US 6,024,539 AGranted

Systems and methods for communicating with ambulatory medical devices such as drug delivery devices

AssigneeSIMS Deltec, Inc.

InventorMichael L. Blomquist

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The invention relates to systems and methods for communicating with ambulatory medical devices, such as drug delivery devices, both locally and remotely. In one embodiment, a caregiver drug pump communicates with a remote patient drug pump for data gathering, trouble shooting, and operational program changes. The caregiver drug pump is substantially identical in configuration to the patient drug pump. The caregiver drug pump transmits caregiver key input signals to the remote patient drug pump. The patient drug pump receives the key input signals, accesses a desired program, and transmits information for display on the display of the caregiver drug pump. In another embodiment, a computer is provided for communicating locally and/or remotely with a drug pump. The computer may include a display with an image of a pump. The computer may be operated through the use of a mouse or touch screen with respect to the image of the pump, to simulate use of the pump while using the personal computer. The computer may also be used as a training aid for training a caregiver and/or patient how to use the drug pump.

A pump to pump communication system comprising:

(a) a local pump and a remote pump, each of the local and remote pumps including:
(i) a pumping mechanism;
(ii) processor means including means for controlling operation of the pumping mechanism;
(iii) operator input means for making an operator input of information to the processor means;
(iv) display means for displaying information from the processor means;
and
(v) a communications cable sensor;
(b) local and remote modems, and local and remote modem cables connecting the respective local and remote modems to the respective local and remote pumps;
(c) modem connect means for connecting the local and remote modems;
(d) first input signal program means associated with the processor means of the local pump for sending an operator's input signal from the operator input means of the local pump to the remote pump;
(e) second input signal program means associated with the processor means of the remote pump for receiving the operator's input signal from the local pump;
(f) first display signal program means associated with the processor means of the remote pump for sending a display signal from the processor means of the remote pump to the local pump;
(g) second display signal program means associated with the processor means of the local pump for receiving the display signal from the remote pump;
(h) disabling program means associated with the processor means of the remote pump for disabling the pumping mechanism of the remote pump during communication between the local and remote pumps over the modem connect means;
(i) remote pump paging signal program means associated with the processor means of the remote pump for sending an operator's input signal from the operator input means of the remote pump to the local pump;
(j) local pump paging signal program means associated with the processor means of the local pump for receiving the operator's input signal from the remote pump;
(k) unlock program means associated with the processor means of the remote pump for unlocking access to the processor of the remote pump in response to the operator's input signal received from the local pump;
(l) automatic lock program means associated with the processor means of the remote pump for locking access to the processor means of the remote pump after communication between the local and remote pumps over the modem connect means;
and
(m) first pump operation program means associated with the processor means of the remote pump for operating the pumping mechanism of the remote pump when the remote pump is disconnected from the remote modem cable.

17 more elements

Facts

Application

08/868,913Filed 4 Jun 1997 · continuation

Priority

9 Sep 1992

Granted

15 Feb 2000

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

F04B 43/082
Having tubular flexible members: the tubular flexible member being pressed against a wall by a number of elements, each having an alternating…
A61M 5/172
Means for controlling media flow to the body or for metering media to the body, e.g. drip meters, counters: electrical or electronic
F04B 49/065
Control using electricity: and making use of computers
F04B 51/00
Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations

Family

Serial942,288Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Sep 1992

Serial276,025Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Jul 1994

Serial586,952Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Jan 1996

US 5,485,408 AParent of this continuation

US 5,338,157 AParent of this continuation

US 6,024,539 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Abstract

Claims13