# US 2016/0354544 A1 · Infusion Pump System and Method

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- Number: US 2016/0354544 A1
- Document ID: US20160354544A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/240,208
- Filed: 2016-08-18
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-03
- Assignees: Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc.
- Applicants: Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc.
- Inventors: Tracy Brewer; Wenkang Qi; Johannes T. VandenCrommenacker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354544A1

## CPC

- A61M 5/1723: {using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood sugar or pressure}
- A61M 5/14244: {adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body}
- A61M 5/14248: {of the skin patch type}
- 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 5/16831: {Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies (low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066)}
- A61M 5/50: having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile {(retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321)}
- A61M 2005/14264: {with means for compensating influence from the environment}
- A61M 2205/02: characterised by a particular materials
- A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
- A61M 2205/44: making noise when used incorrectly
- A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
- A61M 2205/587: Lighting arrangements
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- 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 an infusion pump system may be configured to detect when at least one component of the pump system is exposed to a moisture level above a threshold level. In particular embodiments, the infusion pump system can be equipped with a moisture level detection system that can sense when a moisture level above the threshold level has occurred to the pump device, which thereby enables the infusion pump system to initiate one or more patient safety countermeasures.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21

A medical infusion pump system, 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 electrically communicates with the pump drive system to control dispensation of the medicine from the portable housing when the medicine is received in the space; and
hydrophilic foam material positioned in the portable housing and in electrical communication with the control circuitry, the control circuitry being adapted to detect the absorption of moisture into the hydrophilic foam material.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 21, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to provide an indication of the moisture level in the portable housing.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 21, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to determine if a moisture level in the portable housing is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold level of moisture.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 23, wherein the control circuitry is configured to initiate an alarm in response to the indication that the moisture level in the portable housing is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold level of moisture.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The portable infusion pump system of claim 24, wherein, in response to the indication that the moisture level in the portable housing is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold level of moisture, the control circuitry is configured to disable the drive system, activate an audible alarm, and display of one or more messages on a user interface display located on the portable housing.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

The portable infusion pump system of claim 22, wherein the indication of the moisture level in the portable housing is based on a change in electrical resistance of the hydrophilic foam material.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 21, wherein the control circuitry is housed in a controller housing that is removably attachable to the portable housing.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 21, wherein the pump housing defines one or more liquid weep holes.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 28, wherein the one or more liquid weep holes have a predefined size for passage of liquid through the outer wall the pump housing after a submersion in liquid at a particular threshold depth or greater and for a particular threshold duration of time.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 28, wherein the one or more liquid weep holes are positioned adjacent the hydrophilic foam material.

### Claim 31

A method of controlling a portable infusion pump system, comprising:
sensing that a hydrophilic foam material positioned in a portable infusion pump system has a change in an electrical resistance; and
in response to the sensing that the change in an electrical resistance exceeds a threshold, disabling a pump drive system housed in the portable infusion pump system.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising in response to the sensing that the change in an electrical resistance exceeds a threshold, emitting an audible alarm.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32, further comprising in response to the sensing that the change in an electrical resistance exceeds a threshold, displaying one or more alert messages on a user interface display of the portable infusion pump system.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising in response to the sensing that the change in an electrical resistance exceeds a threshold, activating a light source of the portable infusion pump system that is different from the user interface display.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the portable infusion pump system defines one or more liquid weep holes.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more liquid weep holes have a predefined size for passage of liquid through an outer wall a pump housing of the portable infusion pump system after a submersion in liquid at a particular threshold depth or greater and for a particular threshold duration of time.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more liquid weep holes are positioned adjacent the hydrophilic foam material.

### Claim 38

A portable infusion pump system, comprising:
a pump device including a pump housing that defines a space to receive a medicine, 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 hydrophilic foam material positioned in 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 with the drive system positioned in the pump housing to control dispensation of the medicine from the pump device, the control circuitry being adapted to detect the absorption of moisture into the hydrophilic foam material.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 38, wherein the pump housing defines one or more liquid weep holes positioned adjacent the hydrophilic foam material.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The medical infusion pump system of claim 39, wherein the one or more liquid weep holes have a predefined size for passage of liquid through the outer wall the pump housing after a submersion in liquid at a particular threshold depth or greater and for a particular threshold duration of time