IMPLANTABLE DRUG PUMPS AND REFILL DEVICES THEREFOR

• US 20130116666A1
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Original Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
• Inventors: Shih, Jason, Caffey, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 10,286,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14

Abstract

A system for refilling the drug reservoir of an implanted drug pump device may facilitate wireless data exchange between the refill system and the implanted device, e.g., to verify proper drug selection prior to commencement of the refill process.

Claims

1. A system for filling an implanted, refillable drug pump device comprising a drug reservoir with a fill port, the system comprising:

a needle for insertion into the fill port of the drug pump device, the needle being fluidically connectable to at least one fluid container;

at least one pump for causing fluid flow through the needle between the at least one fluid container and the drug reservoir;

electronic circuitry including a processor for controlling operation of the at least one pump; and

a wireless communication module facilitating wireless data exchange between the electronic circuitry and the implanted drug pump device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

tubing for fluidically connecting the at least one fluid container to the needle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is integrated in the electronic circuitry.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is integrated in a handheld telemetry wand in communication with the electronic circuitry.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is integrated in patient-worn eyeglasses in communication with the electronic circuitry.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to control pump operation based, at least in part, on data received from the implanted drug pump device via the wireless communication module.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the data comprises sensor readings of sensors disposed in the drug reservoir.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the data comprises information indicative of a type of drug to be administered.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the data comprises information indicative of an error condition that has occurred in the drug pump device since a previous communication between the electronic circuitry and the drug pump device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to control pump operation based, at least in part, on sensor readings of sensors disposed in at least one of the needle, the at least one pump, or a fluidic connection between the needle and the at least one fluid container.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to send refill information to the implanted drug pump device for storage therein.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication module is configured to retrieve refill information previously stored in the implanted drug pump device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein operation of the drug pump device is based, at least in part, on the refill information.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the refill information comprises at least one of a type of drug, an amount of drug, a dosing schedule, or a refill date.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid container comprises a drug-containing cartridge.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one fluid container further comprises at least one of a waste-fluid receptacle or a rinsing-fluid-containing cartridge.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the drug-containing cartridge comprises a label indicative of a type of drug contained in the cartridge.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the label comprises at least one of a barcode, an RFID, an optical ID, or an EPROM.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a reader for reading the label.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the electronic circuitry activates the at least one pump so as to cause fluid flow from the drug-containing cartridge to the drug reservoir only if the type of drug indicated by the label matches a type of drug to be administered as determined based on data received from the implanted drug pump device via the wireless communication module.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the drug-containing cartridge has a shape indicative of a type of drug contained in the cartridge.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry further facilitates data exchange with an external server.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the data exchanged with the external server comprises a serial number of the implanted drug pump device and data associated therewith, the serial number being received by the system from the implanted drug pump device via the wireless communication module.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the data associated with the serial number of the implanted drug pump device comprises at least one of patient data, a drug dosage log, or a drug pump device history.

25. A system for filling a drug reservoir of an implanted, refillable drug pump device via a fluidic connection between a drug-containing cartridge and a fill port in the drug reservoir, the system comprising:

a base unit comprising (i) a pump for causing fluid flow through the fluidic connection between the drug-containing cartridge and the drug reservoir, and (ii) electronic circuitry including a processor for controlling operation of the pump; and

in communication with the base unit, a wireless communication module facilitating wireless data exchange with the implanted drug pump device.

26. A method of verifying proper selection of a drug prior to injection thereof by a refill system into a drug reservoir of an implanted drug pump device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a drug cartridge in a well of the refill system, the drug cartridge having an electronically readable label indicative of a drug contained in the cartridge;

causing the refill system to electronically read the label,

causing the refill system to receive, from the implanted drug pump device via a wireless communication module of the refill system, data indicative of a drug to be administered; and

causing the refill system to determine whether the drug indicated by the label matches the drug to be administered, and, if so, injecting the drug into the reservoir.