# US 9,433,733 B2 · Methods and apparatuses for detecting occlusions in an ambulatory infusion pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,733 B2 - Document ID: US9433733B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/688,769 - Filed: 2015-04-16 - Published: 2015-08-06 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1998-10-29 - Assignees: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic Minimed, Inc. - Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg; Ian B. Hanson; Cary D. Talbot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433733B2 ## CPC - 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 5/14566: {with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump} - A61M 5/16854: {by monitoring line pressure} - A61M 5/16863: {Occlusion detection} - A61M 2005/14264: {with means for compensating influence from the environment} - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/332: Force measuring means - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2205/70: with testing or calibration facilities - Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation - 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)} - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system. The methods of detecting occlusions may be dynamic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting an occlusion in an infusion pump having a drive mechanism that includes a motor and one or more drive train components coupled to a reservoir for infusing fluid from the reservoir into a body of a user, the method comprising: (a) measuring a plurality of respective values of at least two different parameters associated with the motor or one of the drive train components; (b) calculating a respective average value based on said plurality of measured values for each of the at least two different parameters; (c) adding said respective average values to obtain a combined value; and (d) determining whether an occlusion has occurred in the fluid path of the infusion pu p by using the combined value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including removing, prior to calculating said respective average values, the highest measured value and the lowest measured value from said plurality of measured values for each of said at least two different parameters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one of said at least two different parameters is force. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determination as to whether an occlusion has occurred is made by using an occlusion detection method selected from the group consisting of a maximum measurement threshold method, a slope threshold method, a variance monitoring method, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further including determining that an occlusion has occurred if the combined value exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 6 A method of detecting an occlusion in an infusion pump having a drive mechanism that includes a motor and one or more drive train components coupled to a reservoir for infusing fluid from the reservoir into a body of a user, the method comprising: (a) measuring a plurality of respective values for each of a first value and a second value, said first value being equal to the magnitude of force applied to a drive train component and said second value being equal to the magnitude of the motor's drive current; (b) calculating a respective average value based on said plurality of measured values for each of said first and second values; (c) combining said respective average values to obtain a combined value; and (d) determining whether an occlusion has occurred in the fluid path of the infusion pump by using the combined value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further including removing, prior to calculating said respective average values, the highest measured value and the lowest measured value from said plurality of measured values for each of said first and second values. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the determination as to whether an occlusion has occurred is made by using an occlusion detection method selected from the group consisting of a maximum measurement threshold method, a slope threshold method, a variance monitoring method, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further including determining that an occlusion has occurred if the combined value exceeds a threshold value.