External infusion device with remote programming, bolus estimator and/or vibration alarm capabilities

• US 9,744,301 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mann, Alfred E., Causey, III, James D., Haubach, Alan, Malave, Luis J., Livingston, John, Hague, Cliff, Srisathapat, Chad, Yonemoto, Jay, Ruppert, Deborah, Bishop, Dennis P., Gut, Adrian, Murtfeldt, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US15/214,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 604131, 604 65, 604 66, 604 67, 604500, 604502, 604503, 604504, 604506, 128DIG 12, 128DIG 13
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• 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 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• 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: A61M 5/36 with means for eliminating or preventing injection or infusion of air into body dialysis systems, blood oxygenators A61M1/14; haemofiltration equipment A61M1/34; automatic tube cut-off A61M39/281
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An infusion system for infusing a liquid into a body includes an external infusion device and a remote commander. The external infusion device includes a housing, a receiver, a processor and an indication device. The receiver is coupled to the housing and for receiving remotely generated commands. The processor is coupled to the housing and the receiver to receive remotely generated commands and to control the external infusion device in accordance with the commands. The indication device indicates when a command has been received and indicates when the command is being utilized to control the external infusion device so that the external infusion device is capable of being concealed from view when being remotely commanded. The remote commander includes a commander housing, a keypad for transmitting commands, and a transmitter for transmitting commands to the receiver of the external infusion device.

Claims

1. An external infusion device for infusing insulin into a body of a user from a reservoir, the external infusion device comprising:

a device housing for use on an exterior of the body and sized to be held in a hand of the user;

a drive mechanism at least partially contained within the housing and coupled to the reservoir for infusing insulin into the body of the user from the reservoir;

a processor contained within the housing and coupled to the drive mechanism;

a memory contained within the housing and coupled to the processor for storing a target glucose level and an insulin sensitivity;

a display device contained within the housing and coupled to the processor for displaying information to the user, wherein the display device includes a touch screen input device for enabling the user to input a current glucose level of the user; and

a bolus estimator contained within the housing and used in conjunction with the processor and the display device including the touch screen input device to calculate a bolus of insulin to be infused based upon the current glucose level, the target glucose level, and the insulin sensitivity, wherein the calculated bolus of insulin to be infused is displayed to the user on the display device, and the touch screen input device further enables the user to accept or adjust the calculated bolus of insulin.

2. The external infusion device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen input device further enables the user to input the target glucose level and the insulin sensitivity of the user.

3. The external infusion device of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores an insulin duration factor for the user, and wherein the bolus estimator calculates the bolus of insulin to be infused based upon the current glucose level, the target glucose level, the insulin sensitivity, and the insulin duration factor.

4. The external infusion device of claim 3, wherein the touch screen input device further enables the user to input the insulin duration factor for the user.

5. The external infusion device of claim 3, wherein the processor determines an estimated amount of a previously infused bolus of insulin that is active in the body of the user based upon the insulin duration factor, and displays on the display device the estimated amount of the previously infused bolus of insulin that is active in the body of the user.

6. The external infusion device of claim 1, wherein the display device provides visual alerts to the user.

7. The external infusion device of claim 1, further comprising a vibration alarm contained within the housing for providing tactile alerts to the user.

8. The external infusion device of claim 1, further comprising an audible alarm contained within the housing for providing audible alerts to the user.

9. The external infusion device of claim 8, wherein the audible alarm provides an audible alert to the user starting at a low level and escalates the audible alert to higher levels until the audible alert is acknowledged by the user.

10. The external infusion device of claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration alarm contained within the housing for providing tactile alerts to the user; and

an audible alarm contained within the housing for providing audible alerts to the user.

11. The external infusion device of claim 10, wherein the audible alarm provides an audible alert to the user starting at a low level and escalates the audible alert to higher levels until the audible alert is acknowledged by the user.

12. The external infusion device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter/receiver for receiving current glucose level measurements for the user from a glucose monitor, wherein the display device further displays the received glucose level measurements.