DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MALFUNCTIONS RECOGNITION IN A THERAPEUTIC DISPENSING DEVICE

• US 20120192951A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Yodfat, Ofer, Man, Zohar, Mor, Tsabar
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• 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 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• 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: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods, including a system that includes a sensor configured to monitor at least one parameter associated with operation of the fluid delivery device, and a controller. The controller is configured to activate a motor of the fluid delivery device, detect an occurrence of a problem in fluid delivery based on one or more first sensor signals generated by the sensor when the motor is activated in a first direction, the one or more first sensor signals representative of the at least one parameter monitored in the first direction, and determine a type of the detected problem based on one or more second sensor signals generated by the sensor when the motor is activated in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, the one or more second sensor signals representative of the at least one parameter monitored in the second direction.

Claims

1. A system for determining a problem in a fluid delivery device, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to monitor at least one parameter associated with operation of the fluid delivery device; and

a controller configured to;

activate a motor of the fluid delivery device;

detect an occurrence of a problem in fluid delivery based on one or more first sensor signals generated by the sensor when the motor is activated in a first direction, the one or more first sensor signals being representative of the at least one parameter monitored when the motor is activated in the first direction; and

determine a type of the detected problem based on one or more second sensor signals generated by the sensor when the motor is activated in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, the one or more second sensor signals being representative of the at least one parameter monitored when the motor is activated in the second direction.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine whether the one or more first sensor signals correlate with one or more first activation signals provided by the controller to activate the motor in the first direction; and

determine whether the one or more second sensor signals correlate with one or more second activation signals provided by the controller to activate the motor in the second direction.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a stepper motor, a DC motor, a Shape memory alloy motor, or a SMA actuator.

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32. A method of determining a problem in a fluid delivery device, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one parameter associated with operation of the fluid delivery device;

detecting an occurrence of a problem in fluid delivery based on one or more first sensor signals generated when a motor of the fluid delivery device is activated in a first direction, the one or more first sensor signals being representative of the at least one parameter monitored when the motor is activated in the first direction; and

determining a type of the detected problem based on one or more second sensor signals generated when the motor is activated in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction, the one or more second sensor signals being representative of the at least one parameter monitored when the motor is activated in the second direction.

33. The method according to claim 32,

wherein the step of detecting the occurrence of the problem in fluid delivery comprises determining whether the one or more first sensor signals correlate with one or more first activation signals provided to activate the motor in the first direction;

and wherein the step of determining the type of the detected problem comprises determining whether the one or more second sensor signals correlate with one or more second activation signals provided to activate the motor in the second direction.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein detecting the occurrence of the problem in fluid delivery comprises:

determining a first ratio between a first value associated with activation of the motor in the first direction and a second value based on the one or more first sensor signals; and

determining whether the first ratio exceeds a first threshold.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein determining the type of the detected problem comprises:

determining a second ratio between a third value associated with activation of the motor in the second direction and a fourth value based on the one or more second sensor signals; and

determining whether the second ratio exceeds a second threshold.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein detecting the occurrence of the problem further comprises:

calculating a total number of occurrences that determined first ratios exceed the first threshold; and

determining whether the calculated total number of occurrences that the determined first ratios exceed the first threshold exceeds a third threshold.

42. The method according to claim 36, wherein determining the type of the detected problem further comprises:

calculating a total number of occurrences that determined second ratios exceed the second threshold; and

determining whether the total number of occurrences that the determined second ratios exceed the second threshold exceeds a fifth threshold.

45. The method according to claim 32, wherein the monitored at least one parameter is rotation of at least one of the motor and one or more gears.

46. The method according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the first value and the second value corresponds to a number of motor rotations, the number of motor rotations being an integer or a non-integer number greater than or equal to 0.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the first value corresponds to an expected number of motor rotations and the second value corresponds to a number of executed motor rotations.

48. The method according to claim 36, wherein at least one of the third value and the fourth value corresponds to a number of motor rotations, the number of motor rotations being an integer or a non-integer number greater than or equal to 0.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the third value corresponds to an expected number of motor rotations and the fourth value corresponds to a number of executed motor rotations.

50. The method according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the first value and the second value corresponds to a level of power consumed by the motor.

51. The method according to claim 36, wherein at least one of the third value and the fourth value corresponds to a level of power consumed by the motor.

52. The method according to claim 32, wherein the determined type of the problem includes one of:

an occlusion in a delivery line of the fluid delivery device, a device malfunction, a motor malfunction, a deformations in the driving mechanism, a faulty encoder, an inefficient motor, a broken gear, a stuck gear, and a jammed gear.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the device malfunction is a driving mechanism malfunction.

56. The method according to claim 32, further comprising:

providing at least one notification to the user corresponding to one or more of the detection of the occurrence of the problem and the determined type of detected problem.

59. The method according to claim 32, wherein monitoring the at least one parameter comprises:

emitting light;

detecting the emitted light; and

periodically preventing the detection of the emitted light by blocking the emitted light.

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