Fluid delivery device

Abstract

A fluid delivery device may include a fluid driving mechanism for driving fluid out of a reservoir and an actuating mechanism for actuating the driving mechanism. The fluid delivery device may also include one or more sensors for monitoring operation of the fluid delivery device. The fluid delivery device may also include a chassis providing mechanical and/or electrical connections between components of the fluid delivery device.

1 . A fluid delivery device comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir;    a plunger received in said fluid reservoir;    a threaded drive rod coupled to said plunger to advance said plunger in said fluid reservoir;    a drive wheel coupled to said threaded drive rod;    a pivotable drive engaging member including at least one arm configured to engage and incrementally rotate said drive wheel; and    a linear actuator coupled to said pivotable drive engaging member to pivot said pivotable drive engaging member, wherein said linear actuator causes the pivotable drive engaging member to pivot when actuated.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator is a SMA wire.  
   
   
       3 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the SMA wire comprises at least first and second SMA wire portions wherein activation of the first SMA wire portion causes the pivotable drive engaging member to pivot in a first direction and wherein activation of the second SMA wire portion causes the pivotable drive engaging member to pivot in a second direction.  
   
   
       4 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 3  wherein said first and second SMA wire portions are part of a continuous SMA wire having first and second ends, wherein said pivotable drive engaging member is coupled between said first and second ends.  
   
   
       5 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1  wherein said pivotable drive engaging member includes at least one leg configured to contact an electrically conductive path to activate an actuator signal.  
   
   
       6 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 5  wherein said pivotable drive engaging member includes: 
 first and second arms configured to engage and incrementally rotate said drive wheel as said drive engaging member pivots in respective said first and second directions.    
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the pivotable drive engaging member comprises first and second legs configured to contact electrically conductive paths to activate actuator signals as said drive engaging member pivots in respective said first and second directions.  
   
   
       8 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 6  wherein said drive wheel includes first and second ratchet wheel portions configured to be engaged by said first and second arms of said pivotable drive engaging member.  
   
   
       9 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second ratchet wheel portions comprise a plurality of teeth for engaging the arms of the pivotable drive engaging member and wherein the teeth of the first ratchet wheel are offset relative to the teeth of the second ratchet wheel.  
   
   
       10 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 3  further comprising a chassis mechanically interfacing said fluid reservoir, said drive wheel, said pivotable drive engaging member and said SMA wire portions.  
   
   
       11 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 10  wherein said pivotable drive engaging member is pivotably coupled to said chassis, and wherein said SMA wire is mounted to said chassis at said first and second ends.  
   
   
       12 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 11  wherein said chassis includes electrically conductive paths, wherein said first and second SMA wire portions are electrically connected to two of said conductive paths configured to conduct electrical current to said SMA wire portions, and wherein said pivotable drive engaging member is electrically connected to another one of said conductive paths configured to act as a common ground.  
   
   
       13 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1  further comprising a rotational sensor extending across said drive wheel, said drive wheel being configured to engage said rotational sensor during at least a portion of rotation of said drive wheel to cause said rotational sensor to engage and disengage an electrically conductive path thereby activating a rotational sensor signal indicating rotation of said drive wheel.  
   
   
       14 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 13  further comprising a chassis mechanically interfacing said fluid reservoir, said drive wheel, said pivotable drive engaging member and said SMA wire portions, wherein said chassis includes electrically conductive paths, wherein one end of said rotational sensor is mounted to said chassis and electrically connected to one of said conductive paths, and wherein said rotational sensor is configured to move into and out of contact with another of said electrically conductive paths to activate said rotational sensor signal.  
   
   
       15 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1  wherein said drive wheel is configured to threadably engage said threaded drive rod to impart linear motion to said threaded drive rod.  
   
   
       16 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 15  further comprising a fill sensor extending across a path of said threaded drive rod, said threaded drive rod being configured to engage said fill sensor when said plunger is at a predetermined location in said fluid reservoir to cause said fill sensor to contact a conductive path activating a fill sensor signal indicating an amount of fluid in said fluid reservoir.  
   
   
       17 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 16  further comprising a chassis mechanically interfacing said fluid reservoir, said drive wheel, said pivotable drive engaging member and said SMA wire portions, wherein said chassis includes electrically conductive paths, wherein one end of said fill sensor is mounted to said chassis and electrically connected to one of said conductive paths, and wherein said fill sensor is configured to move into contact another of said conductive paths to activate said fill sensor signal.  
   
   
       18 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 15  comprising a plurality of fill sensors extending across a path of said threaded drive rod, said threaded drive rod being configured to engage said fill sensors when said plunger is at predetermined locations in said fluid reservoir to cause said fill sensors to contact a conductive path activating fill sensor signals, each indicating an amount of fluid in said fluid reservoir.  
   
   
       19 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 1  wherein said drive wheel includes a thread engaging mechanism configured to move from a non-thread-engaging position to a thread engaging position in which said thread engaging mechanism engages threads of said threaded drive rod, said drive wheel being configured to impart linear motion to said threaded drive rod when said thread engaging mechanism is in said thread engaging position and said drive wheel rotates.  
   
   
       20 . A fluid delivery device comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir;    a plunger received in said fluid reservoir;    a threaded drive rod coupled to said plunger to advance said plunger in said fluid reservoir;    a drive wheel coupled to said threaded drive rod;    an actuating mechanism configured to engage and incrementally rotate said drive wheel; and    a rotational sensor extending across said drive wheel, said drive wheel being configured to engage said rotational sensor during rotation to cause said rotational sensor to contact a conductive path activating an electrical signal indicating rotation of said drive wheel.    
   
   
       21 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 20  further comprising a chassis mechanically interfacing said fluid reservoir, said drive wheel, and said actuating mechanism, wherein said chassis includes electrically conductive paths, wherein one end of said rotational sensor is mounted to said chassis and electrically connected to one of said conductive paths, and wherein said rotational sensor is configured to move into and out of contact with another of said electrically conductive paths to activate said electrical signal.  
   
   
       22 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 20  wherein said drive wheel includes a hub configured to contact said rotational sensor.  
   
   
       23 . A fluid delivery device comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir;    a plunger received in said fluid reservoir;    a threaded drive rod coupled to said plunger to advance said plunger in said fluid reservoir;    a drive wheel configured to threadably engage said threaded drive rod, said drive wheel    being configured to impart linear motion to said threaded drive rod when said drive wheel rotates;    an actuating mechanism configured to engage and incrementally rotate said drive wheel; and    a fill sensor extending across a path of said threaded drive rod, said threaded drive rod being configured to engage said fill sensor when said plunger is at a predetermined location in said fluid reservoir to cause said fill sensor to contact an electrically conductive path enabling an electrical signal indicating an amount of fluid in said fluid reservoir.    
   
   
       24 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 23  comprising a plurality of fill sensors extending across a path of said threaded drive rod, said threaded drive rod being configured to engage said fill sensors when said plunger is at predetermined locations in said fluid reservoir to cause said fill sensors to contact a conductive path activating fill sensor signals, each indicating an amount of fluid in said fluid reservoir.  
   
   
       25 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 23  further comprising a chassis mechanically interfacing said fluid reservoir, said drive wheel, and said actuating mechanism, wherein said chassis includes electrically conductive paths, wherein one end of said fill sensor is mounted to said chassis and electrically connected to one of said conductive paths, and wherein said fill sensor is configured to move into contact with another of said electrically conductive paths to activate said electrical signal.  
   
   
       26 . A fluid delivery device comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir;    a plunger received in said fluid reservoir;    a threaded drive rod coupled to said plunger to advance said plunger in said fluid reservoir;    a drive wheel configured to receive said threaded drive rod, said drive wheel including a thread engaging mechanism configured to move from a non-thread-engaging position to a thread engaging position in which said thread engaging mechanism engages threads of said threaded drive rod, said drive wheel being configured to impart linear motion to said threaded drive rod when said thread engaging mechanism is in said thread engaging position and said drive wheel rotates; and    an actuating mechanism configured to engage and incrementally rotate said drive wheel.    
   
   
       27 . The fluid delivery device of  claim 26  further comprising a chassis mechanically interfacing said fluid reservoir, said drive wheel, and said actuating mechanism, wherein said chassis includes a camming surface configured to engage said thread engaging mechanism to move said thread engaging mechanism from said non-thread-engaging position to said thread engaging position.