaining gas in the collapsible reservoir, the controller further being configured to operate the at least one sensor and to determine from the parameter the amount of remaining gas in the collapsible reservoir.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are illustrating schematically:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a supply container connected via a fluid connection with a collapsible reservoir, wherein the collapsible reservoir is in a relaxed collapsed state;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a supply container connected via a fluid connection with a collapsible reservoir, wherein the collapsible reservoir is in a nearly collapsed state;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a supply container connected via a fluid connection with a collapsible reservoir, wherein the collapsible reservoir is in a collapsed state;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a supply container connected via a fluid connection with a collapsible reservoir, wherein the collapsible reservoir is in a partly expanded state; and

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a supply container connected via a fluid connection with a collapsible reservoir, wherein the collapsible reservoir is in an expanded state.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a supply container 1 connected via a fluid connection 3 with a collapsible reservoir 2. The collapsible reservoir 2 is in a relaxed state, as will be described in more detail below. The fluid connection 3 enables a fluid communication between the supply container 1 and the collapsible reservoir 2. Thus, the fluid connection 3 enables that a fluid such as a gas, a liquid drug, etc. can flow or can be transferred between the supply container 1 and the collapsible reservoir 2, in particular between an inner space of the supply container 1 and an inner space of the collapsible reservoir 2.

(8) The collapsible reservoir 2 can be designed to be arranged into a liquid drug pump, such as an insulin pump, for administering the liquid drug to a patient.

(9) The gas referred to in the present description is preferably air. It is possible that the gas includes or consists of other components.

(10) The supply container 1 can have a rigid design. In other embodiments, the supply container 1 can have a flexible design. In some embodiments, the supply container 1 is a vial, an injection pen, etc. The supply container 1 has stored a liquid drug 11. In particular, the liquid drug 11 is stored in an inner space of the supply container 1. In some embodiments, the liquid drug 11 includes or consists of insulin, glucagon, long-term medication, hormones, analgesics, cancer therapeutics, etc.

(11) The supply container 1 can have stored the liquid drug 11 up to a predefined fill level, wherein the remaining inner space of the supply container 1 can contain a gas 12. Accordingly, the supply container 1 can have stored the liquid drug 11 and the gas 12.

(12) In some embodiments, an environment connection 4 enables a fluid communication between the environment of the supply container 1 and the inner space of the supply container 1. In particular, the environment connection 4 enables a fluid communication between the environment of the supply container 1 and the gas 12 stored in the supply container 1. Accordingly, the liquid drug 11 stored in the supply container 1 is subjected to the environmental pressure, which is preferably the ambient pressure. If the pressure inside the supply container 1 is lower than in the environment, gas is transferred from the environment through the environment connection 4 into the supply container 1. If the pressure inside the supply container 1 is higher than in the environment, gas is transferred from the supply container 1 through the environment connection 4 into the environment.

(13) In some embodiments, the environment connection 4 is configured such that a fluid communication between the liquid drug 11 and the environment is blocked or at least hindered, thereby preventing that liquid drug 11 can flow from the supply container 1 to the environment. As illustrated in the Figures, this can be achieved for example by an environment connection 4 having the form of an “U”.

(14) In some embodiments, the supply container 1 includes a port 13. In some embodiments, the collapsible reservoir 2 includes a port 23. In some embodiments, the port 13 of the supply container 1 is connected via the fluid connection 3 to the port 23 of the collapsible reservoir 23, thereby providing a fluid communication between the supply container 1 and the collapsible reservoir 2. In some embodiments, the port 13 of the supply container 1 is directly connected to the port 23 of the collapsible reservoir 2, wherein the fluid connection 3 is provided directly via the port 13 of the supply container 1 and the port 23 of the collapsible reservoir 2.

(15) The collapsible reservoir 2 has a collapsible design, enabling that the collapsible reservoir can be in a collapsed state, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in an expanded state, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and in any state there between, which can include a relaxed state, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a nearly collapsed state, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and a partly expanded state, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The collapsible reservoir 2 can include a flexible material enabling or providing the collapsible design. In the collapsed state, the collapsible reservoir 2 includes an inner space of an essentially zero volume. In the expanded state, the collapsible reservoir 2 includes an inner space of a predefined volume in order to enable storage of the liquid drug 21.

(16) FIG. 1 illustrates the relaxed state of the collapsible reservoir 2, wherein the collapsible reservoir 2 is empty and is subjected to environmental pressure, wherein an amount of gas 22 is stored in the collapsible container 2. For example, the collapsible reservoir 2 has been discharged and has been put in an environment having a usual environmental pressure. However, because the collapsible design is for example enabled by a flexible material, the collapsible reservoir 2 has ended up into a specific, not completely collapsed state, namely the relaxed state. Accordingly the collapsible reservoir 2 includes an inner space with a volume that is not completely zero and has stored an undefined amount of gas 22.

(17) FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the nearly collapsed state of the collapsible reservoir 2, wherein a smaller amount of gas 22 is still stored in the collapsible container 2 than in the relaxed state. In particular, in the nearly collapsed state, the collapsible reservoir 2 is subjected to a positive pressure.

(18) FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the collapsed state of the collapsible reservoir 2, wherein the inner volume of the collapsible reservoir 2 is zero and practically no gas 22 is stored in the collapsible container 2.

(19) FIG. 4 illustrates the collapsible reservoir 2 in a partly expanded state, wherein an amount of liquid drug 21 is stored in the collapsible reservoir 2.

(20) FIG. 5 illustrates the collapsible reservoir 2 in an expanded state, wherein a larger amount of liquid drug 21 is stored in the collapsible reservoir 2 than as illustrated in FIG. 4.

(21) As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the supply container 1 is arranged within a pressure chamber 5. The pressure chamber 5 has a closed inner space that includes a fluid such as a gas, air, a liquid, etc. An outside of the pressure chamber 5 is at environmental pressure. The inner space of the pressure chamber 5 is adjustable to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure, to a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure or to environmental pressure. The positive pressure is a pressure that is greater or higher than the environmental pressure. The negative pressure is a pressure that is smaller or lower than the environmental pressure.

(22) In some embodiments, in order to adjust the pressure at the inside of the pressure chamber 5, a pump device 6 can be connected to the pressure chamber 5. The pump device 6 can be configured to pump a fluid such as a gas, air, a liquid, etc. into the pressure chamber 5, in particular in order to adjust the inside of the pressure chamber 5 to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure. The pump device 6 can be configured to withdraw a fluid such as a gas, air, a liquid, etc. from the pressure chamber 5, in particular in order to adjust the inside of the pressure chamber 5 to a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure. The pump device 6 can be configured to establish the environmental pressure at the inside of the pressure chamber 5.

(23) In some embodiments, the pump device 6 has a manually operable design. In other embodiments, the pump device 6 has an electrically operable design. In some embodiments, the pump device 6 comprises a cylinder and a movably arranged piston. In some embodiments, the pump device 6 is a syringe.

(24) In some embodiments, in order to adjust the pressure at the inside of the pressure chamber 5 to the environmental pressure, a valve device 7 can be connected to the pressure chamber 5. The valve device 7 can be configured to establish a fluid communication between the inside of the pressure chamber 5 and the outside of the pressure chamber 5, such that the environmental pressure at the outside of the pressure chamber 5 is also established at the inside of the pressure chamber 5.

(25) In some embodiments, the valve device 7 has a manually operable design. In other embodiments, the valve device 7 has an electrically operable design.

(26) In some embodiments, operation of the pump device 6 and/or the valve device 7 can be controlled by a control device 8, such as a medical control device, a remote control, a smartphone, etc.

(27) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the collapsible reservoir 2 is arranged in the pressure chamber 5. In the relaxed state, the collapsible reservoir 2 includes a gas 22 and therefore is not completely empty.

(28) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the collapsible reservoir 2 is subjected to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure, in particular by operating the pump device 6. Thereby, the collapsible reservoir 2 is collapsed and the gas 22 comprised in the collapsible reservoir 2 is transferred from the collapsible reservoir 2 to the supply container 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, by collapsing the collapsible reservoir 2, gas passes through the fluid connection 3, gas enters into the liquid drug 11, gas passes through the liquid drug 11 to the gas 12 stored in the supply container 1, which increases the pressure above environmental pressure, gas therefore enters the environment connection 4, gas passes through the environment connection 4, and gas exits into the environment outside the supply container 1. Accordingly, gas can escape from the collapsible reservoir 2 to the environment.

(29) For example, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 3 by the two parallel arrows, inside the pressure chamber 5, the positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure can be increased to a predefined level such that only a predefined residual amount of gas 22 remains in the collapsible reservoir 2. In case the collapsible reservoir 2 is fully collapsed, such that the volume inside the collapsible reservoir 2 is zero, the residual amount of gas 22 is zero as well. A residual amount of gas may still remain in the fluid connection 3 between the flexible reservoir 2 and the supply container 1.

(30) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the collapsible reservoir 2 is subjected to a negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure, for example by operating the pump device 6 in an opposite direction. Thereby, the collapsible reservoir 2 is expanded and an amount of the liquid drug 11 is transferred from the supply container 1 to the collapsible reservoir 2. Accordingly, the collapsible reservoir 2 has stored the liquid drug 21, which was transferred from the supply container 1.

(31) For example, inside the pressure chamber 5, the negative pressure relative to the environmental pressure can be reduced to a predefined level such that a predefined amount of liquid drug 11 is transferred from the supply container 1 to the collapsible reservoir 2.

(32) After an amount of liquid drug 11 has been transferred from the supply container 1 to the collapsible reservoir 2, the collapsible reservoir 2 can be subjected again to a positive pressure relative to the environmental pressure, thereby transferring possibly gas, that maybe still has remained in the collapsible reservoir 2, and liquid drug 21 from the collapsible reservoir 2 to the supply container 1. The gas possibly transferred to the supply container 1 can escape to the environment as described above. The collapsible reservoir 2 can be subjected again to a negative pressure relative to the environment pressure, thereby transferring liquid drug 11 from the supply container 1 to the collapsible reservoir 2. Accordingly, the amount of gas that maybe still has remained in the collapsible reservoir 2 can be reduced.

(33) The sequence of steps of subjecting the collapsible reservoir 2 to a positive pressure relative to the environment and of subjecting the collapsible reservoir 2 to a negative pressure relative to the environment can be repeated. In particular, by repeating this sequence of steps, the amount of gas in the collapsible reservoir 2 can be further decreased.

(34) FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a collapsible reservoir 2 that has been filled with a predefined amount of the liquid drug 21. The pressure chamber 5 has at the inside the same environmental pressure as at the outside, for example after establishing a respective fluid communication by operation of the valve device 7. The pressure chamber 5 can be opened (not illustrated in the Figures) and used for administering the liquid drug 21 to a patient, for example in connection with a liquid drug pump, such as an insulin pump. 1 supply container 11 liquid drug stored in the supply container 12 gas stored in the supply container 13 port of the supply container 2 collapsible container 21 liquid drug stored in the collapsible reservoir 22 gas stored in the collapsible reservoir 23 port of the collapsible reservoir 3 fluid connection 4 environment connection 5 pressure chamber 6 pump device 7 valve device 8 controller 9 sensor