REMOTE CONTROLS AND AMBULATORY MEDICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20130249729A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
• Inventors: Das, Stephen D., Bernardo, Jose P., Villegas, Daniel H., Gibson, Scott R., Payne, Timothy John, Conway, Scott LaVoy, Vandegriff, Joseph Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 9,761,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence

Abstract

Remote controls that are configured to prevent inadvertent signal transmission.

Claims

1. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device, the remote control comprising:

a button;

means for communicating with the ambulatory medical device in response to pressing of the button; and

means for preventing inadvertent communication with the ambulatory medical device.

2. A remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein the button comprises an actuator and a cover.

3. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device, the remote control comprising:

a button;

a button control element associated with the button and movable between a first position where the button is substantially prevented from being pressed and a second position where the button is not substantially prevented being pressed; and

means for communicating with the ambulatory medical device in response to the button being pressed.

4. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button comprises an actuator and a cover.

5. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element is biased to the first position.

6. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a housing that carries the button;

wherein the button control element is secured to the housing and is movable relative to the housing.

7. A remote control as claimed in claim 6, wherein the button control element comprises a main portion that is secured to the housing and a depressible member that is pivotably secured to the main portion and covers the button.

8. A remote control as claimed in claim 7, wherein the depressible member is biased away from the button.

9. A remote control as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the housing defines a longitudinal axis;

and

the button control element is longitudinally movable relative to the housing.

10. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button defines a first button and the button control element defines a first button control element, the remote control further comprising:

a second button; and

a second button control element associated with the second button and movable, independently of the first button control element, between a first position where the second button is substantially prevented from being pressed and a second position where the second button is not substantially prevented being pressed.

11. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a housing that carries the button;

wherein the button control element pivots relative to the housing.

12. A remote control as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the button control element comprises a main portion that is pivotably secured to the housing and a depressible member that is pivotably secured to the main portion;

and

the button and button control element are respectively configured and positioned such that the main portion covers the button when the button control element is in the first position and the depressible member covers the button when the button control element is in the second position.

13. A remote control as claimed in claim 11, wherein the button control element comprises a wire-like structure having a pivot end that is pivotably secured to the housing and a free end.

14. A remote control as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a sensor adapted to sense when the wire-like structure is in the second position.

15. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

an elongate housing defining a first and second longitudinal ends and a longitudinal axis.

wherein the button and the button control element are associated with the first longitudinal end and the button control element is movable in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis.

16. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a housing defining a longitudinal axis;

wherein the button moves longitudinally relative to the housing; and

wherein the button control element comprises a detent and indentation arrangement associated with the button and the housing.

17. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element comprises a lock.

18. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element substantially covers the button when the button control element is in the first position.

19. A remote control as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a housing that carries the button and is sized and shaped such that it may be carried by a human hand.

20. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device, the remote control comprising:

a button;

a button control element;

a communication device adapted to transmit a signal to the ambulatory medical device; and

a controller adapted to prevent signal transmission by the communication device unless the button control element has been actuated, to allow signal transmission by the communication device in response to actuation of the button control element, and to control the communication device to transmit a signal in response to the button being pressed concurrently with actuation of the button control element or during a predetermined period after action of the button control element.

21-49. -49. (canceled)