Removable Controller for an Infusion Pump

• US 20080294142A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insulet Corporation, M2 Medical Group Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: M2 Medical Group Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirschen, Todd, Friedman, Steven, Briones, Victor, Colton, Joshua, Patel, Rajan, Balmeo, Mellanie
• Granted Patent: US 7,981,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• 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 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

Some embodiments of an infusion pump system includes a controller device that is configured to removably attach to a pump device in a manner that provides a secure fitting, an overall compact size, and a reliable electrical connection. In particular embodiments, the controller device can be secured to the pump device in a generally side-by-side arrangement. The compact size can enhance the discreteness and portability of the infusion pump system.

Claims

1. A portable infusion pump system to dispense medicine to a user, comprising:

a disposable and non-reusable pump device including at least a portion of a drive system to dispense medicine from the pump device;

a reusable controller device removably attached to the disposable and non-reusable pump device in a side-by-side arrangement, the controller device being in electrical communication with the drive system of the pump device; and

a release member that is movably mounted to one of the pump device and the controller device, the release member being adjustable from a locking position in which the controller device and the pump device are retained in a side-by-side arrangement to a second position in which the controller device and the pump device are detachable from one another.

2. The pump system of claim 1, wherein the release member comprises a latch that is biased toward the locking position to engage the pump device.

3. The pump system of claim 2, wherein the latch is arranged to engage a lateral side of the pump device when in the locked position.

4. The pump system of claim 3, wherein the latch is adjusted to the second position when shifted away from the lateral side of the pump device.

5. The pump system of claim 3, wherein the latch is arranged to engage a segmented guide rail along the lateral side of the pump device when in the locked position.

6. The pump system of claim 1, wherein a first electrical connector of the pump device mates with a second electrical connector of the controller device when the controller device and the pump device are retained in the side-by-side arrangement.

7. The pump system of claim 6, wherein the first electrical connector is separated from the second electrical connector when the release member is adjusted to the second position.

8. The pump system of claim 1, wherein the pump device comprises a pump housing to enclose at least a portion of the drive system, and the controller device comprises a controller housing to enclose at least a portion of control circuitry.

9. The pump system of claim 8, wherein the pump housing is not surround by the controller housing when the pump device is retained with the controller device in the side-by-side arrangement.

10. A method of using an infusion pump system, the method comprising:

inserting a medicine into a pump device, the pump device defining a space that extends in a longitudinal direction to receive the medicine; and

removably attaching the pump device with a controller device so that the pump device is arranged adjacent to the controller device in a fixed relationship, the controller device being electrically connected to the pump device when in the fixed relationship,

wherein the pump device is removably attached to the controller device by guided movement of the pump device relative to the controller device in the longitudinal direction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the guided movement of the pump device relative to the controller device provides for a single-motion attachment by a user.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising causing a release member to momentarily shift away a locking position during guided movement of the pump device relative to the controller device in the longitudinal direction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the release member comprises a latch that is shifted in a lateral direction away from the pump device during guided movement of the pump device relative to the controller device in the longitudinal direction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the latch is biased to return to the locking position to thereby retain the pump device and the controller device in the fixed relationship.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the pump device is removably attached to the controller device provides by guided longitudinal motion that is free of compound hand movements.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the pump device houses a piston rod having a leading end that is advanced in the longitudinal direction in the space to dispense the medicine.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising activating the controller device so that the controller device signals the pump device to dispense the medicine.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising detaching the pump device from the controller device after the medicine in the pump device is exhausted.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising removably attaching a new pump device with said controller device.

20. A multiple-component infusion pump system, comprising:

a pump device including;

a drive system to dispense a medicine from the pump device and a pump housing to enclose at least a portion of the drive system;

a controller device removably attached to the pump device so that the pump device is arranged adjacent to the controller device in a fixed relationship, the controller device including;

a user interface having a display device, control circuitry to communicate with the drive system of the pump device, and a controller housing to enclose at least a portion of the control circuitry,

wherein the pump housing is unenclosed by the controller housing when the pump device is arranged adjacent to the controller device in the fixed relationship.

21. The pump system of claim 20, wherein the pump housing defines a space that extends in a longitudinal direction to receive the medicine.

22. The pump system of claim 21, wherein the pump device is removably attached to the controller device by guided movement of the pump device relative to the controller device in the longitudinal direction.

23. The pump system of claim 20, wherein a first electrical connector of the pump device mates with a second electrical connector of the controller device when the controller device and the pump device are retained in the in the fixed relationship.

24. The pump system of claim 20, further comprising a release member that is movably mounted to one of the pump housing and the controller housing, the release member being adjustable from a locking position in which the controller device and the pump device are retained in a side-by-side arrangement to a second position in which the controller device and the pump device are detachable from one another.

25. The pump system of claim 24, wherein the release member comprises a latch that is biased toward the locking position to engage the pump device.

26. The pump system of claim 25, wherein the latch is arranged to engage a lateral side of the pump housing when in the locked position.

27. The pump system of claim 26, wherein the latch is adjusted to the second position when shifted away from the lateral side of the pump housing.

28. The pump system of claim 26, wherein the latch is arranged to engage a segmented guide rail along the lateral side of the pump housing when in the locked position.

29. A wearable infusion pump system comprising:

a pump device defining a space to receive a medicine, the pump device including a drive system to dispense the medicine from the pump device when the medicine is received in the space, the pump device housing a memory device that stores data associated with the pump device;

a controller device that is removably attachable to the pump device, wherein when the controller device is removably attached to the pump device, the controller device (i) activates the drive system to dispense the medicine from the pump device and (ii) receives data from the memory device in the pump device.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the data stored in the memory device is indicative of an operational history of the pump device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the data indicative of the operational history comprises a drive cycle counter that indicates a number of medicine dispensing operations performed by the pump device.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the data stored in the memory device comprises a serial number designated for the pump device.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the data stored in the memory device comprises a manufacturer identifier.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the memory device comprises a flash memory device.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the wherein when the controller device activates the drive system to dispense the medicine from the pump device, the controller device stores new data in the memory device of the pump device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the new data stored in the memory device of the pump device comprises a new drive cycle count that indicates a number of medicine dispensing operations performed by the pump device.

37. A method of operating an infusion pump system, the method comprising:

communicating one or more activation signals from a controller device to a drive system of a pump device to dispense a medicine, the controller device being removably attached to the pump device so that the pump device and the controller device are arranged in a fixed relationship, wherein the pump device houses a memory device that stores data pertaining to the pump device;

transferring at least a portion of the data stored in the memory device of the pump device to the controller device when the controller device is removably attached to the pump device.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising updating at least a portion of the data stored in the memory device after communicating the one or more activation signals to the drive system.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising maintaining drive cycle count data in the memory device, the drive cycle count data being updated after the controller device communicates the one or more activation signals to the drive system.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the data stored in the memory device is indicative of an operational history of the pump device.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the data indicative of the operational history comprises a drive cycle counter that indicates a number of medicine dispensing operations performed by the pump device.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the data stored in the memory device comprises a serial number designated for the pump device.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the data stored in the memory device comprises a manufacturer identifier.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the memory device comprises a flash memory device.