Infusion pump system and method
View Patent ↗Some embodiments of an infusion pump system may be configured to detect when at least one component of the pump system is exposed to an impact above a threshold level. In particular embodiments, the infusion pump system can be equipped with an impact detection system that can sense when an impact above the threshold level has occurred to the pump device, which thereby enables the infusion pump system to initiate appropriate patient safety countermeasures.
1. A method of operating an insulin infusion pump system, comprising:
controlling dispensation of insulin from a portable pump housing using control circuitry that electrically communicates with a pump drive system in the portable pump housing to selectively output the insulin according to a programmed dosage schedule; and
responding to an impact to the portable pump housing using a drop detector that is at least partially housed in the portable pump housing and that is in electrical communication with the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is in electrical communication with the drop detector so that the control circuitry initiates an alarm when the drop detector indicates that the impact to the portable housing is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling the pump drive system in response to the drop detector indicating that the impact to the portable housing is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined threshold level is below the level at which the impact causes the drive system to malfunction.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drop detector comprises a weighted member suspended in an interior space from one or more electrically conductive wires coupled to a drop detection circuit, and wherein the drop detector mechanism is configured to respond to the impact that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level by shifting from a first configuration in which the one or more wires are unbroken to a second configuration in which at least one of said one or more wires is broken.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drop detector comprises one or more magnetic members engaged with a portion of a drop detection circuit, and wherein the drop detector is configured to respond to the impact that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level by shifting the one or more magnetic members to a disengaged position relative to the drop detection circuit.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drop detector comprises a sensor circuit device mounted to a circuit board of the control circuitry.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sensor circuit device comprises one or more accelerometers configured to respond to the impact to the portable housing.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry initiates an audible alarm in response to the drop detector indicating that the impact to the portable housing is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, in response to the drop detector indicating that the impact to the portable housing is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold level, displaying one or more alert textual messages on a user interface display attached to the portable housing and illuminating an inspection light of the insulin infusion pump system, the inspection light being different from the user interface display.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is housed in a controller housing that is removably attachable to the portable pump housing, the method further comprising removably attaching the controller housing to the portable pump housing.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein one or more electrical contacts disposed on the controller housing engage with corresponding electrical contacts disposed on the portable housing when the controller housing is removably attached to the portable housing.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry and the pump drive system are both housed in the portable housing.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the drop detector comprises a sensor circuit device mounted to a circuit board of the control circuitry.
14. A method of operating a portable infusion pump system, comprising:
controlling dispensation of a medicine according to a programmed dosage schedule from a reusable pump apparatus that houses both a pump drive system and control circuitry within a single pump housing, the pump housing defining a cavity to slidably receive a prefilled medicine cartridge and having user interface display mounted thereto, the control circuitry being in electrical communication with the pump drive system to selectively activate the pump drive system; and
respond to an impact to the pump housing using a drop detector mechanism that is housed in the pump housing and that is in electrical communication with the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is in electrical communication with the drop detector so that the control circuitry initiates an alarm when the drop detector indicates that the impact to the portable housing is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising disabling the pump drive system in response to the drop detector mechanism indicating that the impact to the portable housing is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the predetermined threshold level is below the level at which the impact causes the drive system to malfunction.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the drop detector mechanism comprises a sensor circuit device mounted to a circuit board of the control circuitry.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sensor circuit device comprises one or more accelerometers configured to respond to the impact to the pump housing.
19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying on the user interface display an alert textual message in response to the drop detector mechanism indicating that the impact to the portable housing is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level.