Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Reservoir Wall for Light Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical infusion systems for delivering fluidic media, such as insulin, lack effective containment solutions that prevent light transmission and diffusion, which can affect the stability and visibility of the medication, leading to potential errors in dosing and monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A multi-layered system for containing fluidic media, where the reservoir body is made of cyclic olefin copolymer, with a wall that is opaque to prevent light transmission and includes a viewing window for monitoring the contents, and a plunger head that is visible through the wall to indicate the fluid level, ensuring accurate dosing and visibility of the medication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the reservoir wall is made transparent to allow visual inspection of contents, then visibility of medication is improved, but light transmission may affect medication stability and diffusion control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of medicationVSAvoidmedication stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reservoir wall is segmented into multiple functional layers: a transparent cyclic olefin copolymer layer for visibility, a light-blocking layer to prevent light transmission that affects medication stability, and a barrier layer to prevent diffusion. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reservoir wall uses composite material construction combining cyclic olefin copolymer (for transparency and chemical inertness) with light-blocking and barrier materials. This composite structure provides both visibility and protection against light-induced degradation and diffusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the reservoir wall is made opaque to prevent light transmission and maintain stability, then medication stability is improved, but visibility of fluid level for monitoring is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedication stabilityVSAvoidvisibility of fluid level
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The reservoir wall is segmented into multiple functional layers: a transparent cyclic olefin copolymer layer for visibility, a light-blocking layer to prevent light transmission that affects medication stability, and a barrier layer to prevent diffusion. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the reservoir wall have different optical properties. The viewing window area is transparent to allow fluid level monitoring, while other areas contain light-blocking layers to prevent light transmission. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes both visibility and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single-layer reservoir wall is used for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but effective containment of fluidic media and prevention of diffusion is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereservoir wall structureVSAvoidcontainment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reservoir wall is segmented into multiple functional layers: a transparent cyclic olefin copolymer layer for visibility, a light-blocking layer to prevent light transmission that affects medication stability, and a barrier layer to prevent diffusion. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function without compromising the others.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reservoir wall uses composite material construction combining cyclic olefin copolymer (for transparency and chemical inertness) with light-blocking and barrier materials. This composite structure provides both visibility and protection against light-induced degradation and diffusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents light from passing through, maintaining medication stability and allowing users to accurately assess the fluid level, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of medication delivery.

Implementation Method 1

a wall that is opaque to prevent light transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The first layer may be compatible with fluidic media contained in the reservoir body and for inhibiting a diffusion through the first layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion barrier: Diffusion Barrier

Data Source

PatentEP2262550B1Reservoir barrier layer systems and methods
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 MEDTRONIC MINIMED INC
  • EP2262550B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2262550B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2262550B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A reservoir and a plunger head contained within may be configured to move relative to each other in response to at least one of the reservoir being detached from a base, the base and/or the reservoir being removed from a packaging, and the base and/or the reservoir being moved relative to each other. A first layer may be configured to define a reservoir, the first layer, which may be made of a material compatible with fluidic media in the reservoir, may be adjacent a second layer for inhibiting a diffusion through the second layer. A first layer that may be less than.3 mm and made of a cyclic olefin copolymer may be configured to define a reservoir. A reservoir may be defined by a wall made of a cyclic olefin copolymer and the wall may be for substantially preventing light from passing through the reservoir.