Operating a portable medical device
View Patent ↗Some embodiments of a portable medical device, such as an infusion pump, can receive an external reference signal (e.g., a radio, cellular and/or satellite signal) to provide an automatic time-setting and maintenance operation. In these circumstances, the medical device can maintain accurate time and date information even in the event of a power interruption, a time-zone change and/or an internal clock error, for example. In this manner, the portable medical device provides safe operation and added convenience to the user.
1. An infusion pump system, comprising:
a disposable and non-reusable pump device including a drive system to dispense medicine from the pump device, the pump device having a first electrical connector that is externally accessible; and
a reusable controller device removably attachable to the disposable and non-reusable pump device such that the reusable controller device is mechanically mounted with the disposable and non-reusable pump device, the controller device comprising:
a second electrical connector that is engageable with the first connector to provide electrical communication between control circuitry of the controller device and the drive system of the pump device;
a user interface comprising a display device, the user interface being electrically connected to the control circuitry;
an external reference system that wirelessly receives an external reference signal indicative of a time of day from a portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device, the external reference system being electrically connected to the control circuitry; and
a processor that updates a time setting of the infusion pump system based on the external reference signal to provide an updated time setting;
wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device based on the updated time setting, wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device according to a dispensing rate schedule based on time of day, and wherein the reusable controller device indicates a time-zone change based on the external reference signal and shifts the dispensing rate schedule based on the time-zone change.
2. An infusion pump system, comprising:
a disposable and non-reusable pump device including a drive system to dispense medicine from the pump device, the pump device having a first electrical connector that is externally accessible, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device comprises a pump housing that defines a space to slidably receive a medicine cartridge, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device includes at least one retainer structure configured to hinder removal of the medicine cartridge after exhaustion of the medicine cartridge and thereby prevent reuse of the pump device with a new medicine cartridge; and
a reusable controller device removably attachable to the disposable and non-reusable pump device such that the reusable controller device is mechanically mounted with the disposable and non-reusable pump device, the controller device comprising:
a second electrical connector that is engageable with the first connector to provide electrical communication between control circuitry of the controller device and the drive system of the pump device;
a user interface comprising a display device, the user interface being electrically connected to the control circuitry;
an external reference system that wirelessly receives an external reference signal indicative of a time of day from a portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device, the external reference system being electrically connected to the control circuitry; and
a processor that updates a time setting of the infusion pump system based on the external reference signal to provide an updated time setting;
wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device based on the updated time setting.
3. An infusion pump system, comprising:
a disposable and non-reusable pump device including a drive system to dispense medicine from the pump device, the pump device having a first electrical connector that is externally accessible, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device comprises a pump housing that has an interior cavity a space to slidably receive the medicine cartridge inserted through an external opening of the pump housing, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device further comprises a separate cap device configured to mate with the pump housing and cover the external opening so as to seal the medicine cartridge in the interior cavity; and
a reusable controller device removably attachable to the disposable and non-reusable pump device such that the reusable controller device is mechanically mounted with the disposable and non-reusable pump device, the controller device comprising:
a second electrical connector that is engageable with the first connector to provide electrical communication between control circuitry of the controller device and the drive system of the pump device;
a user interface comprising a display device, the user interface being electrically connected to the control circuitry;
an external reference system that wirelessly receives an external reference signal indicative of a time of day from a portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device, the external reference system being electrically connected to the control circuitry; and
a processor that updates a time setting of the infusion pump system based on the external reference signal to provide an updated time setting;
wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device based on the updated time setting.
4. The infusion pump system of claim 3 , wherein the cap device includes a penetration member to pierce a septum of the medicine cartridge when the cap device is mated with the pump housing.
5. An infusion pump system, comprising:
a disposable and non-reusable pump device including a drive system to dispense medicine from the pump device, the pump device having a first electrical connector that is externally accessible; and
a reusable controller device removably attachable to the disposable and non-reusable pump device such that the reusable controller device is mechanically mounted with the disposable and non-reusable pump device, the controller device comprising:
a second electrical connector that is engageable with the first connector to provide electrical communication between control circuitry of the controller device and the drive system of the pump device;
a user interface comprising a display device, the user interface being electrically connected to the control circuitry;
an external reference system that wirelessly receives an external reference signal indicative of a time of day from a portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device, the external reference system being electrically connected to the control circuitry; and
a processor that updates a time setting of the infusion pump system based on the external reference signal to provide an updated time setting;
wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device based on the updated time setting, and wherein the user interface of the reusable controller device prompts a user to confirm that a dispensing rate schedule should be adjusted based on the updated time setting.
6. An infusion pump system, comprising:
a disposable and non-reusable pump device including a drive system to dispense medicine from the pump device, the pump device having a first electrical connector that is externally accessible; and
a reusable controller device removably attachable to the disposable and non-reusable pump device such that the reusable controller device is mechanically mounted with the disposable and non-reusable pump device, the controller device comprising:
a second electrical connector that is engageable with the first connector to provide electrical communication between control circuitry of the controller device and the drive system of the pump device;
a user interface comprising a display device, the user interface being electrically connected to the control circuitry;
an external reference system that wirelessly receives an external reference signal indicative of a time of day from a portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device, the external reference system being electrically connected to the control circuitry, wherein the external reference signal indicative of the time of day is provided from the portable computing device using a network time protocol (NTP) of a computer network that includes the portable computing device; and
a processor that updates a time setting of the infusion pump system based on the external reference signal to provide an updated time setting;
wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device based on the updated time setting.
7. The infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a laptop computer.
8. The infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device via a Bluetooth connection.
9. The infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the reusable controller device adjusts a dispensing rate of the pump device based on the updated time setting.
10. The infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device according to a dispensing rate schedule based on time of day.
11. The infusion pump system of claim 10 , wherein the reusable controller device indicates a time-zone change based on the external reference signal and shifts the dispensing rate schedule based on the time-zone change.
12. The infusion pump system of claim 11 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is incrementally shifted to gradually correspond to the time-zone change.
13. The infusion pump system of claim 11 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is step shifted to immediately correspond to the time-zone change.
14. The infusion pump system of claim 11 , wherein the user interface queries a user to confirm whether operation of the wearable infusion pump system should be adjusted based on the time-zone change, and wherein the dispensing rate schedule shifting based on the time-zone change is only executed in response to input to the user interface.
15. The infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device comprises a pump housing that defines a space to slidably receive a medicine cartridge, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device includes at least one retainer structure configured to hinder removal of the medicine cartridge after exhaustion of the medicine cartridge and thereby prevent reuse of the pump device with a new medicine cartridge.
16. The infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device comprises a pump housing that has an interior cavity a space to slidably receive the medicine cartridge inserted through an external opening of the pump housing, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device further comprises a separate cap device configured to mate with the pump housing and cover the external opening so as to seal the medicine cartridge in the interior cavity.
17. The infusion pump system of claim 16 , wherein the cap device includes a penetration member to pierce a septum of the medicine cartridge when the cap device is mated with the pump housing.
18. The infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the user interface of the reusable controller device prompts a user to confirm that a dispensing rate schedule should be adjusted based on the updated time setting.
19. The infusion pump system of claim 5 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a laptop computer.
20. The infusion pump system of claim 5 , wherein the portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device via a Bluetooth connection.
21. The infusion pump system of claim 5 , wherein the portable computing device is connected to a computer network having a network time protocol (NTP), and wherein the external reference signal indicative of the time of day is provided from the portable computing device via the NTP of the computer network.
22. The infusion pump system of claim 5 , wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device according to a dispensing rate schedule based on time of day.
23. The infusion pump system of claim 22 , wherein the reusable controller device indicates a time-zone change based on the external reference signal and shifts the dispensing rate schedule based on the time-zone change.
24. The infusion pump system of claim 23 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is incrementally shifted to gradually correspond to the time-zone change.
25. The infusion pump system of claim 23 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is step shifted to immediately correspond to the time-zone change.
26. The infusion pump system of claim 23 , wherein the user interface queries a user to confirm whether operation of the wearable infusion pump system should be adjusted based on the time-zone change, and wherein the dispensing rate schedule shifting based on the time-zone change is only executed in response to input to the user interface.
27. The infusion pump system of claim 5 , wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device comprises a pump housing that defines a space to slidably receive a medicine cartridge, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device includes at least one retainer structure configured to hinder removal of the medicine cartridge after exhaustion of the medicine cartridge and thereby prevent reuse of the pump device with a new medicine cartridge.
28. The infusion pump system of claim 5 , wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device comprises a pump housing that has an interior cavity a space to slidably receive the medicine cartridge inserted through an external opening of the pump housing, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device further comprises a separate cap device configured to mate with the pump housing and cover the external opening so as to seal the medicine cartridge in the interior cavity.
29. The infusion pump system of claim 28 , wherein the cap device includes a penetration member to pierce a septum of the medicine cartridge when the cap device is mated with the pump housing.
30. The infusion pump system of claim 3 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a laptop computer.
31. The infusion pump system of claim 3 , wherein the portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device via a Bluetooth connection.
32. The infusion pump system of claim 3 , wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device according to a dispensing rate schedule based on time of day.
33. The infusion pump system of claim 32 , wherein the reusable controller device indicates a time-zone change based on the external reference signal and shifts the dispensing rate schedule based on the time-zone change.
34. The infusion pump system of claim 33 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is incrementally shifted to gradually correspond to the time-zone change.
35. The infusion pump system of claim 33 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is step shifted to immediately correspond to the time-zone change.
36. The infusion pump system of claim 33 , wherein the user interface queries a user to confirm whether operation of the wearable infusion pump system should be adjusted based on the time-zone change, and wherein the dispensing rate schedule shifting based on the time-zone change is only executed in response to input to the user interface.
37. The infusion pump system of claim 3 , wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device comprises a pump housing that defines a space to slidably receive a medicine cartridge, wherein the disposable and non-reusable pump device includes at least one retainer structure configured to hinder removal of the medicine cartridge after exhaustion of the medicine cartridge and thereby prevent reuse of the pump device with a new medicine cartridge.
38. The infusion pump system of claim 2 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a laptop computer.
39. The infusion pump system of claim 2 , wherein the portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device via a Bluetooth connection.
40. The infusion pump system of claim 2 , wherein the reusable controller device activates the drive system of the pump device according to a dispensing rate schedule based on time of day.
41. The infusion pump system of claim 40 , wherein the reusable controller device indicates a time-zone change based on the external reference signal and shifts the dispensing rate schedule based on the time-zone change.
42. The infusion pump system of claim 41 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is incrementally shifted to gradually correspond to the time-zone change.
43. The infusion pump system of claim 41 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is step shifted to immediately correspond to the time-zone change.
44. The infusion pump system of claim 41 , wherein the user interface queries a user to confirm whether operation of the wearable infusion pump system should be adjusted based on the time-zone change, and wherein the dispensing rate schedule shifting based on the time-zone change is only executed in response to input to the user interface.
45. The infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the portable computing device comprises a laptop computer.
46. The infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the portable computing device configured to provide short range wireless communication with the reusable controller device via a Bluetooth connection.
47. The infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is incrementally shifted to gradually correspond to the time-zone change.
48. The infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing rate schedule is step shifted to immediately correspond to the time-zone change.
49. The infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface queries a user to confirm whether operation of the wearable infusion pump system should be adjusted based on the time-zone change, and wherein the dispensing rate schedule shifting based on the time-zone change is only executed in response to input to the user interface.