Remote controls and ambulatory medical systems including the same

• US 8,352,041 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US11/564,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• Field of Search: 600/424, 378/117, 604/151, 128/903, 709/203, 340 561- 564, 340/4.3, 340/12.22, 341/176, 345/169, 348/734, 455/41.1, 455/66.1, 455419-420, 707/769, 713/323, 725 38- 40
• US Class Current: 607/60
• 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, including a communication device, a button or other communication device actuator and a movable structure that allows actuation of the actuator in one position and prevents actuation of the actuator in another position to prevent inadvertent signal transmission.

Claims

1. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device, the remote control comprising:

only one button;

means for implantable infusion device in response to pressing of the only one button; and

means for preventing inadvertent medication delivery by preventing inadvertent pressing of the only one button.

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

3. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion 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 prevented from being pressed and a second position where the button is not prevented from being pressed; and

means for wirelessly transmitting a medication delivery signal to the implantable infusion device in response to the button being pressed.

4. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button comprises an actuator and a cover.

5. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element is biased to the first position.

6. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device 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 for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the housing defines a longitudinal axis;

and

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

8. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device 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 from being pressed.

9. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a housing that carries the button;

wherein the button control element pivots relative to the housing.

10. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 9, 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.

11. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

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

12. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device 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.

13. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device 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.

14. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element comprises a lock.

15. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element substantially covers the button when the button control element is in the first position.

16. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device 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.

17. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element substantially prevents the button from being pressed when in the first position and the button control element does not substantially prevent the button from being pressed when in the second position.

18. A remote control for use with an implantable infusion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the button control element prevents the button from being pressed by a human finger when in the first position and does not prevent the button from being pressed by a human finger when in the second position.

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

a button;

a housing that carries the button;

a button control element having a main portion that is secured to the housing and a depressible member that is pivotably secured to the main portion of the button control element and covers the button, the button control element being movable relative to housing between a first position where the button is substantially prevented from being pressed and a second position where the button is not substantially prevented from being pressed; and

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

20. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the depressible member is biased away from the button.

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

a button;

a housing that carries the button;

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

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

the button control element being 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 from being pressed; and

the button and button control element being respectively configured and positioned such that the main portion of the button control element 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.

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

a housing;

a communication device associated with the housing and adapted to communicate with the ambulatory medical device;

an actuator operably connected to the communication device; and

a depressible member that is movable in a depression direction, that is operably connected to the housing, and that is also movable relative to the actuator and to the housing, in a direction that is at least transverse to the depression direction, between a first position where the depressible member is prevented from being depressed and a second position where the depressible member is substantially aligned with the actuator and is not prevented from being depressed.

23. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the actuator forms part of a button.

24. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency telemetry device.

25. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the depressible member is slidably carried relative to the housing.

26. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein

the housing defines a longitudinal axis;

and

the depressible member is longitudinally movable relative to the housing.

27. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the depressible member is pivotable in the depression direction.

28. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the depressible member is biased away from the actuator.

29. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the depressible member is biased to the first position.

30. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein

the actuator is depressible;

and

the configuration of the depressible member being such that it will contact the actuator when depressed.

31. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the depressible member is movable in a depression direction that is substantially perpendicular to the depression direction.

32. A remote control for use with an ambulatory medical device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the depressible member is part of a button control element.