Drug infusion system programmable in flex mode

• US 20040077997A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Valine, Thomas J., Wahlquist, Frederic J. R., Jasperson, Keith E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1405 Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A drug infusion system capable of delivering a fluid medication to a patient under direction of a medical professional continually at a basal rate and at an interval rate in each of a plurality of time slots over a specified period of time. The total dose of the fluid medication to be delivered to the patient over the period of time based on the basal rate and the interval rate for each of the plurality of time slots is determined, compared the total dose against a maximum dose. The basal rate is adjusted, if necessary, so that the total dose does not exceed the maximum dose.

Claims

1. A drug infusion system capable of delivering a fluid medication to a patient under direction of a medical professional, comprising:

a drug delivery module capable of delivering said fluid medication to said patient continually at a basal rate and capable of delivering said fluid medication at an interval rate in each of a plurality of time slots over a specified period of time, said interval rate being different from said basal rate;

controller, programmable by said medical professional, operatively coupled to said drug delivery module to control said basal rate and said interval rate at which said fluid medication is delivered to said patient; and

wherein said controller, upon being programmed by said medical professional to deliver an interval rate for at least one of said plurality of time slots, determines a total dose of said fluid medication to be delivered to said patient over said period of time based on said basal rate and said interval rate for each of said plurality of time slots, compares said total dose against a maximum dose and adjusts said basal rate, if necessary, so that said total dose does not exceed said maximum dose.

2. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said total dose equals said maximum dose.

3. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said interval rate may be programmed individually for each of said plurality of time slots.

4. A drug delivery device as in claim 3 wherein at least two of said plurality of time slots are of unequal duration.

5. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said period of time is a day, wherein said total dose is a daily dose and wherein said maximum dose is a desired daily dose.

6. A drug delivery device as in claim 5 wherein at least two of said plurality of time slots are of equal duration.

7. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said control may be programmed separately for each day of a week.

8. A drug infusion system as in claim 7 wherein days of each of said week may be grouped together and programmed together.

9. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said controller provides a graphical display of said interval rate in each of said plurality of time slots.

10. A drug infusion system as in claim 9 wherein said controller provides said graphical display to said medical professional.

11. A drug infusion system as in claim 9 wherein said graphical display comprises a bar graph having a bar for each of said plurality of time slots and wherein in said bar has a length proportional to said basal rate and said interval rate.

12. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said drug delivery module is implantable.

13. A drug infusion system capable of delivering a fluid medication to a patient under direction of a medical professional, comprising:

a drug delivery module capable of delivering said fluid medication to said patient continually at a basal rate and capable of delivering said fluid medication at an interval rate in each of a plurality of time slots over a specified period of time, said interval rate being different from said basal rate;

controller, programmable by said medical professional, operatively coupled to said drug delivery module to control said basal rate and said interval rate at which said fluid medication is delivered to said patient; and

wherein said controller, upon being programmed by said medical professional to deliver an interval rate for at least one of said plurality of time slots, determines a total dose of said fluid medication to be delivered to said patient over said period of time based on said basal rate and said interval rate for each of said plurality of time slots and adjusts said basal rate to maintain said total dose.

14. A drug infusion system as in claim 13 wherein said total dose equals said maximum dose.

15. A drug infusion system as in claim 13 wherein said interval rate may be programmed individually for each of said plurality of time slots.

16. A drug delivery device as in claim 15 wherein at least two of said plurality of time slots are of unequal duration.

17. A drug infusion system as in claim 13 wherein said period of time is a day and wherein said total dose is a daily dose.

18. A drug delivery device as in claim 17 wherein at least two of said plurality of time slots are of equal duration.

19. A drug infusion system as in claim 13 wherein said control may be programmed separately for each day of a week.

20. A drug infusion system as in claim 19 wherein days of each of said week may be grouped together and programmed together.

21. A drug infusion system as in claim 13 wherein said controller provides a graphical display of said interval rate in each of said plurality of time slots.

22. A drug infusion system as in claim 21 wherein said controller provides said graphical display to said medical professional.

23. A drug infusion system as in claim 21 wherein said graphical display comprises a bar graph having a bar for each of said plurality of time slots and wherein in said bar has a length proportional to said basal rate and said interval rate.

24. A drug infusion system as in claim 13 wherein said drug delivery module is implantable.

25. A method of delivering a fluid medication to a patient under direction of a medical professional, comprising the steps of:

delivering said fluid medication to said patient through an implanted device continually at a basal rate and capable of delivering said fluid medication at an interval rate in each of a plurality of time slots over a specified period of time, said interval rate being different from said basal rate;

controlling said basal rate and said interval rate at which said fluid medication is delivered to said patient;

determining a total dose of said fluid medication to be delivered to said patient over said period of time based on said basal rate and said interval rate for each of said plurality of time slots; and

adjusting said basal rate to maintain said total dose.

26. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 25 wherein said total dose equals said maximum dose.

27. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 25 wherein said interval rate may be programmed individually for each of said plurality of time slots.

28. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 27 wherein at least two of said plurality of time slots are of unequal duration.

29. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 25 wherein said period of time is a day and wherein said total dose is a daily dose.

30. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 29 wherein at least two of said plurality of time slots are of equal duration.

31. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 25 wherein said control may be programmed separately for each day of a week.

32. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 31 wherein days of each of said week may be grouped together and programmed together.

33. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 25 wherein said controller provides a graphical display of said interval rate in each of said plurality of time slots.

34. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 33 wherein said controller provides said graphical display to said medical professional.

35. A method of delivering a fluid medication as in claim 33 wherein said graphical display comprises a bar graph having a bar for each of said plurality of time slots and wherein in said bar has a length proportional to said basal rate and said interval rate.