Replay device for transferring information between a sensor system and a fluid delivery system

• US 20100280442A1
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Arthur A., Morgan, Wayne A., Moberg, Sheldon B., Talbot, Cary D., Shahmirian, Varaz, Yonemoto, Jay A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1405 Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• 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: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

A relay device transfers information between a sensor system, which measures a physiological characteristic level of a user, and a fluid delivery system, which infuses a fluid into a user. The relay device includes a sensor system receiver for receiving communications from the sensor system in a sensor system format. The relay device also includes a processor for processing the communications from the sensor system and converting the communications for transmission in a delivery system format. The relay device further includes a delivery system transmitter for transmitting the converted communications in the delivery system format to the fluid delivery system. The sensor system and delivery system formats may utilize different frequencies and/or different communication protocols for communications transmitted between the sensor system and the fluid delivery system through the relay device.

Claims

1-124. -124. (canceled)

125. An infusion system to infuse a fluid into a user, the infusion system comprising:

a sensor system contained in a sensor housing that includes a sensor to produce a signal indicative of a physiological characteristic of the user, the sensor system further having a sensor processor to processor the signal to sensor data, the sensor system further having a sensor receiver and a sensor transmitter, transmissions from the sensor transmitter being processed by the sensor processor and transmitted in a sensor system format;

a relay system contained within a relay system housing that includes a first relay receiver to receive sensor data in the sensor system format, the relay system further having a relay system processor to convert the sensor system format to a delivery system format, the relay system further having a first relay transmitter to transmit sensor data in the delivery system format and a relay system interface, the relay system interface being used to control a second relay transmitter to transmit communications to the sensor receiver; and

a delivery system contained within a delivery system housing that includes a delivery system receiver to receive transmissions from the first relay transmitter in the delivery system format, the communications received in the delivery system format being processed by a delivery system processor to determine an amount of fluid to be infused into the user,

wherein manipulation of the relay system interface prompts the second relay transmitter to send a request to the senor system for sensor data.

126. An infusion system according to claim 125, wherein the sensor transmitter sends sensor data through the relay system to the delivery system.

127. An infusion system according to claim 125, wherein the sensor system automatically sends sensor data through the relay system to the delivery system at periodic intervals.

128. An infusion system according to claim 125, wherein the delivery system further includes:

a display device contained within the delivery system housing, the display device being coupled to the delivery system processor to display data to the user; and

a delivery system interface contained in the delivery system housing and coupled to the delivery system processor to accept at least one input from the user, wherein the at least one input causes the display device to display the sensor data transmitted through the relay system.

129. An infusion system according to claim 128, further including:

a second relay receiver; and

a delivery system transmitter coupled to the delivery system processor, wherein manipulation of the delivery system interface prompts the delivery system transmitter to send a request to the sensor system through the second relay receiver.

130. An infusion system according to claim 128, where the delivery system interface is substantially similar to the relay system interface.

131. An infusion system according to claim 125 further including:

a bolus estimator used in conjunction with the delivery system processor to estimate the amount of fluid to be infused into the user partially based upon the sensor data.

132. An infusion system according to claim 128, wherein the delivery system further includes an indication device that indicates when the sensor data received from the sensor system is above or below a target value.

133. An infusion system according to claim 125, wherein the sensor system further includes a calibration algorithm, the calibration algorithm being executed by the sensor system processor to calibrate the sensor data.

134. An infusion system according to claim 125, wherein the sensor system format and the delivery system format utilize different communication protocols for transmissions from the sensor system through the relay device and received by the fluid delivery system.

135. A relay system to transmit between a sensor system and a delivery system, the relay system comprising:

a relay system housing separate from the sensor system and the delivery system;

a relay system processor contained within the relay system housing;

a first relay receiver to receive sensor transmissions from the sensor system in a sensor system format, the relay receiver coupled to the relay system processor;

a first relay transmitter to transmit the sensor transmissions to the delivery system in a delivery system format, the first relay transmitter coupled to the relay system processor, the relay system processor converts the sensor transmissions from the sensor system format to the delivery system format;

a second relay transmitter to transmit between the relay system and the sensor system; and

a relay system interface to prompt a transmission from the second relay transmitter to initiate the sensor system to transmit another sensor transmission,

wherein the delivery system delivers a quantity of fluid based on the sensor transmissions sent through the relay system.

136. A relay system according to claim 135, wherein the sensor system format and the delivery system format utilize different communication protocols.

137. A relay system according to claim 135, wherein the sensor system automatically sends sensor data through the relay system to the delivery system at periodic intervals.

138. A relay system according to claim 135, wherein the delivery system further includes:

a display device contained within a delivery system housing, the display device being coupled to a delivery system processor to display data to the user; and

a delivery system interface contained in the delivery system housing and coupled to the delivery system processor to accept at least one input from the user, wherein the at least one input causes the display device to display the sensor data transmitted through the relay system.

139. A relay system according to claim 138, further including:

a second relay receiver; and

a delivery system transmitter coupled to the delivery system processor, wherein manipulation of the delivery system interface prompts the delivery system transmitter to send a request to the sensor system through the second relay receiver.

140. A relay system according to claim 135, wherein the delivery system further includes an indication device that indicates when the sensor data received from the sensor system is above or below a target value.

141. A relay system according to claim 138 further including:

a bolus estimator used in conjunction with the delivery system processor to estimate the amount of fluid to be infused into the user partially based upon the sensor data.

142. A relay system according to claim 135, wherein the sensor system further includes a calibration algorithm, the calibration algorithm being executed by a sensor system processor to calibrate the sensor data.

143. A relay system according to claim 138, where the delivery system interface is substantially similar to the relay system interface.

144. A relay system according to claim 135, wherein the sensor transmitter sends sensor data through the relay system to the delivery system.