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EP-3906071-B1 - SHELL FOR A PORTABLE ELECTROMECHANICAL APPARATUS FOR DRUG INFUSION

EP3906071B1EP 3906071 B1EP3906071 B1EP 3906071B1EP-3906071-B1

Inventors

  • CANE', Claudio
  • CANE', MARIO
  • CANE', Paolo

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20191224

Claims (11)

  1. A portable electromechanical apparatus for drug infusion, comprising a shell (11) and a longitudinally slidable rod (29) capable of exerting an axial thrust onto the plunger (SF) of a syringe (SR) associated with the shell (11), wherein said shell comprises an outer casing (13) and a support structure (15) removably housed within the casing (13), wherein said casing (13) has a monolithic ring shape and is entirely made of plastics, and wherein said support structure (15) is at least partially made of metal, characterized in that said casing further comprises a coupling ferrule (23) made as a single piece with the body of said casing (13) in a same molding process and defining a bayonet-like coupling for firmly connecting a syringe to the shell of the apparatus.
  2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said casing (13) defines a shape substantially rectangular in plan and defines therein a chamber (17) having a corresponding shape in which said support structure (15) is housed, and wherein the flanks of the casing (13) have substantially the same width ("d") over the entire perimeter so as to obtain high stiffness and strength of the monolithic structure of sad casing (13).
  3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said casing (13) surrounds at least four flanks of said chamber (17), and wherein at least one of the opposite bases (19,21) of said casing (13) is open.
  4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said shell comprises a guide member (27) incorporated in the body of said casing (13) for said rod (29) which is longitudinally slidable and capable of exerting an axial thrust onto the plunger (SF) of a syringe (SR) associated with the shell (11).
  5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said support structure (15) comprises a base plate (31) and a frame (33) fixed to the plate (31).
  6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a seat (37) in which are housed the mechanical parts of an electromechanical driving unit is defined between the base plate (31) and the frame (33).
  7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the base plate (31) is substantially flat and rests against a plurality of rest elements (41) incorporated in the casing (13) and extending longitudinally and transversely within the chamber (17) of the casing (13) of the shell (11).
  8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said support structure (15) is firmly but detachably associated within the casing (13) in a distal position relative to said guide member (27).
  9. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said guide member (27) has a non-circular cross-section for a rod (29) having a non-circular cross-section, whereby rotation of the rod (29) relative to the guide member (27) is prevented.
  10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (11) is provided with a protective bell (71) for the syringe (SR) associated with the infusion apparatus, said bell (71) mainly comprising a pair of half-shells (71a,71b) hinged at the base so that the half-shells (71a,71b) can assume, by rotating continuously around hinge pins (73), an open configuration, in which the syringe (SR) is accessible to be inserted into and removed from the shell (11), and a closed configuration, in which the syringe SR is substantially completely hidden from view.
  11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the half-shells (71a,71b) are hinged to the coupling ferrule (23) of the syringe.

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to a shell for a portable electromechanical apparatus for drug infusion. The invention falls within the field of electromedical apparatus, intended for the infusion of drugs in liquid form into the body of a living being. More particularly, the invention relates to a shell for an electromechanical apparatus of the portable type, i.e. which can be "worn" by a patient, for example by means of a suitable case or pouch or the like, for infusing drugs through a syringe removably engaged in the shell. Background Art Electromechanical apparatus for infusing drugs in liquid form are known in the field of electromedical apparatus. The infusion of the drug takes place through a syringe that is mechanically connected to the apparatus and hydraulically connected to a living being. The hydraulic connection is usually effected through a cannula and a needle implanted in the body of a living being. An example of a known electromechanical apparatus for drug infusion is described in EP 2 174 679 A1. The operation of this type of apparatus is based on mechanical parts that transform the rotational motion of an electric geared motor into the translational motion of a pusher intended to exert an adequate thrust against the plunger of the syringe connected to the apparatus. The transformation of the motion from rotational to translational is carried out by means of an electromechanical drive unit. In the apparatus of known type, the drive unit is housed in a casing and the various parts of the unit are fixed to the casing by screws or mortise couplings or the like. A drawback of this kind of arrangements derives from the assembling complexity, which also causes high manufacturing and maintenance costs. A main object of the invention is therefore to solve the prior art drawbacks by providing a shell for a portable electromechanical apparatus for drug infusion, that allows easy installation and maintenance of the electromechanical parts. Another drawback of known portable infusion apparatus is their excessive weight. As is well known, the main components of the apparatus that determine its weight are the geared motor, the mechanical parts for the transmission of motion, the casing and the battery that powers the electric geared motor. Since these infusion apparatus are especially intended to be worn by an individual, it is clear that the lighter they are, the more they will be appreciated by users. A further object of the present invention is therefore to provide a shell that has reduced weight and can therefore be used for the making of easily portable apparatus. Last but not least, a drawback of known apparatus, which arises from the assembling complexity and the presence of several components coupled to one another, is caused by the noise that is generated by the mechanical transmission and propagates outside the shell during operation of the apparatus. As apparatus for drug infusion are often worn by individuals in the course of normal activity, noise can be a particularly annoying and undesirable factor and can impair the spread of this type of electromedical apparatus among patients. A further object of the invention is therefore to provide a shell of the aforementioned type which allows to make electromedical apparatus for drug infusion through a disposable syringe and is more silent in operation than the known electromechanical infusion apparatus. A further object of the invention is to provide a shell for infusion apparatus that that lends itself to being made in a compact and portable format, i.e. that can be easily worn by the user, even in those situations where noise during operation could be annoying. A still further object of the invention is to provide a shell for a portable apparatus for drug infusion which has a high hydraulic sealing capacity and can therefore be worn by users even in damp environments, such as during normal body care and washing activities. A last but not least object of the invention is to provide a device for drug infusion, which is simple and inexpensive to implement and is therefore suitable for large-scale industrial production. These and other objects are achieved with a shell for a portable electromechanical apparatus for drug infusion as claimed in the appended claims. Summary of the Invention According to the invention, the shell for a portable electromechanical apparatus for drug infusion mainly comprises an outer casing and a support structure housed, preferably in a removable manner, within the casing. Advantageously, according to the invention, the casing has a monolithic ring shape and is entirely made of plastics; preferably, the ring-shaped structure of the monolithic casing is substantially rectangular or square in plan, possibly with one or more rounded flanks that are convex towards the outside of the casing, and the flanks of the casing have substantially the same width over the entire perimeter, so as to obtain high stiffness a