External infusion device with remote programming, bolus estimator and/or vibration alarm capabilities

• US 7,819,843 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Murtfeldt, Bob, Srisathapat, Chad, Mann, Alfred E., Bishop, Dennis P., Malave, Luis J., Causey, James D. III, Ruppert, Deborah, Yonemoto, Jay, Livingston, John, Hague, Cliff, Haubach, Alan, Gut, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Desanto; Matthew F
• Application Number:
  US11/096,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604 65- 67, 604/93.01, 604/131, 604151-155, 604/174, 604/179, 604207-211, 604236-238, 604246-250, 604503-504, 604/506, 604/45, 604/122, 604/903, 604/891.1
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An infusion system for infusing a liquid into a body includes an external infusion device and a remote commander. The external infusion device includes a housing, a receiver, a processor and an indication device. The receiver is coupled to the housing and for receiving remotely generated commands. The processor is coupled to the housing and the receiver to receive remotely generated commands and to control the external infusion device in accordance with the commands. The indication device indicates when a command has been received and indicates when the command is being utilized to control the external infusion device so that the external infusion device is capable of being concealed from view when being remotely commanded. The remote commander includes a commander housing, a keypad for transmitting commands, and a transmitter for transmitting commands to the receiver of the external infusion device.

Claims

1. An external infusion device for infusion of insulin from a reservoir into a body of a patient, the external infusion device comprising:

a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a plunger in the reservoir, to infuse insulin into the body of the patient;

a processor to control the external infusion device;

at least one power supply;

a display device operatively coupled to the processor to provide visual information to the patient, wherein the display device includes an LCD;

an input device operatively coupled to the processor to allow the patient to command the processor;

an alarm operatively coupled to the processor to provide alerts to the patient, wherein the alarm includes a vibration alarm to provide primarily tactile alerts, wherein the patient accesses and modifies the alarm using the input device and the visual information from the display device; and

a housing that houses the drive mechanism, the processor, the reservoir, the at least one power supply, the display device, at least a portion of the input device and the alarm, the housing being sized to fit in a clothing pocket;

wherein the input device is a keypad.

2. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes a separate audible alarm to provide primarily audible alerts.

3. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the audible alerts escalate in volume over time.

4. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the audible alerts change tone over time.

5. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the audible alerts are in the form of voice messages.

6. An external infusion device according to claim 2, wherein the patient commands the processor to activate both the vibration alarm and the audible alarm together.

7. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes a separate visual alarm to provide primarily visual alerts on the display device.

8. An external infusion device according to claim 7, wherein the visual alarm provides backlit LCD alerts.

9. An external infusion device according to claim 7, wherein the visual alarm provides LED alerts.

10. An external infusion device according to claim 7, wherein the visual alerts change colors over time.

11. An external infusion device according to claim 7, wherein the visual alerts flash over time.

12. An external infusion device according to claim 7, wherein the visual alerts flash at varying rates.

13. An external infusion device according to claim 7, wherein the patient commands the processor to activate both the vibration alarm and the visual alarm together.

14. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm includes a separate audible alarm to provide primarily audible alerts and a separate visual alarm to provide primarily visual alerts on the display device.

15. An external infusion device according to claim 14, wherein the patient commands the processor to activate the vibration alarm, the audible alarm and the visual alarm together.

16. An external infusion device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter to provide a signal representing the alarm, and wherein the transmitter transmits the signal to a remote locations.

17. An external infusion device according to claim 16, wherein the signal is provided to the remote location through a relay.

18. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the patient commands the processor to activate at least one of the vibration alarm, the audible alarm and the visual alarm such that the patient determines which at least one alarms will be used to provide the patient with notice of the alarm.

19. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm transmits messages to the display device.

20. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm transmits messages to a remote communication station.

21. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile alerts increase in vibration amplitude over time.

22. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a programmable reminder to deliver a bolus.

23. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a programmable reminder to check blood glucose levels.

24. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a programmable reminder to determine if additional corrections are needed at a later time after a meal.

25. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a no bolus should be given alert.

26. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a low blood glucose level alert.

27. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a check blood glucose level alert.

28. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a lock-out period indication.

29. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is low reservoir alert.

30. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a suspend mode indication.

31. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the display device provides the visual information to identify the alarm.

32. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the display device provides the visual information as at least one icon to identify the settable alarm.

33. An external infusion device according to claim 1, further comprising a remote commander.

34. An external infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the insulin enters into the body of the patient through tubing and an infusion set.

35. An external infusion device for infusion of insulin from a reservoir into a body of a patient, the external infusion device comprising:

a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a plunger in the reservoir to infuse insulin into the body of the patient;

a processor to control the external infusion device;

at least one power supply;

a display device operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the display device includes an LCD, and wherein the display device further includes a touch screen input device to allow the patient to command the processor;

an alarm operatively coupled to the processor to provide alerts to the patient, wherein the alarm includes a vibration alarm to provide primarily tactile alerts, wherein the patient accesses and modifies the alarm using the touch screen input device; and

a housing that houses the drive mechanism, the processor, the reservoir, the at least one power supply, the display device, and the alarm, the housing being sized to fit in a clothing pocket.