Operating an Infusion Pump System

• US 20070156092A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insulet Corporation
• Original Assignee: M2 Medical A/S
• Inventors: Wenger, Mitchell, Kirschen, Todd, Mernoe, Morten, Causey, James, Estes, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14573 with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/003 Kits for diabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump

Abstract

Some embodiments of a medical infusion pump system include a pump device and a removable controller device. When the pump device and the removable controller device are removably attached to one another, the components may provide a portable infusion pump unit to dispense medicine to a user. In particular embodiments, the removable controller device includes a user interface to readily provide information, for example, about the operation of the pump.

Claims

1. A medicinal fluid supply system comprising:

a pump assembly comprising;

a pocket to receive a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge that has an output port, and

a mechanism to push upon a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge when installed in the pocket to dispense the medicinal fluid out of the output port of the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge; and

a controller assembly that removable attaches to the pump assembly, the controller assembly producing a signal to cause the mechanism to push upon the cartridge.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pump assembly is a one-time-use only device.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge insertable into the pocket.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge contains a fluid comprising insulin.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge comprises substantially rigid side walls.

6. A medicinal fluid supply system comprising:

a pump assembly comprising;

a pocket to receive a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge, and

a pusher that increasingly advances in only one direction so as to cause medicinal fluid to be dispensed from the cartridge when installed in the pocket; and

a controller assembly that removably attaches to the pump assembly, the controller assembly producing a signal to cause the pusher to advance.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pump assembly is a one-time-use only device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein advancement of the pusher acts upon a surface the cartridge.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge insertable into the pocket.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge contains a fluid comprising insulin.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge comprises substantially rigid side walls.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the pusher is increasingly advances substantially along a longitudinal axis of the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the pusher comprises threads to engage threads of a rotating member, wherein rotation of the rotating member causes at least a portion of the pusher to longitudinally advance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the rotating member rotates in only one direction.

15. A medicinal fluid supply system comprising:

a pump assembly comprising;

a pocket to receive a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge that has a first end, and

a mechanism to push upon the first end of a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge when installed in the pocket to dispense the medicinal fluid out of a second opposite end of the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge; and

a controller assembly that removable attaches to the pump assembly, the controller assembly producing a signal to cause the mechanism of the pump assembly to push upon the first end.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the pump assembly is a one-time-use only device.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge insertable into the pocket.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge contains a fluid comprising insulin.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridges comprises a substantially tubular portion with rigid side walls between the first and second ends, the substantially tubular portion defining a volume to contain at least a portion of a pre-filled medicinal fluid.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the mechanism comprises threads that engage threads of a rotating member, wherein rotation of the rotating member causes the mechanism to increasingly push upon the first end.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the rotating member rotates in only one direction.

22. A kit for use in supplying a medicinal fluid, the kit comprising:

a plurality of pump assemblies, each of the pump assemblies comprising;

a pocket to receive a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge that has a first end, and

a mechanism to push upon the first end of a pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge when installed in the pocket to dispense the medicinal fluid out of a second opposite end of the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge; and

a controller assembly that is removable attachable to each of the pump assemblies in the plurality of pump assemblies, the controller assembly producing a signal to cause the mechanism to push upon the first end of the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge.

23. The kit of claim 22, wherein each of the pump assemblies is a one-time-use only device, and the controller assembly is a reusable device.

24. The kit of claim 22, wherein the pocket of each of the pump assemblies comprises a cylindrical wall to receive the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge.

25. The kit of claim 24, each of the pump assemblies further comprising a cap device that engages the pocket to retain the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge when installed in the pocket.

26. The kit of claim 25, wherein the cap device comprises a penetrator that pierces the second opposite end of the pre-filled medicinal fluid cartridge when installed in the pocket.

27. The kit of claim 22, further comprising a supply of the pre-filled cartridges, the supply comprising one pre-filled cartridge for each one of the pump assemblies of the kit.

28. The kit of claim 22, wherein the controller assembly is removable attachable to one of the pump assemblies at a time.