FLUID INFUSION PATCH PUMP DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC STARTUP FEATURE

• US 20150265767A1
• Filed: 03/18/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vazquez, Pablo, Bazargan, Afshin, Yeung, Hubert K., Ng, Anthony C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,987,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers

Abstract

A fluid infusion device and related operating methods are disclosed. The fluid infusion device has a housing, a fluid pump mechanism, a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit coupled to the pump mechanism, and an insertion mechanism for inserting the conduit into the body. An exemplary method begins by detecting a first installation of a fluid cartridge module in the housing, wherein the detecting occurs after the housing has been affixed to the body. In response to the detecting, the operating method automatically activates the insertion mechanism to insert the fluid conduit into the body.

Claims

1. A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:

a housing that receives a fluid cartridge module;

a fluid pump mechanism within the housing;

a transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism;

an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body; and

a processor device operatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein the processor device executes computer readable program instructions to initiate an automatic startup routine when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing;

wherein the insertion mechanism is automatically activated to insert the fluid conduit into the body when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing.

2. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features; and

the program instructions executed by the processor device interpret the coded features and automatically configure at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device in accordance with the coded features as interpreted.

3. The fluid infusion device of claim 2, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a basal rate of the medication fluid to be delivered by the fluid infusion device.

4. The fluid infusion device of claim 2, wherein the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module.

5. The fluid infusion device of claim 2, wherein the coded features are physical features of the fluid cartridge module.

6. The fluid infusion device of claim 2, wherein the coded features are electrically, optically, or magnetically detectable features of the fluid cartridge module.

7. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein the program instructions executed by the processor device initiate an automatic priming operation when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing.

8. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid cartridge module comprises a first structural feature that cooperates with a second structural feature of the fluid infusion device; and

the processor device initiates the automatic startup routine in response to interaction between the first structural feature and the second structural feature.

9. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid cartridge module comprises an electrically conductive element;

the fluid infusion device comprises an electronic detection circuit having electrically conductive terminals; and

the processor device initiates the automatic startup routine in response to contact between the electrically conductive element and the electrically conductive terminals.

10. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor system enclosed within the housing, wherein the sensor system detects when the fluid cartridge is initially installed in the housing.

11. The fluid infusion device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid infusion device is a disposable insulin pump device; and

the medication fluid comprises insulin.

12. A method of operating a fluid infusion device comprising a housing, a fluid pump mechanism, a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism, and an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body, the method comprising:

detecting a first installation of a fluid cartridge module in the housing, wherein the detecting occurs after the housing has been affixed to the body; and

in response to the detecting, automatically activating the insertion mechanism to insert the fluid conduit into the body.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to the detecting, initiating an automatic startup routine for the fluid infusion device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features; and

the method further comprises reading the coded features and automatically configuring at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device in accordance with the coded features as read.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a basal rate of the medication fluid to be delivered by the fluid infusion device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

after inserting the fluid conduit into the body, initiating an automatic priming operation to prepare the fluid infusion device for delivery of the medication fluid.

18. A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:

a housing that receives a fluid cartridge module;

a fluid pump mechanism within the housing;

a transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism; and

an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body, the insertion mechanism being automatically activated to insert the fluid conduit into the body when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing;

wherein, after the insertion mechanism inserts the fluid conduit into the body, the fluid pump mechanism performs an automatic priming operation to prepare the fluid infusion device for delivery of the medication fluid.

19. The fluid infusion device of claim 18, wherein:

the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features;

the fluid infusion device reads the coded features in response to installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing; and

at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device is automatically configured in accordance with the coded features as read.

20. The fluid infusion device of claim 18, wherein:

the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features;

the fluid infusion device reads the coded features in response to installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing; and

the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module.