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 reservoir that contains the medicine. For example, if the reservoir is provided in a sealed form, the seal may require penetration before the medicine is infused to the user. Yet another factor that can affect the design of the pump device is the disposability. If, for example, the pump device is to be disposed after exhaustion (e.g., after a single use or a certain number of uses, after a particular period of time, or the like), reuse of the exhausted pump device may create a safety risk to the user.

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

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

#FIG. 3 is an perspective exploded view of a portion of the infusion pump system of FIG. 1.

#Referring to FIG. 1, an infusion pump system 10 can include a pump device 100 and a controller device 200 that communicates with the pump device 100. The pump device 100 includes a housing structure 110 that defines a cavity 116 in which a fluid cartridge 120 can be received. The pump device 100 also includes a cap device 130 to retain the fluid cartridge 120 in the cavity 116 of the housing structure 110. The pump device 100 includes a drive system (described in more detail below) that advances a plunger 125 in the fluid cartridge 120 so as to dispense fluid therefrom. The controller device 200 communicates with the pump device 100 to control the operation of the drive system. When the controller device 200, the pump device 100 (including the cap device 130), and the fluid cartridge 120 are assembled together, the user can (in some embodiments) conveniently wear the infusion pump system 10 on the user's skin under clothing or in the user's pocket while receiving the fluid dispensed from the pump device 100.

#The controller device 200 may be configured as a reusable component that provides electronics and a user interface to control the operation of the pump device 100. In such circumstances, the pump device 100 can be a disposable component that is disposed of after a single use. For example, the pump device 100 can be a “one time use” component that is thrown away after the fluid cartridge 120 therein is exhausted. Thereafter, the user can removably attach a new pump device 100 to the reusable controller device 200 for the dispensation of fluid from a new fluid cartridge 120. Accordingly, the user is permitted to reuse the controller device 200 (which may include complex or valuable electronics) while disposing of the relatively low-cost pump device 100 after each use. Such a pump system 10 can provide enhanced user safety as a new pump device 100 (and drive system therein) is employed with each new fluid cartridge 120.

#In use, the cap device 130 is coupled to the pump housing 110 to retain the fluid cartridge 120 in the cavity 116 of the pump device 100, and the pump device 100 (with the fluid cartridge therein) is removably attached to the controller device 200. The cap device 130 may be multifunctional in that it performs a number of functions for the pump device operation. For example, in some embodiments, attachment of the cap device 130 may cause one or more of the following preparatory functions: forcing the plunger 125 of the fluid cartridge 120 to secure to a piston rod (described in connection with FIG. 7B), piercing a septum 121 of the fluid cartridge 120 to provide a flow path for the fluid (described in connection with FIG. 7C), and priming the fluid cartridge 120 with a “break away” force to initiate movement of the plunger 125 in the fluid cartridge 120 (described in connection with FIG. 7D). In addition or in the alternative, attachment of the cap device 130 may also cause one or more of the following safety related functions: aligning a flow sensor with the fluid flow path (described in connection with FIGS. 8A-B), locking the fluid cartridge 120 in the pump housing 110 to thereby promote disposal of the pump device 100 after exhaustion (described in connection with FIGS. 8A-B), and ceasing or preventing the dispensation of fluid if the cap device 130 is improperly engaged with the pump housing 110 (described in connection with FIGS. 8A-B).