Drug infusion system and method adapted to start during programming cycle

• US 8,241,270 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ali, Irfan Z., Ullestad, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilbert, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/837,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,028 Days
• Field of Search: 700281-282, 239/69, 222/14, 222/638, 221/15, 340/309.4, 340/309.7, 340/309.16, 604/67, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/131, 604/151, 604/502
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

Drug infusion system capable of delivering a fluid medication to a patient and method for doing same. An implantable drug delivery device is capable of delivering the fluid medication at a programmable rate to the patient under control of an original programming cycle having a plurality of steps in a plurality of time slots beginning at a starting time. The programming cycle specifies the programmable rate for each of the plurality of steps. An external controller is capable of storing a program representative of the original programming cycle in the implantable drug delivery device at a programming time. The drug infusion system adjusts the implantable drug delivery device so that the original programming cycle will begin at a time during the original programming cycle adjusted for the programming time.

Claims

1. A drug infusion system for delivering a fluid medication to a patient, comprising:

an implantable drug delivery device configured to deliver said fluid medication at a programmable rate to said patient under control of an original programming cycle having a plurality of steps in a plurality of time slots beginning at a starting time;

said programming cycle specifying said programmable rate for each of said plurality of steps;

an external controller configured to store a program representative of said original programming cycle in said implantable drug delivery device at a programming time;

said drug infusion system adjusting said implantable drug delivery device so that said original programming cycle begins at said programming time at a point during said original programming cycle adjusted for a difference between said starting time and said programming time.

2. A drug infusion system as in claim 1 wherein said starting time and said programming time are different.

3. A drug infusion system as in claim 2 wherein said adjusting occurs after said program representative of said original programming cycle is stored in said implantable drug delivery device.

4. A drug infusion system as in claim 3 wherein said start time is adjusted using an offset from said start time to account for said programming time.

5. A drug infusion system as in claim 4 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and said programming time.

6. A drug infusion system as in claim 5 wherein said offset is stored in said implantable drug delivery device.

7. A drug infusion system as in claim 3 wherein said start time is adjusted using a time obtained from a real time clock to account for said programming time.

8. A drug infusion system as in claim 7 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and a current time obtained from said real time clock.

9. A drug infusion system as in claim 7 wherein said real time clock is external to said implantable drug delivery device.

10. A method of programming an implantable drug delivery device adapted to deliver a fluid medication at a programmable rate to a patient in plurality of steps in a plurality of time slots, comprising the steps of:

creating an original programming cycle specifying said programmable rate for each of said plurality of steps on an external controller specifying a starting time for said original programming cycle;

storing a program representative of said original programming cycle in said implantable drug delivery device at a programming time; and

adjusting said implantable drug delivery device so that said original programming cycle begins at said programming time at a point during said original programming cycle adjusted for a difference between said starling time and said programming time.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein said starting time and said programming time are different.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein said adjusting step occurs after said storing step.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said adjusting step comprises providing an offset from said start time to account for said programming time.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and said programming time.

15. A method as in claim 14 further comprising the step of storing said offset in said implantable drug delivery device.

16. A method as in claim 12 wherein said adjusting step comprises providing an offset from said start time using a time obtained from a real time clock.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein said offset equals an amount of time between said start time and a current time obtained from said real time clock.

18. A method as in claim 16 wherein said real time clock is external to said implantable drug delivery device.