Coordination of control commands and controller disable messages in a medical device system

• US 9,517,304 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Moberg, Sheldon B., Hanson, Ian B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US14/537,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.2, 340/3.1, 340/506, 340/359.1, 340/359.2, 600/118, 600/126, 600/300, 600/427, 600/425, 601/150
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• 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 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A medical device system includes at least one controllable patient-worn or patient-carried medical device, and a plurality of controller devices that are capable of independently controlling features or functions of the patient medical device. Control commands and other data is wirelessly communicated among the patient medical device and the multiple controller devices. A number of techniques, protocols, and other measures are provided to coordinate wireless communication between the various devices in a medical device system. These control command coordination processes address situations where conflicting, redundant, or concurrent control commands might be independently issued by the multiple controller devices.

Claims

1. A method of coordinating control commands in a medical device system comprising a medical device that delivers therapy to a patient, and a plurality of wireless controller devices for the medical device, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving a control command that is formatted to control a function of the medical device, the control command originating from an active controller device of the plurality of wireless controller devices;

in response to receiving the control command, wirelessly broadcasting a disable message from the medical device, the disable message conveying instructions intended to at least partially disable control functions of the plurality of wireless controller devices;

processing the control command to execute the function; and

wirelessly broadcasting an enable message from the medical device, the enable message conveying instructions intended to override the effect of the disable message, wherein the enable message is wirelessly broadcast after execution of the function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the disable message conveys instructions intended to fully disable all control functions of the plurality of wireless controller devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the disable message conveys instructions intended to selectively disable functions of the plurality of wireless controller devices that influence delivery of therapy to the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device system comprises an insulin infusion system, and the medical device comprises a portable insulin infusion pump that is worn or carried by the patient.

5. A medical device for a medical device system comprising a plurality of wireless controller devices configured to wirelessly control the medical device, the medical device comprising a processing architecture configured to execute a method of coordinating control commands in the medical device system, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving a control command that is formatted to control a function of the medical device, the control command originating from an active controller device of the plurality of wireless controller devices;

in response to receiving the control command, wirelessly broadcasting a disable message from the medical device, the disable message conveying instructions intended to at least partially disable control functions of the plurality of wireless controller devices;

processing the control command to execute the function; and

wirelessly broadcasting an enable message from the medical device, the enable message conveying instructions intended to override the effect of the disable message, wherein the enable message is wirelessly broadcast after execution of the function.

6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the disable message conveys instructions intended to fully disable all control functions of the plurality of wireless controller devices.

7. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the disable message conveys instructions intended to selectively disable functions of the plurality of wireless controller devices that influence delivery of therapy to the patient.

8. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the medical device system comprises an insulin infusion system, and the medical device comprises a portable insulin infusion pump that is worn or carried by the patient.