Fluid reservoir seating procedure for a fluid infusion device

A method of seating a fluid reservoir in a housing of a fluid infusion device prior to establishing an outgoing fluid flow path from the fluid reservoir, the fluid infusion device comprising a drive motor assembly, an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to the drive motor assembly for actuation of a plunger of the fluid reservoir, and a force sensor operatively coupled to the actuation mechanism, the method comprising:

• detecting insertion of the fluid reservoir into the housing, wherein insertion of the fluid reservoir into the housing causes a shaft of the plunger to engage the actuation mechanism;
• after detecting insertion of the fluid reservoir, obtaining a first measure of force using the force sensor, wherein the first measure of force is associated with interaction of the shaft with the actuation mechanism;
• comparing the first measure of force to a first threshold force value;
• when the first measure of force is greater than the first threshold force value, depressurizing the fluid reservoir;
• after depressurizing the fluid reservoir, or when the first measure of force is not greater than the first threshold force value, rewinding the drive motor assembly to achieve an equilibrium state for the fluid reservoir;
• and
• after rewinding the drive motor assembly to achieve the equilibrium state, advancing the drive motor assembly to obtain an initial seated state for the fluid reservoir.

A fluid infusion device comprising:

• a housing that receives a sealed fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir comprising a plunger and a shaft coupled to the plunger;
• a drive motor assembly in the housing;
• an actuation mechanism in the housing, wherein the actuation mechanism is operatively coupled to the drive motor assembly;
• a force sensor in the housing and operatively coupled to the actuation mechanism to obtain measures of force associated with interaction of the shaft with the actuation mechanism;
• and
• at least one processor in the housing and operatively coupled to the drive motor assembly and the force sensor, wherein the at least one processor:
• detects insertion of the fluid reservoir into the housing;
• thereafter, incrementally rewinds the drive motor assembly to achieve an equilibrium state for the fluid reservoir;
• thereafter, advances the drive motor assembly and obtains at least one measure of force using the force sensor until the at least one measure of force indicates that the fluid reservoir has reached an initial seated state;
• thereafter, performs a stabilizing cycle with the drive motor assembly to stabilize the fluid reservoir;
• and
• thereafter, advances the drive motor assembly and obtains at least one subsequent measure of force using the force sensor until the at least one subsequent measure of force indicates that the fluid reservoir has reached a subsequent sealed state.

A method of seating a fluid reservoir in a housing of a fluid infusion device prior to establishing an outgoing fluid flow path from the fluid reservoir, the fluid infusion device comprising a drive motor assembly, an actuation mechanism operatively coupled to the drive motor assembly for actuation of a plunger shaft of the fluid reservoir, and a force sensor operatively coupled to the actuation mechanism, the method comprising:

• obtaining a first measure of force using the force sensor, wherein the first measure of force is associated with interaction of the plunger shaft with the actuation mechanism;
• determining that the first measure of force is greater than a first threshold force value;
• in response to the determining, depressurizing the fluid reservoir by rewinding the drive motor assembly by a first rewind amount;
• after depressurizing the fluid reservoir, rewinding the drive motor assembly by a second rewind amount to achieve an equilibrium state for the fluid reservoir;
• after rewinding the drive motor assembly by the second amount, advancing the drive motor assembly by a first forward amount to obtain an initial seated state for the fluid reservoir;
• after obtaining the initial seated state, advancing the drive motor assembly by a second forward amount;
• after advancing the drive motor assembly by the second forward amount, rewinding the drive motor assembly by a third rewind amount to stabilize the fluid reservoir;
• after rewinding the drive motor assembly by the third rewind amount, advancing the drive motor assembly by a third forward amount to obtain a subsequent seated state for the fluid reservoir.