Partially implantable medical devices with cartridge movement sensor and associated methods

1. An apparatus for use with a dermis and a fluid cartridge, comprising:

a percutaneous port including an interior configured to receive the fluid cartridge;

an implantable operative portion, including a fluid transfer device with a pump, operably connected to the percutaneous port and positioned relative to the percutaneous port such that the pump will be located subcutaneously when the percutaneous port is located percutaneously;

a cartridge sensor configured to sense movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port; and

a controller, operatively connected to the cartridge sensor, that determines whether or not the fluid cartridge has been rotated relative to the percutaneous port.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the percutaneous port includes an exterior having a porous region configured to promote soft tissue ingrowth.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the porous region comprises a layer of a fiber mesh.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the fiber mesh comprises biocompatible metal fibers and/or biocompatible polymer fibers.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the porous region defines a porosity of about 60 to 95% and includes pores that are about 50 to 200 microns in size.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge sensor is configured to sense rotational movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cartridge sensor is exposed to the interior of the percutaneous port.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cartridge sensor comprises first and second circumferentially spaced sensors.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first and second circumferentially spaced sensors each include a pair of substantially circumferentially aligned electrical contacts.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform a first predefined operation in response to sensed movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port in a first rotational direction and to perform a second predefined operation in response to sensed movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port in a second rotational direction.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

the fluid transfer device is configured to transfer fluid at a plurality of flow rates;

the first predefined operation comprises increasing the flow rate; and

the second predefined operation comprises decreasing the flow rate.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the direction of rotation in those instances where there is rotation.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the direction and magnitude of rotation in those instances where there is rotation.

14. An apparatus for use with a fluid cartridge, comprising:

a percutaneous port including an interior configured to receive the fluid cartridge;

an implantable operative portion, including a fluid transfer device with a subcutaneous pump that operates at a plurality of flow rates, operably connected to the percutaneous port;

means for identifying and tracking rotational movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port; and

a controller, within the implantable operative portion and operably connected to the means for identifying and tracking, configured to increase or decrease the flow rate in response to identified and tracked movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the percutaneous port includes an exterior having a porous region configured to promote soft tissue ingrowth.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the porous region comprises a layer of a fiber mesh.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the fiber mesh comprises biocompatible metal fibers and/or biocompatible polymer fibers.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the porous region defines a porosity of about 60 to 95% and includes pores that are about 50 to 200 microns in size.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the means for identifying and tracking comprises means for identifying and tracking the direction of rotational movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the means for identifying and tracking comprises means for identifying and tracking the direction and magnitude of rotational movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port.

21. A method of operating a medical device including an implantable operative portion and a percutaneous port, the method comprising the step of:

sensing rotational movement with the medical device, relative to the percutaneous port, of a fluid cartridge that includes a housing and a reservoir within the housing when the housing is positioned such that at least a portion of the housing is below an epidermis.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the step of sensing rotational movement comprises sensing rotational movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port in a first direction and/or sensing rotational movement of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port in a second direction.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the step of sensing movement comprises sensing when a pair of electrical contacts are in contact with an electrically conductive member on the fluid cartridge.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising the step of:

in response to an initial sensing of fluid cartridge movement relative to the percutaneous port, determining whether a predetermined movement occurred prior to the expiration of a predetermined time period.

25. A method as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising the step of:

performing at least first and second predefined operations in response to first and second sensed movements of the fluid cartridge relative to the percutaneous port.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 , wherein

the implantable operative portion includes a fluid transfer device configured to transfer fluid at a plurality of flow rates;

the first predefined operation comprises increasing the flow rate in response to rotation in a first direction; and

the second predefined operation comprises decreasing the flow rate in response to rotation in a second direction.

27. A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the step of sensing rotational movement comprises sensing the direction of rotational movement, relative to the percutaneous port, of a fluid cartridge that includes a housing and a reservoir within the housing and is positioned such that at least a portion of the housing is below an epidermis.

28. A method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the step of sensing rotational movement comprises sensing the direction and magnitude of rotational movement, relative to the percutaneous port, of a fluid cartridge that includes a housing and a reservoir within the housing and is positioned such that at least a portion of the housing is below an epidermis.