# US 11,896,799 B2 · System and method for detecting presence of an infusion cartridge in an infusion pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,799 B2 - Document ID: US11896799B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/467,500 - Filed: 2017-03-23 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. - Applicants: Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. - Inventors: Geoffrey Kruse - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896799B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/152: pressurised by contraction of elastic reservoirs - A61M 5/14244: {adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body} - A61M 5/14212: {Pumping with an aspiration and an expulsion action} - A61M 5/145: using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. by means of pistons - A61M 5/16809: {by repeated filling and emptying of an intermediate volume} - A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus - A61M 2205/6009: for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security - 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 Infusion devices, systems, and methods can for detecting a presence or an absence of an infusion cartridge in an infusion pump. Embodiments may include a loading sequence, recording loading pulse width modulation (PWM) commands applied to an infusion pump motor during the loading sequence, setting a value of threshold PWM commands based on the loading PWM commands applied during the loading sequence and comparing values of operational PWM commands applied during pumping operations to the value of the threshold PWM commands. If the values of the operational PWM commands drops below the value of the threshold PWM commands by a predetermined amount, a missing infusion cartridge warning may be generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting a presence of an infusion cartridge in an infusion pump, comprising: installing the infusion cartridge in the infusion pump; initiating an infusion cartridge loading sequence; recording loading pulse width modulation (PWM) commands applied to an infusion pump motor during the infusion cartridge loading sequence; setting a value of threshold PWM commands based on the loading PWM commands applied to the infusion pump motor during the infusion cartridge loading sequence; generating operational PWM commands as electrical command input into the infusion pump motor causing the infusion pump motor to operate a drive mechanism of the infusion pump; controlling a velocity output of the infusion pump motor with a velocity loop algorithm by the generating the operational PWM commands as the electrical command input into the infusion pump motor; comparing values of the operational PWM commands that are generated as the electrical command input into the infusion pump motor during pumping operations to the value of the threshold PWM commands; and generating a missing cartridge indication if the values of the operational PWM commands drop below the value of the threshold PWM commands by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the value of the threshold PWM commands is an average value of the loading PWM commands. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the values of the operational PWM commands are average values of the loading PWM commands of each subsequent motor move during a pumping cycle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operational PWM commands are uniform amplitude voltage pulses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the predetermined amount is based on a pumping speed of the pumping operations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount is between 20% and 40% of the value of the threshold PWM commands. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount is between 40% and 60% of the value of the threshold PWM commands. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the missing cartridge indication generates the missing cartridge indication on a user interface of the infusion pump. ### Claim 9 The method of 1, wherein the values of the operational PWM commands as the electrical command input are proportional to an output load on the motor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a value of each of the operational PWM commands compared to the value of the threshold PWM commands is a duty cycle of a series of electrical pulses provided as the electrical command input to power the infusion pump motor for each motor move of a pumping cycle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the value of each of the operational PWM commands compared to the value of the threshold PWM commands is a unitless number. ### Claim 12 A method for detecting a presence of an infusion cartridge in an infusion pump, comprising: storing a threshold value of PWM commands; executing a closed loop motor control algorithm to generate operational PWM commands, the operational PWM commands representing a measure of electrical command input into an electric motor of the infusion pump that cause the electric motor to power a drive mechanism of the infusion pump; controlling a velocity output of the electric motor with the operational PWM commands that are generated as the electrical command input into the electric motor; operating the drive mechanism of the infusion pump in response to the operational PWM commands; comparing values of the operational PWM commands that are generated as the electrical command input into the electric motor while operating the drive mechanism to the threshold value of PWM commands; and generating a missing cartridge indication if the values of the operational PWM commands drop below the threshold value by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the values of the operational PWM commands are proportional to a load on the electric motor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: initiating an infusion cartridge loading sequence; and recording loading PWM commands applied to the electric motor during the infusion cartridge loading sequence. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the threshold value is an average value of the loading PWM commands. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the values of the operational PWM commands are average values of PWM commands of each subsequent motor move during a pumping cycle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the operational PWM commands are uniform amplitude voltage pulses. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, where the predetermined amount is based on a pumping speed of pumping operations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined amount is between 20% and 40% of the threshold value of PWM commands. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined amount is between 40% and 60% of the threshold value of PWM commands. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the generating the missing cartridge indication generates the missing cartridge indication on a user interface of the infusion pump. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the unitless number is a percentage. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a value of each of the operational PWM commands compared to the threshold value of PWM commands is a duty cycle of a series of electrical pulses provided as input to power the electric motor for each motor move of a pumping cycle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a value of each of the operational PWM commands compared to the threshold value of PWM commands is a unitless number. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the unitless number is a percentage.