Infusion pump with add-on modules

• US 8,414,523 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care Incorporated
• Inventors: Blomquist, Michael, Bresina, Timothy, Van Dyke, William, Bynum, Gail Beth, Welsch, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDRY II, GERALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US12/914,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604118-121, 604131-155, 604/890.1, 604/892.1, 417/475
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• 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: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a pump configured to deliver a fluid, a wireless communication port, a controller, and a housing to enclose the apparatus. The controller is configured to communicate with a second device via the communication port using an open standard wireless communication protocol. The housing includes a mechanical coupling to slidably engage the second device which includes a second wireless communication port. Slidably engaging the second device positions the first and second communication ports opposite each other to allow communication via the first and second communication ports when slidably engaged.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a pump configured to deliver a fluid;

a wireless communication port;

a controller communicatively coupled to the pump and the communication port, wherein the controller is configured to control and operate the pump and to communicate with a second device via the communication port using an open standard wireless communication protocol; and

a housing to enclose the pump and the controller to form a pump device capable of independently delivering the fluid to a user, wherein the housing includes a mechanical coupling to slidably mechanically engage the second device which includes a second wireless communication port, and wherein slidably engaging the second device positions the first and second communication ports opposite each other to allow communication of information between the second device and the controller via the first and second communication ports when slidably engaged, wherein the second device provides an enhanced capability to the apparatus when mechanically engaged with said housing and communicatively engaged with said controller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling includes a locking mechanism to lock the second device in the slidably engaged position, and wherein the second device includes a release mechanism to release the second device from the slidably engaged position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication port is an infrared communication port.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication port is a radio communication port.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is an infusion pump having infusion tubing configured to be connected to a patient to deliver the fluid to the patient, and the enhanced capability provided by the second device is monitoring a physical parameter of the patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the physical parameter is a blood glucose level.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the physical parameter is an activity level.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enhanced capability provided by the second device is testing a patient'"'"'s blood.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second device does not control or send commands to control the pump in delivering the fluid to the user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is not used to control or send commands to control the pump in delivering the fluid to the user.

6. A method of expanding functional capability of a device that includes an infusion pump, the method comprising:

positioning a mechanical coupling on a housing that encloses the pump device, wherein the mechanical coupling slidably engages a second device, the pump device including a pump and a controller within the housing capable of independently controlling the pump to deliver a fluid to a user;

positioning a first wireless communication port of the housing in relation to the mechanical coupling such that, when the second device is in a slidably engaged position, the first wireless communication port is positioned opposite a second wireless communication port of the second device; and

communicating information with the second device via the first communication port of the housing and the second communication port of the second device using an open standard wireless communication protocol to cause the second device to provide an enhanced capability to the device.

7. The method of claim 6 including:

slidably engaging the second device until a locking mechanism included in the mechanical coupling locks the second apparatus in the slidably engaged position; and

detaching the second device from the slidably engaged position using a release mechanism.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein positioning a wireless communication port includes positioning an infrared communication port.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein positioning a wireless communication port includes positioning a radio communication port.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the infusion pump includes infusion tubing that delivers a fluid to a patient, and the second device providing an enhanced capability to the device includes monitoring a physical parameter of a patient.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring a physical parameter of a patient includes monitoring a blood glucose level of the patient.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring a physical parameter of a patient includes monitoring an activity level of the patient.

16. The method of claim 6, the second device providing an enhanced capability to the device includes testing a patient'"'"'s blood.