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Micro Series Lead Screws Play an Important Role in Designing Small and Flexible Insulin Pumps

Insulin Pump

An insulin pump is a compact, wearable device that administers short-acting insulin in small increments every few minutes throughout the day and night. It can also provide additional doses of short-acting insulin with the press of a button, either during meals or to reduce high blood glucose levels. 

Wearable insulin pumps feature the following components:

  1. Pump Unit: houses the electronics, battery and insulin reservoir. It controls the delivery of insulin according to the user's programmed settings.
  2. Insulin Reservoir: holds the insulin inside the pump and is refilled or replaced periodically.
  3. Infusion Set: includes a catheter and a small needle that is inserted under the skin. It connects the insulin reservoir to the user.
  4. Control System: The pump’s touchscreen allows users to adjust their insulin delivery settings.
  5. Sensors: Some insulin pumps are integrated with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems that provide real-time blood glucose readings. This allows the pump to adjust insulin delivery automatically based on glucose levels.

Today’s insulin pumps are smaller and more flexible than their predecessors. Users can program the pump to customize rates, doses and other settings based on their needs, and the pump responds as needed throughout the day. Many insulin pumps also log insulin delivery data and blood glucose readings. This enables users and healthcare providers to analyze the data and make better decisions about diabetes management.

HKP’s line of micro screws (2mm diameter screws) with customized lead screw nut materials are widely used for Insulin Pumps. HKP’s custom thread rolling, in-house plastic injection molding and tooling departments enable customized solutions to be developed quickly, in order to deliver smarter and more flexible insulin pumps and other personal drug delivery systems.

Motion Challenges for Insulin Pumps:

  • Miniature and lightweight
  • Efficiency, reliability and flexibility
  • High resolution
  • Precise control

Typical Current Motion Solutions:

  • Micro lead screws, <=2mm diameter
  • Micromotors

HKP has brought lead screw rolling and nut molding to a new level of precision with micro-sized parts. Manufactured of premium grade 303 stainless steel, Kerk Micro Series Lead Screw Assemblies provide exceptional performance, long life and require no maintenance. High accuracy threads with superior uniformity deliver precise motion and reduce noise and vibration. Nut configurations are made of self-lubricating acetal and kerkite High Performance Composite Polymers, which can effectively reduce the amount of torque required to actuate the plunger. This can lead to longer battery life and a possible reduction in motor size.

The HKP product line is an enabling technology that opens up a whole new range of designs. The Micro Series allows the miniaturization of products, reduced power consumption, and weight reduction without sacrificing performance or reliability. HKP has offered micro screws on a custom basis for more than 15 years. Now available as a standard product, customers can get quicker, cost-effective deliveries. The Micro Series lead screws are available as stand-alone components or they can be integrated into high performance Haydon linear actuators.


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