GUIDED USER HELP SYSTEM FOR AN AMBULATORY INFUSION SYSTEM

• US 20110133946A1
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ward-Welisevich, Mary, Kopp, Kevin Sean, DeBelser, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,552,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An ambulatory infusion pump can include a guided user help system that allows for a user to correct an error with the pump without needing to summon a home healthcare aide or other medical professional. When an error occurs with the pump, the user can select an option to receive help with the error. The help screen can display a possible solution for correcting the error that the user can follow. Additional help screens can display additional possible solutions if prior possible solution prove ineffective at correcting the problem.

Claims

1. An ambulatory infusion system comprising:

an infusion pump;

a control system configured to control operation of the infusion pump;

a user interface including a display and a control pad for operating the control system; and

a guided user help system configured to be displayed on the display and operable with the control pad, wherein the guided user help system is configured to display on the display at least one possible solution to an error in response to detection of the error by the control system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided user help system is configured to display a plurality of possible solutions to the error on the display.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of possible solutions are displayed sequentially.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of possible solutions are sequentially displayed beginning with a most common possible solution to the error.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the sequence of the plurality of possible solutions is advanced via input to the control pad.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided user help system displays the possible solution only after receiving a request from a user for help in correcting the error.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided user help system displays the possible solution that is a most common solution for correcting the error.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided user help system is further configured to display a customized support message if the error is not corrected.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the customized support message comprises at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a contact name, or a URL.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cassette that is attached to the control module with a latch and is selectively lockable with the control module, and wherein the error is detected by a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a cassette insertion sensor, a cassette latch sensor and a cassette lock sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising tubing for delivering medication to a patient, and wherein the error is detected by a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a downstream occlusion sensor, an upstream occlusion sensor, and an air detector.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided user help system is configured to automatically stop displaying if the error is corrected.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the error is selected from the group consisting of:

air in tubing;

an occlusion;

an error related to an operation of a pumping mechanism of the infusion pump;

an error related to a battery or power supply;

an error related to an improper treatment delivery setting;

a low or lack of medication in a reservoir of the infusion pump;

an improper medication cassette;

an improperly loaded medication cassette;

an unlocked medication cassette;

an improper key insertion;

an error related to a PCA dose cord;

an error related to an external attachment to the infusion pump; and

an error related to a sensor.

14. A method of guiding a user to correct an error in an ambulatory infusion system, comprising:

identifying an error in an ambulatory infusion system;

providing an alarm related to the error; and

displaying a first possible solution for correcting the error.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a request for help in correcting the error.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the request for help in correcting the error prior to displaying the first possible solution.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a second possible solution for correcting the error.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of displaying a second possible solution occurs only after receiving a request for additional help.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a most likely possible solution to the error and displaying the most likely possible solution as the first possible solution, and determining a next most likely possible solution to the error and displaying the next most likely possible solution as the second possible solution.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining at least one additional likely possible solution to the error and displaying the at least on additional likely possible solution after the second possible solution.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying the possible solution includes selecting the first possible solution based on a most common solution for correcting the particular error.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a customized support message after receiving a request for more help after all possible solutions have been displayed.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein displaying a customized support message comprises displaying at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a URL or a contact name.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising automatically stopping the alarm and display of the first possible solution if the error is corrected.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the error is selected from the group consisting of:

air in tubing;

an occlusion;

an error related to an operation of a pumping mechanism of the infusion pump;

an error related to a battery or power supply;

an error related to an improper treatment delivery setting;

a low or lack of medication in a reservoir of the infusion pump;

an improper medication cassette;

an improperly loaded medication cassette;

an unlocked medication cassette;

an improper key insertion;

an error related to a PCA dose cord;

an error related to an external attachment to the infusion pump; and

an error related to a sensor.

26. A guided user help system for use with an ambulatory infusion system, comprising:

means for detecting an error in an ambulatory infusion system; and

means for displaying a possible solution for correcting the error.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the means for displaying a possible solution for correcting the error is configured to display a plurality of possible solutions for correcting the error.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of possible solutions are displayed sequentially.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the display of possible solutions is displayed sequentially beginning with a most likely possible solution to the error.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising means for suggesting external support for correcting the error.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for suggesting external support comprises at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a URL or a contact name.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein the error is selected from the group consisting of:

air in tubing;

an occlusion;

an error related to an operation of a pumping mechanism of the infusion pump;

an error related to a battery or power supply;

an error related to an improper treatment delivery setting;

a low or lack of medication in a reservoir of the infusion pump;

an improper medication cassette;

an improperly loaded medication cassette;

an unlocked medication cassette;

an improper key insertion;

an error related to a PCA dose cord;

an error related to an external attachment to the infusion pump; and

an error related to a sensor.