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

• US 8,992,475 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• 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:
  US11/670,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,980 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604131-136, 604/140, 604/141, 604/150, 604/151, 604/154, 604/156, 604/890.1, 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 system comprising:

a remote RF programmer that includes

a programmer housing,

a programmer processor contained within the programmer housing,

a programmer memory contained within the programmer housing, the programmer memory storing program instructions executed by the programmer processor, and

an indication device that provides a first tactile indication of a condition of the external infusion system;

a bolus estimator to calculate a correction bolus based on (i) a pre-programmed carbohydrate ratio, (ii) a pre-programmed insulin sensitivity, (iii) current blood glucose, (iv) target blood glucose, and (v) carbohydrates to be consumed, wherein the bolus estimator is programmed with the remote RF programmer; and

an external infusion device that includes

a device housing having a keypad, and

a fluid reservoir contained within the device housing;

wherein the infusion device receives commands or instructions from the remote RF programmer to deliver the calculated correction bolus from the fluid reservoir.

2. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the indication device is operable to provide a second tactile indication of a condition of the infusion device, which is different from the condition indicated by the first tactile indication.

3. The external infusion system of claim 2, wherein the remote RF controller includes a second indication device operable to provide a plurality of different tactile indications, each corresponding to a different condition of the external infusion device.

4. The external infusion system of claim 3, wherein the first and second indication devices generate substantially the same tactile indication at substantially the same time to indicate the same condition of the external infusion device.

5. The external infusion system of claim 3, wherein the different tactile indications include different vibration patterns.

6. The external infusion system of claim 2, wherein the first and second tactile indications are different.

7. The external infusion system of claim 2, wherein the first and second tactile indications include different vibration patterns from each other.

8. The external infusion system of claim 2, wherein the infusion device includes a second indication device operable to provide a tactile indication of a condition of the external infusion system.

9. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the indication device is further operable to provide an audible indication of a condition of the external infusion system, which is the same as or different from the condition indicated by the first tactile indication.

10. The external infusion system of claim 9, wherein the indication device is operable to provide the audible indication and the first tactile indication at substantially the same time.

11. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to tubing and the condition is an occlusion in the fluid reservoir or tubing.

12. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the remote RF controller includes a second indication device operable to provide a tactile indication of a condition of the external infusion system.

13. The external infusion system of claim 1 further comprising a battery within the remote RF programmer, wherein the condition is a low battery.

14. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the condition is a low fluid level in the reservoir.

15. The external infusion system of claim 1 wherein the infusion device further comprises a drive mechanism to drive fluid from the fluid reservoir, and the condition is a maximum number of drive mechanism strokes.

16. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the condition is a confirmation of instructions input into the remote RF programmer.

17. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the condition is the end of delivery of a bolus of medication from the fluid reservoir.

18. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more conditions is selected from the group consisting of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

19. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the device housing is sized to fit in a clothing pocket.

20. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the device housing is adapted to be worn on a belt.

21. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the device housing is adapted to be worn under clothing.

22. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the device housing is sized to allow for concealment under clothing in a generally unobtrusive manner.

23. The external infusion system of claim 1, wherein the device housing is adapted to be worn against the skin.