Drug infusion system and method adapted to start during programming cycle

• US 20050043863A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ali, Irfan Z., Ullestad, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,241,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• 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

Abstract

Drug infusion system capable of delivering a fluid medication to a patient and method for doing same. An implantable drug delivery device is capable of delivering the fluid medication at a programmable rate to the patient under control of an original programming cycle having a plurality of steps in a plurality of time slots beginning at a starting time. The programming cycle specifies the programmable rate for each of the plurality of steps. An external controller is capable of storing a program representative of the original programming cycle in the implantable drug delivery device at a programming time. The drug infusion system adjusts the implantable drug delivery device so that the original programming cycle will begin at a time during the original programming cycle adjusted for the programming time.

Claims

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

an implantable drug delivery device capable of delivering said fluid medication at a programmable rate to said patient under control of an original programming cycle having a plurality of steps in a plurality of time slots beginning at a starting time;

said programming cycle specifying said programmable rate for each of said plurality of steps;

an external controller capable of storing a program representative of said original programming cycle in said implantable drug delivery device at a programming time;

said drug infusion system adjusting said implantable drug delivery device so that said original programming cycle will begin at a time during said original programming cycle adjusted for said programming time.

2. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said starting time and said programming time are different.

3. A drug infusion system as in claim 2 wherein said adjusting occurs before said program representative of said original programming cycle is stored in said implantable drug delivery device.

4. A drug infusion system as in claim 3 further comprising an adjusted programming cycle having a new start time corresponding to said programming time and wherein said program representative of said original programming cycle comprises said adjusted programming cycle.

5. A drug infusion system as in claim 4 said original programming cycle is retained.

6. A drug infusion system as in claim 5 wherein said external controller retains said original programming cycle.

7. A drug infusion system as in claim 5 wherein said implantable drug delivery device retains said original programming cycle.

8. A drug infusion system as in claim 4 wherein said original programming cycle is reconstructable from said adjusted programming cycle.

9. A drug infusion system as in claim 8 wherein said adjusted programming cycle contains flags allowing said original programming cycle to be reconstructed from said adjusted programming cycle.

10. A drug infusion system as in claim 2 wherein said adjusting occurs after said program representative of said original programming cycle is stored in said implantable drug delivery device.

11. A drug infusion system as in claim 10 wherein said start time is adjusted using an offset from said start time to account for said programming time.

12. A drug infusion system as in claim 11 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and said programming time.

13. A drug infusion system as in claim 12 wherein said offset is stored in said implantable drug delivery device.

14. A drug infusion system as in claim 10 wherein said start time is adjusted using a time obtained from a real time clock to account for said programming time.

15. A drug infusion system as in claim 14 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and a current time obtained from said real time clock.

16. A drug infusion system as in claim 14 wherein said real time clock is external to said implantable drug delivery device.

17. A drug infusion system as in claim 14 wherein said real time clock is internal to said implantable drug delivery device.

18. A method of programming an implantable drug delivery device adapted to deliver a fluid medication at a programmable rate to a patient in plurality of steps in a plurality of time slots, comprising the steps of:

creating an original programming cycle specifying said programmable rate for each of said plurality of steps on an external controller specifying a starting time for said original programming cycle;

storing a program representative of said original programming cycle in said implantable drug delivery device at a programming time; and

adjusting said implantable drug delivery device so that delivery of said fluid medication to said patient will begin at a time during said original programming cycle adjusted for said programming time.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said starting time and said programming time are different.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein said adjusting step occurs before said storing step.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein said adjusting step comprises the step of creating an adjusted programming cycle having a new start time corresponding to said programming time and wherein said storing step comprises storing said adjusted programming cycle in said implantable drug delivery device.

22. A method as in claim 21 further comprising the step of retaining said original programming cycle.

23. A method as in claim 22 wherein said retaining step retains said original programming cycle external to said implantable drug delivery device.

24. A method as in claim 22 wherein said retaining step retains said original programming cycle in said implantable drug delivery device.

25. A method as in claim 21 wherein said original programming cycle is reconstructable from said adjusted programming cycle.

26. A method as in claim 25 wherein said adjusted programming cycle contains flags allowing said original programming cycle to be reconstructed from said adjusted programming cycle.

27. A method as in claim 19 wherein said adjusting step occurs after said storing step.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein said adjusting step comprises providing an offset from said start time to account for said programming time.

29. A method as in claim 28 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and said programming time.

30. A method as in claim 29 further comprising the step of storing said offset in said implantable drug delivery device.

31. A method as in claim 27 wherein said adjusting step comprises providing an offset from said start time using a time obtained from a real time clock.

32. A method as in claim 31 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and a current time obtained from said real time clock.

33. A method as in claim 31 wherein said real time clock is external to said implantable drug delivery device.

34. A method as in claim 31 wherein said real time clock is internal to said implantable drug delivery device.