Infusion pump system and method
Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may be configured to wirelessly communicate with other devices using near field communication (NFC). In particular embodiments, by incorporating near field communication capabilities into the infusion pump system, user communications with the infusion pump system can be enhanced and simplified.
1. A medical infusion pump system, comprising: a plurality of near field communication (NFC) tags, each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags being encased in an individual housing, each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags storing respective information that corresponds to one or more actions to be initiated by a portable infusion pump in response to a receipt by the portable infusion pump of the respective information, at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags storing information comprising a value of carbohydrates; and the portable infusion pump comprising: a portable housing defining a space to receive a medicine; a pump drive system to dispense medicine from the portable housing when the medicine is received in the space; control circuitry that communicates control signals to the pump drive system to control dispensation of the medicine from the portable housing when the medicine is received in the space; and a NFC circuit electrically connected with the control circuitry to communicate to the control circuitry, wherein the NFC circuit is configured to wirelessly receive the respective information stored on each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to initiate one or more particular actions of the portable infusion pump that correspond to the respective information in response to receiving the respective information, wherein the one or more particular actions of the portable infusion pump comprise calculating a dispensation of the medicine, wherein said calculating the dispensation of the medicine is performed using the value of carbohydrates, and wherein the dispensation correlates to the value of carbohydrates; wherein each individual housing encases a single NFC tag and is physically separate from the portable infusion pump and the medicine.
2. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of NFC tags includes a first NFC tag and a second NFC tag, wherein the first NFC tag stores first information, and wherein the second NFC tag stores second information that is different than the first information.
3. The medical infusion pump system of claim 2 , wherein the portable infusion pump is configured such that when the NFC circuit receives the first information the control circuitry initiates one or more first actions that correspond to the first information, and wherein when the NFC circuit receives the second information the control circuitry initiates one or more second actions that correspond to the second information and that are different than the one or more first actions.
4. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the respective information stored on at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags comprises a unique identifier, and wherein, in response to the NFC circuit receiving the unique identifier, the control circuitry initiates actions of the portable infusion pump that correspond to the unique identifier.
5. The medical infusion pump system of claim 4 , wherein the actions of the portable infusion pump that correspond to the unique identifier comprise calculating a bolus dispensation of the medicine.
6. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer electrically connected to the control circuitry, wherein the accelerometer is configured to detect acceleration movement of the portable housing and to communicate the detected movement to the control circuitry, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to compare a characteristic value of the detected movement to a threshold movement value.
7. The medical infusion pump system of claim 6 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to activate the NFC circuit, based on the comparison of the characteristic value to the threshold movement value, to wirelessly receive information from an NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags.
8. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is housed in a controller housing that is removably attachable to the portable housing.
9. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote control device that is separate from the portable housing, wherein the remote control device is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless communication device connected to the control circuitry, and wherein the remote control device includes a second NFC circuit that is configured to wirelessly receive the respective information stored on each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags.
10. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags includes information that is indicative of one or more settings of the portable infusion pump.
11. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags includes information that is indicative of physical exertion.
12. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags includes information that automates an entry of a blood glucose reading.
13. The medical infusion pump system of claim 1 , wherein at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags is programmable such that the at least one NFC tag can be programmed to store information corresponding to a desired operation of the portable infusion pump.
14. A portable infusion pump system, comprising: a plurality of near field communication (NFC) tags, each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags being encased in an individual housing, each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags storing respective information, wherein each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags can wirelessly transmit the respective information to a device when positioned within an NFC proximity range with the device, at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags storing information comprising a value of carbohydrates; a pump device including a pump housing that defines a space to receive a medicine, and a drive system positioned in the pump housing to dispense the medicine from the pump device when the medicine is received in the space of the pump housing; and a controller device removably attachable to the pump housing so as to electrically connect with the pump device, wherein the controller device houses control circuitry configured to communicate control signals to the drive system positioned in the pump housing to control dispensation of the medicine from the pump device, and wherein the controller device houses an NFC circuit electrically connected with the control circuitry to communicate to the control circuitry, wherein the NFC circuit is configured to wirelessly receive the respective information stored on each NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to initiate one or more particular actions that correspond to the respective information in response to receiving the respective information, wherein the one or more particular actions of the portable infusion pump comprise calculating a dispensation of the medicine, wherein said calculating the dispensation of the medicine is performed using the value of carbohydrates, and wherein the dispensation correlates to the value of carbohydrates; wherein each individual housing encases a single NFC tag and is physically separate from the portable infusion pump and the medicine.
15. The portable infusion pump system of claim 14 , wherein the respective information stored on at least one NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags comprises a unique identifier, and wherein, in response to the NFC circuit receiving the unique identifier, the control circuitry initiates actions of the portable infusion pump that correspond to the unique identifier.
16. The portable infusion pump system of claim 15 , wherein the actions of the portable infusion pump that correspond to the unique identifier comprise calculating a bolus dispensation of the medicine.
17. The portable infusion pump system of claim 14 , further comprising an accelerometer electrically connected to the control circuitry, wherein the accelerometer is configured to detect acceleration movement of the portable housing and to communicate the detected movement to the control circuitry, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to compare a characteristic value of the detected movement to a threshold movement value.
18. The portable infusion pump system of claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to activate the NFC circuit, based on the comparison of the characteristic value to the threshold movement value, to wirelessly receive information from an NFC tag of the plurality of NFC tags.
19. The portable infusion pump system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of NFC tags includes a first NFC tag and a second NFC tag, wherein the first NFC tag stores first information, and wherein the second NFC tag stores second information that is different than the first information.
20. The portable infusion pump system of claim 14 , wherein the pump device is a one-time-use device equipped with one or more structures configured to prevent reuse of the pump device, wherein the pump housing includes an interior wall that defines a space to slidably receives an outer wall of a pre-filled medicine cartridge insertable through an opening defined by the pump housing, wherein the pump device further comprises a cap device that directly engages with the pump housing to enclose the pre-filled medicine cartridge in the pump housing when the pre-filled medicine cartridge is received in the space of the pump housing, and wherein the controller device is a reusable controller device including: a controller housing that is removably attachable to the pump housing in a fixed relationship; one or more electrical contacts disposed on the controller housing, the electrical contacts of the controller device being engageable with corresponding electrical contacts of the pump device when removably attached.