Sensing systems and methods

• US 9,518,813 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hanson, Ian B., Bente, Paul F. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Quynh-Nhu H
• Application Number:
  US13/900,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• 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: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 3/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture or maintenance of measuring instruments , e.g. of probe tips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A fluidic media detection system for detecting a presence of fluidic media includes a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, the second housing portion for supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media; a fluid conduit supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion for providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the user when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and at least one interactive element, positioned near a portion of the fluid conduit, that interacts with the fluidic media when the fluidic media is present in the fluid conduit.

Claims

1. A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;

a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

a plurality of electrical contacts provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;

a shorting mechanism provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for contacting the set of main electrical contacts to establish an electrical connection with the main electrical contacts;

a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion; and

electronic circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source; and

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source.

2. The device according to claim 1, the device further comprising:

a user-perceptible indicator operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry for providing a user-perceptible indication in response to receiving one or more of the first signal, the second signal, the first sensing signal, and the second sensing signal.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the user-perceptible indication comprises at least one of an audible indication, a visual indication, and a tactile indication.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the user-perceptible indicator provides a first type of indication when the first sensing signal is received from the electronic circuitry and a second type of indication when at least one of the second signal and the second sensing signal is received from the electronic circuitry.

5. The device according to claim 1, the device further comprising:

a drive device supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the drive device for selectively driving fluid from a reservoir;

wherein the delivery device further comprises control electronics operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry for controlling the drive device based upon receiving one or more of the signals from the electronic circuitry.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control electronics is configured to inhibit operation of the drive device unless the first sensing signal is received.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control electronics is configured to begin operation of the drive device upon receiving the first sensing signal.

8. The device of claim 5, the electronic circuitry configured to provide the first sensing signal for activating the control circuitry in a case where the sensor detects a gauss level exceeding a first pre-defined threshold value.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic threshold switch.

10. The device of claim 1,

the magnetic source having a certain magnetic field direction;

the sensor for detecting the certain magnetic field direction;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide the first sensing signal when the sensor detects the certain magnetic field direction.

11. The device of claim 10, the electronic circuitry configured to provide the second sensing signal when the sensor detects a magnetic field direction different from the certain magnetic field direction.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the certain magnetic field includes a direction, the sensor configured for detecting the direction.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first signal causes the sensor to begin detecting the at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength.

14. The device of claim 1,

the shorting mechanism having a plurality of ends, each of the ends for contacting a respective main electrical contact of the set of main electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide the first signal when each of the ends of the shorting mechanism contacts the respective main electrical contact of the set of main electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide the second signal when at least one of the ends of the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

15. The device of claim 14,

the set of main electrical contacts comprising a first main electrical contact and a second main electrical contact;

the plurality of ends of the shorting mechanism including a first end and a second end for contacting the first main electrical contact and the second main electrical contact;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide the first signal when the first end and the second end of the shorting mechanism contacts the first main electrical contact and the second main electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide the second signal when at least one of the first end and the second end of the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one other electrical contact is arranged between the set of main electrical contacts.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein at least some of the set of main electrical contacts are arranged to be outermost electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein all of the at least one other electrical contact is arranged in between the set of main electrical contacts.

19. The device of claim 1, the device further comprising:

a fluid conduit supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion in a position to establish fluid communication between a reservoir, supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, and the user when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and

at least one interactive element, positioned near a portion of the fluid conduit, that interacts with the fluidic media when the fluidic media is present in the fluid conduit;

the circuitry configured to provide a first positioning signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the at least one interactive element interacts with the fluidic media when the fluidic media is present in the fluid conduit.

20. The device according to claim 19, the device further comprising:

a drive device supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the drive device for selectively driving fluidic media from the reservoir;

wherein the delivery device further comprises control electronics operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry for controlling the drive device based upon receiving one or more of the signals from the electronic circuitry.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the control electronics are configured to begin operation of the upon receiving the first positioning signal.

22. A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;

a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

a plurality of electrical contacts provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;

a shorting mechanism provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for interacting with the set of main electrical contacts;

a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion; and

electronic circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source; and

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;

wherein the set of main electrical contacts interact with the shorting mechanism when the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide the first signal when the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide the second signal when the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

23. A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;

a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

a plurality of electrical contacts provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;

a shorting mechanism provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for interacting with the set of main electrical contacts;

a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion; and

electronic circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source; and

the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;

wherein the shorting mechanism is configured to establish an electrical connection between the set of main electrical contacts when the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts.

24. A method of manufacturing a medical device for treating a user, the method comprising:

adapting a first housing portion to be carried by a user;

configuring a second housing portion to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;

providing a plurality of electrical contacts on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;

providing a shorting mechanism on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for contacting the set of main electrical contacts to establish an electrical connection with the main electrical contacts;

providing a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

providing a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;

configuring electronic circuitry to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;

configuring the electronic circuitry to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;

configuring the electronic circuitry to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;

configuring the electronic circuitry to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source.