Reservoir plunger position monitoring and medical device incorporating same
First Claim
1. An infusion device, comprising:
- a housing including a voided region to receive a reservoir, the voided region including a voided portion to receive a shaft portion including a shaft coupled to a plunger of the reservoir, the shaft portion comprising a detectable feature; and
a sensing arrangement proximate the voided portion to sense the detectable feature when the reservoir is inserted in the voided region, wherein resistance of the sensing arrangement is influenced by contact with the detectable feature, wherein;
the sensing arrangement comprises;
a bottom conductive layer comprising a substantially rigid material having a first conductive resistive carbon ink layer;
an upper conductive layer comprising a flexible material having a second conductive resistive carbon ink layer aligned with the first conductive resistive carbon ink layer on the bottom conductive layer; and
a spacer layer between the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer, the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer being spaced apart from one another by the spacer layer in the absence of a compressive force applied to the upper conductive layer; and
the resistance corresponds to a location where the upper conductive layer is compressed by the detectable feature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus are provided for infusion devices and related control systems and methods. In one embodiment, an infusion device includes a voided portion adapted to receive a shaft portion that includes a shaft coupled to a plunger of a reservoir. The shaft portion includes a detectable feature, and the infusion device includes a sensing arrangement proximate the voided portion to sense the detectable feature. In some embodiments, a control module is coupled to the sensing arrangement to determine a remaining amount of fluid in the reservoir based at least in part on the sensed position of the detectable feature. In other embodiments, the control module identifies an anomalous condition based at least in part on the sensed position of the detectable feature.
248 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An infusion device, comprising:
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a housing including a voided region to receive a reservoir, the voided region including a voided portion to receive a shaft portion including a shaft coupled to a plunger of the reservoir, the shaft portion comprising a detectable feature; and a sensing arrangement proximate the voided portion to sense the detectable feature when the reservoir is inserted in the voided region, wherein resistance of the sensing arrangement is influenced by contact with the detectable feature, wherein; the sensing arrangement comprises; a bottom conductive layer comprising a substantially rigid material having a first conductive resistive carbon ink layer; an upper conductive layer comprising a flexible material having a second conductive resistive carbon ink layer aligned with the first conductive resistive carbon ink layer on the bottom conductive layer; and a spacer layer between the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer, the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer being spaced apart from one another by the spacer layer in the absence of a compressive force applied to the upper conductive layer; and the resistance corresponds to a location where the upper conductive layer is compressed by the detectable feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An infusion device, comprising:
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a housing including a voided region to receive a reservoir, the voided region including a voided portion to receive a shaft portion including a shaft coupled to a plunger of the reservoir, the shaft portion comprising a detectable feature; and a sensing arrangement proximate the voided portion to sense the detectable feature when the reservoir is inserted in the voided region, wherein; a resistance of the sensing arrangement is influenced by contact with the detectable feature; and the sensing arrangement comprises; a flexible cover layer integrated with a wall of the voided portion; a bottom conductive layer; an upper conductive layer; and a spacer layer between the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer, the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer being spaced apart from one another by the spacer layer in the absence of a compressive force applied to the upper conductive layer; the flexible cover layer overlies the upper conductive layer; and the detectable feature contacts the flexible cover layer when the reservoir is provided within the voided region of the housing to compress the flexible cover layer and the upper conductive layer to provide the resistance corresponding to a location where the flexible cover layer and the upper conductive layer are compressed by the detectable feature. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating an infusion device to deliver fluid from a reservoir including a plunger coupled to a shaft such that displacement of the shaft results in displacement of the plunger, the infusion device including a sensing arrangement to sense a detectable feature on the shaft, the method comprising:
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operating a motor having a rotor coupled to the shaft to displace the shaft in response to rotation of the rotor and deliver the fluid from the reservoir; obtaining a measured shaft position based at least in part on an electrical output signal provided by the sensing arrangement that is indicative of the detectable feature contacting the sensing arrangement, wherein the electrical output signal corresponds to a location of the detectable feature contacting the sensing arrangement; determining a remaining amount of fluid in the reservoir based on the measured shaft position; and providing a low fluid notification when the remaining amount is less than a threshold value, wherein; a resistance of the sensing arrangement is influenced by contact with the detectable feature; and the sensing arrangement comprises; a flexible cover layer integrated with a wall of the voided portion; a bottom conductive layer; an upper conductive layer; and a spacer layer between the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer, the bottom conductive layer and the upper conductive layer being spaced apart from one another by the spacer layer in the absence of a compressive force applied to the upper conductive layer; the flexible cover layer overlies the upper conductive layer; and the detectable feature contacts the flexible cover layer when the reservoir is provided within the voided region of the housing to compress the flexible cover layer and the upper conductive layer to provide the resistance corresponding to a location where the flexible cover layer and the upper conductive layer are compressed by the detectable feature. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification