A sub-assembly of a pump device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a sub-assembly of a pump device comprising a housing comprising a chamber extending along a longitudinal axis. The chamber comprises an inlet and an outlet. Both the inlet and the outlet are open in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The inlet is configured to be fluidly connected to a medicament container. The housing comprises a wall extending in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The sub-assembly of the pump device further comprises a first piston and a second piston. Both the first piston and the second piston are at least partially arranged within the chamber and fluid-tightly engaged with the chamber between the inlet of the chamber and the outlet of the chamber. The first piston is lined up with the second piston along the longitudinal axis. The sub-assembly of the pump device further comprises a control mechanism configured to cause the first piston and the second piston to be selectively moved together or moved relative to one another.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A sub-assembly of a pump device comprising:
 a housing comprising a chamber extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the chamber comprises an inlet and an outlet, wherein both the inlet and the outlet are open in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the inlet is configured to be fluidly connected to a fluid container, and wherein the housing comprises a wall extending in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis;   a first piston and a second piston, wherein both the first piston and the second piston are at least partially arranged within the chamber and fluid-tightly engaged with the chamber between the inlet of the chamber and the outlet of the chamber, and wherein the first piston is lined up with the second piston along the longitudinal axis;   a control mechanism configured to cause the first piston and the second piston to be selectively moved together or moved relative to one another; wherein the control mechanism comprises an actuation assembly operably connected to at least one of the first piston and the second piston, wherein the actuation assembly comprises an actuator made of a shape-memory alloy, wherein the actuator is configured to be intermittently heated by a power source, and wherein the actuator is operably connected to at least one of the first piston and the second piston.   
     
     
         16 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a biasing member, and wherein at least one of the biasing member and the actuator is configured to extend from the wall of the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the shape-memory alloy is a Nitinol alloy. 
     
     
         18 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is a wire. 
     
     
         19 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is configured to be electrically connected to an electrical power source, and wherein the electrical current from the electrical power source is configured to flow through the actuator when the actuator is powered by the power source. 
     
     
         20 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         21 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the biasing member is a compression spring. 
     
     
         22 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member extends between a first end engaged with the wall of the housing and a second end operably connected to at least one of the first piston and the second piston, wherein the actuator extends between a first end engaged with the wall of the housing and a second end operably connected to at least one of the first piston and the second piston, and wherein the actuator is configured to be connected to the power source such that the actuator is configured to move at least one of the first piston and the second piston against the biasing force of the biasing member when the actuator is powered by the power source. 
     
     
         23 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the actuator is configured to reciprocally move between one of the first piston and the second piston and the wall of the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis when the actuator is intermittently heated by the power source. 
     
     
         24 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member and the actuator are both engaged with one of the first piston and the second piston. 
     
     
         25 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the second end of the basing member is engaged with the first piston, and wherein the second end of the actuator is engaged with the first piston. 
     
     
         26 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a connector position between the first piston and the second piston. 
     
     
         27 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the connector is formed by a first part and a second part, wherein the first part of the connector is a recess in one of the first piston and the second piston, wherein the second part of the connector is a protrusion extending from the other one of the first piston and the second piston into the recess of the first piston, wherein the protrusion comprises an enlarged section having a diameter being greater than a diameter of an opening of the recess, and wherein a length of the protrusion measured along the longitudinal axis is smaller than or equal to a length of the recess measured along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . The sub-assembly according to claim  13 , wherein the first part of the connector is the recess in the first piston, and wherein the second part of the connector is the protrusion extending from the second piston into the recess of the first piston.