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

• US 8,206,350 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• 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: Mann, Alfred E., Causey, James D. III, Haubach, Alan, Malave, Luis J., Livingston, John, Hague, Cliff, Srisathapat, Chad, Yonemoto, Jay, Ruppert, Deborah, Bishop, Dennis P., Gut, Adrian, Murtfeldt, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): Desanto, Matthew F
• Application Number:
  US11/841,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604131-151
• 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 infusion system for infusing a fluid from a reservoir into a body, the infusion system comprising:

an external infusion device including;

a receiver for receiving remotely generated communication;

a processor operatively coupled to the receiver to process the remotely generated communication and to control the external infusion device in accordance with the remotely generated communication such that the external infusion device is capable of being concealed on the body of a user under clothing when receiving remotely generated communication;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory can be used to store the remotely generated communication;

a power supply operatively coupled to the processor to provide power to the external infusion device;

a drive mechanism directly coupled to a plunger within the reservoir, the drive mechanism further coupled to the processor to expel the fluid from the external infusion device when controlled by the processor;

a housing containing at least the processor, the memory and the power supply;

a first input device operatively coupled to the processor to program the external infusion device; and

a programmer including;

a programmer processor;

a second input device operatively coupled to the programmer processor for inputting commands, the second input device being similar in appearance and layout to the first input device;

a transmitter operatively coupled to the programmer processor for transmitting remotely generated communications to the receiver of the external infusion device based on the input commands from the second input device;

at least one display device for providing a visual display;

a programmer housing containing at least the programmer processor and the transmitter,

wherein the external infusion device is configured to expel the fluid to the body of the user by utilizing a catheter adapted to extend through the skin into the body of the user.

2. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the external infusion device further includes a device transmitter to verify receipt of remotely generated communication from the programmer, wherein the programmer further includes a programmer receiver to receive the verification from the device transmitter of the external infusion device, and wherein the programmer further includes a remote indication device to indicate receipt of the verification from the external infusion device.

3. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device sends information to a relay.

4. The infusion system according to claim 3, wherein the relay is capable of sounding an alarm.

5. The infusion system according to claim 3, wherein the relay is capable of providing information.

6. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device sends information to a remote monitor.

7. The infusion system according to claim 6, wherein the remote monitor is for use in a child'"'"'s room.

8. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device sends information to another medical device.

9. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device sends information to a glucose monitor.

10. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device sends information to a personal computer.

11. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device is capable of transmitting alarms to remotely located devices.

12. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device sends stored data to a personal computer.

13. The infusion system according to claim 2, wherein the external infusion device sends stored data to a communication station.

14. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming a bolus estimate for delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device by using supplied values to estimate an amount of fluid to be infused based upon an estimate of an amount of material to be ingested by the body.

15. The infusion system according to claim 14, wherein the fluid to be infused is insulin, and where the an amount of material to be ingested are carbohydrates.

16. The infusion system according to claim 14, wherein the programmer is capable of programming a lockout to prevent the calculation of a bolus for a predetermined period of time after a bolus is estimated.

17. The infusion system according to claim 14, wherein the supplied values are codes representing a carbohydrate value of specific foods.

18. The infusion system according to claim 14, wherein the supplied values are codes representing a carbohydrate value of specific meals.

19. The infusion system according to claim 14, wherein the programmer is capable of programming a duration factor to determine a value of how long a previously infused amount of fluid will remain active in the body, wherein the determined value is used to adjust the amount of the fluid to be infused.

20. The infusion system according to claim 14, wherein the supplied values are from a list of foods representing a carbohydrate value for the foods.

21. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of entering values needed to calculate a correction bolus based upon a current characteristic value and a target characteristic value.

22. The infusion system according to claim 21, wherein the programmer is capable of programming a liquid sensitivity that is used to determine the amount of liquid to be infused to calculate the correction bolus.

23. The infusion system according to claim 22, wherein the fluid to be infused is insulin.

24. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the external infusion device includes configurable menus.

25. The infusion system according to claim 24, wherein the configurable menus are programmed by the programmer.

26. The infusion system according to claim 24, wherein the configurable menus are programmed by a computer.

27. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of receiving data from another medical device and relaying the received data to the external infusion device.

28. The infusion system according to claim 27, wherein the programmer is capable of remotely communicating with and controlling the other medical device.

29. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is a cannula.

30. The infusion system according to claim 29, wherein the catheter is a cannula placed in subcutaneous tissue.

31. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a user filled reservoir.

32. The infusion system according to claim 31, wherein the user filled reservoir is made of plastic.

33. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a pre-filled reservoir.

34. The infusion system according to claim 33, wherein the pre-filled reservoir is made of plastic.

35. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the external infusion device further includes at least one display device for showing information.

36. The infusion system according to claim 35, wherein the at least one display device is an LCD.

37. The infusion system according to claim 1, further including an audio indication device coupled to the processor to provide an audible sound when controlled by the processor.

38. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the remote communication are commands.

39. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the remote communication are data transfers.

40. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the remote communication are programming.

41. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the remote communication are information.

42. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer uses RF frequencies to transmit remote communication to the external infusion device.

43. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of providing remote commands at a distance greater than 1 inch.

44. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the processor of the external infusion device has a unique identification code, and wherein the programmer includes the capability to read and learn the unique identification code of the external infusion device, and wherein the programmer and the external infusion device use the unique identification code to substantially avoid interference with other external infusion devices.

45. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer has a unique identification code, and wherein the processor of the external infusion device includes the capability to read and learn the unique identification code of the programmer, and wherein the programmer and the external infusion device use the unique identification code to substantially avoid interference with other programmers.

46. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer includes a mode that permits physician controlled programming of specific capabilities of the external infusion device to the exclusion of the user.

47. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer may also include a link to a computer to allow computer programming to initiate or alter available capabilities of the external infusion device.

48. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the memory stores programs, and wherein the receiver is capable of receiving software updates to facilitate remote programming of external infusion device capabilities.

49. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming and activating an audio bolus delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device.

50. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming and activating a vibration bolus delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device.

51. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming and activating a temporary basal rate delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device.

52. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming and suspending delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device.

53. infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming and activating an extended bolus delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device.

54. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming and activating a bolus delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device.

55. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the programmer is capable of programming and activating a dual wave bolus delivery of the fluid by the external infusion device.

56. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is a percutaneous needle.

57. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a rechargeable battery.

58. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a replaceable battery.

59. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the external infusion device further includes at least one audio device to provide alarms.

60. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the external infusion device further includes at least one vibration device to provide alarms.

61. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is sized to fit in a clothing pocket.

62. The infusion system according to claim 1, wherein the external infusion device includes a bolus estimator coupled to a glucose monitor.