# US 10,307,536 B2 · Operating an infusion pump system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,536 B2 - Document ID: US10307536B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/850,355 - Filed: 2017-12-21 - Published: 2018-04-26 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-22 - Assignees: Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc. - Applicants: Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc. - Inventors: James Causey; Todd Kirschen; Mitchell Wenger; Steven A. Friedman; Joshua Colton; Keld Sloth Christensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307536B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/16886: {for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters} - A61M 5/14244: {adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body} - A61M 5/1454: {spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork} - A61M 5/1456: {with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir} - A61M 5/14566: {with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump} - A61M 5/162: Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube - A61M 5/16804: {Active flow controllers} - A61M 5/172: electrical or electronic - A61M 2005/14506: {mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork} - A61M 2005/31518: {designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members} - A61M 2205/273: preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables - A61M 2205/8212: with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Some embodiments of a medical infusion pump system include a pump device having a cap device that mates with a pump housing to retain a medicine cartridge therein. In addition to retaining the medicine cartridge in the pump housing, the cap device may perform a number of preparatory functions or safety functions. In addition or in the alternative, some embodiments of the pump device may include a drive system that advances a piston rod to dispense medicine to the patient in a safe and energy efficient manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating an infusion pump device, comprising: engaging a cap device with a pump housing of an infusion pump device so that the cap device covers an exterior opening of the pump housing and retains a medicine cartridge in a space defined by the pump housing, wherein the pump housing contains a piston rod that is movable toward an output end of the medicine cartridge, a forward end of the piston rod comprising a plunger engagement device including a plurality of substantially rigid pins or an adhesive layer; and adjusting a position of the medicine cartridge with respect to the pump housing from a disengaged position in which the plunger engagement device is unattached to a plunger of the medicine cartridge to an engaged position in which the plunger engagement device attaches the piston rod to the plunger via the plurality of substantially rigid pins penetrating longitudinally into the plunger or the adhesive layer engaging a rear face of the plunger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plunger engagement device includes the plurality of substantially rigid pins. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of substantially rigid pins penetrate longitudinally into the plunger through a majority of a longitudinal length of the plunger such that the plurality of substantially rigid pins reduce the compliance of the plunger when compression forces are applied to the plunger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plunger engagement device includes the adhesive layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of engaging the cap device with the pump housing causes the cap device to act upon the medicine cartridge to urge the plunger into attachment with the plunger engagement device of the piston rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising penetrating a septum disposed on the output end of the medicine cartridge with a needle device of the cap device when the cap device engages the pump housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the cap device to act upon the medicine cartridge to thereby urge initial break away movement of the plunger inside the medicine cartridge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of flow or nonflow of medicine through the cap device as detected by a flow sensor at least partially housed in the cap device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising locking at least a portion of the cap device into engagement with the pump housing to hinder replacement of the medicine cartridge after the medicine cartridge is exhausted. ### Claim 10 An infusion pump device comprising: a pump housing having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the pump housing defining a space open at the first end for receiving a medicine cartridge through the first end; a piston rod contained within the pump housing, the piston rod being movable toward an output end of a medicine cartridge received within the pump housing; a plunger engagement device connected to a forward end of the piston rod, the plunger engagement device including a plurality of substantially rigid pins or an adhesive layer; a cap device configured to engage the pump housing at the first end such that the cap device covers an exterior opening of the pump housing at the first end and retains the medicine cartridge in the space defined by the pump housing; wherein, the plunger engagement device is configured to attach the piston rod to a plunger of the medicine cartridge, at the second end of the pump housing, via the plurality of substantially rigid pins penetrating longitudinally into the plunger or the adhesive layer engaging a rear face of the plunger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The infusion pump device of claim 10, wherein the plunger engagement device includes the plurality of substantially rigid pins. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The infusion pump device of claim 11, wherein, when the plunger engagement device is engaged with the plunger, the plurality of substantially rigid pins penetrate longitudinally into the plunger through a majority of a longitudinal length of the plunger such that the plurality of substantially rigid pins reduce the compliance of the plunger when compression forces are applied to the plunger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The infusion pump device of claim 10, wherein the plunger engagement device includes the adhesive layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The infusion pump device of claim 10, wherein when the cap device is engaged with the pump housing, the cap device acts upon the medicine cartridge to urge the plunger into attachment with the plunger engagement device of the piston rod. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The infusion pump device of claim 10, wherein the cap device includes a needle device configured to penetrate a septum disposed on the output end of the medicine cartridge when the cap device engages the pump housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The infusion pump device of claim 10, wherein the cap device is configured to act upon the medicine cartridge to thereby urge initial break away movement of the plunger inside the medicine cartridge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The infusion pump device of claim 10 further comprising a flow sensor at least partially housed in the cap device, the flow sensor configured to indicate flow or nonflow of medicine through the cap device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The infusion pump of claim 10, wherein the cap device is configured to lock into engagement with the pump housing to hinder replacement of the medicine cartridge after the medicine cartridge is exhausted.