Operating an infusion pump system

#This document relates to an infusion pump system, such as a medical infusion pump system.

#Pump devices are commonly used to deliver one or more fluids to a targeted individual. For example, a medical infusion pump device may be used to deliver a medicine to a patient as part of a medical treatment. The medicine that is delivered by the infusion pump device can depend on the condition of the patient and the desired treatment plan. For example, infusion pump devices have been used to deliver insulin to the vasculature of diabetes patients so as to regulate blood-glucose levels.

#A number of factors may affect the design of infusion pump devices. One such factor is the size of the device. The pump device may be sized to house the various pump components, yet a large device may reduce the portability for the user. Another factor that may affect the design of an infusion pump device is the convenience to the user. For example, if the pump device is designed to be controlled via a user interface on a large wireless module that must be separately carried, the user may not be able to monitor the operation of the infusion pump during use without first locating, handling, and interfacing with the separate wireless module. A number of infusion pump components can impact the overall size and portability of an infusion pump system and the convenience to the user.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infusion pump system, in accordance with some embodiments.

#FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the infusion pump system of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the infusion pump system of FIG. 1.

#Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

#Referring to FIGS. 1-2, some embodiments of an infusion pump system 10 include a pump device 100 that can communicate with a controller device 200. The pump device 100 includes a housing structure 110 that defines a cavity 116 in which a fluid cartridge 120 is received. In this embodiment, the pump system 10 in a medical infusion pump system that is configured to controllably dispense a medicine from the cartridge 120. As such, the fluid cartridge 120 may contain a medicine to be infused into the tissue or vasculature of a targeted individual, such as a human or animal patient. For example, the pump device 100 can be adapted to receive a medicine cartridge 120 in the form of carpule that is preloaded with insulin or another medicine for use in the treatment of Diabetes (e.g., Byetta®, Symlin®, or others). Such a cartridge 120 may be supplied, for example, by Eli Lilly and Co. of Indianapolis, Ind. Other examples of medicines contained in the fluid cartridge 120 include: pain relief drugs, hormone therapy, blood pressure treatments, anti-emetics, osteoporosis treatments, or other injectable medicines.

#In some embodiments, the controller device 200 may be removably attached to pump device 100 so that the two components are mechanically mounted to one another in a fixed relationship. Such a mechanical mounting can releasably secure an electrical connection between the removable controller device 200 and the pump device 100. For example, the controller device 200 may be in electrical communication with a portion of a drive system (not shown in FIGS. 1-2) of the pump device 100. As described in more detail below, the pump device 100 includes a drive system that causes controlled dispensation of the medicine or other fluid from the cartridge 120. In some embodiments, the drive system incrementally advances a piston rod (not shown in FIGS. 1-2) longitudinally into the cartridge 120 so that the fluid is force out of the output end 122. In this embodiment, the septum at the output end 122 can be pierced to permit fluid outflow when a cap member 115 is connected to the pump housing structure 110 (described in more detail below, for example, in connection with FIG. 5). Thus, when the pump device 100 and the controller device 200 are removably attached and thereby electrically connected, the controller device 200 communicates electronic control signals via hard-wire-connection to the drive system or other components of the pump device 100. In response to the electrical control signals from the controller device 200, the drive system of the pump device 100 causes medicine to incrementally dispense from the medicine cartridge 120.