US 9,518,813 B2Granted

Sensing systems and methods

AssigneeMedtronic MiniMed, Inc.

InventorsIan B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV

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Abstract

A fluidic media detection system for detecting a presence of fluidic media includes a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, the second housing portion for supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media; a fluid conduit supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion for providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the user when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and at least one interactive element, positioned near a portion of the fluid conduit, that interacts with the fluidic media when the fluidic media is present in the fluid conduit.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;
a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
a plurality of electrical contacts provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;
a shorting mechanism provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for contacting the set of main electrical contacts to establish an electrical connection with the main electrical contacts;
a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
and
electronic circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;
and
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source.

9 more elements

A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;
a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
a plurality of electrical contacts provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;
a shorting mechanism provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for interacting with the set of main electrical contacts;
a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
and
electronic circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;
and
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;
wherein the set of main electrical contacts interact with the shorting mechanism when the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide the first signal when the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide the second signal when the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts.

12 more elements

A medical device for treating a user, the medical device comprising:

a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user;
a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
a plurality of electrical contacts provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;
a shorting mechanism provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for interacting with the set of main electrical contacts;
a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength provided on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength provided on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
and
electronic circuitry configured to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism interacts with the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;
and
the electronic circuitry configured to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;
wherein the shorting mechanism is configured to establish an electrical connection between the set of main electrical contacts when the shorting mechanism interacts with the set of main electrical contacts.

10 more elements

A method of manufacturing a medical device for treating a user, the method comprising:

adapting a first housing portion to be carried by a user;
configuring a second housing portion to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
providing a plurality of electrical contacts on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the plurality of electrical contacts including a set of main electrical contacts and at least one other electrical contact;
providing a shorting mechanism on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the shorting mechanism for contacting the set of main electrical contacts to establish an electrical connection with the main electrical contacts;
providing a magnetic source having at least one of a certain magnetic field and a certain magnetic strength on at least one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
providing a sensor for detecting at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength on the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
configuring electronic circuitry to provide a first signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the set of main electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;
configuring the electronic circuitry to provide a second signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the shorting mechanism contacts the at least one other electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts;
configuring the electronic circuitry to provide a first sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of the certain magnetic field and the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source;
configuring the electronic circuitry to provide a second sensing signal in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are brought together and the sensor detects at least one of a magnetic field different from the certain magnetic field and a magnetic strength different from the certain magnetic strength of the magnetic source.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/900,463Filed 22 May 2013 · division
Priority: 30 Dec 2009
Published: US 2013/0253422 A126 Sep 2013
Granted: 13 Dec 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

G01B 7/14
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or…
A61M 5/1413
Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor: modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
A61M 5/14244
Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps: adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
A61M 5/14248
Adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body: of the skin patch type

Family

Application12/650,287Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Dec 2009
Application12/650,378Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Dec 2009
Application13/235,288Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Sep 2011
Application61/561,801Us provisional application · filed 18 Nov 2011
Application13/462,752Parent of this division · filed 2 May 2012
US 2013/0253422 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 Sep 2013
US 8,858,500 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application13/462,752Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 8,998,840 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 8,435,209 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2011/0160655 A1Published application
US 2011/0160666 A1Published application
US 2012/0004602 A1Published application
US 2012/0215163 A1Published application
US 9,518,813 B2This patent

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

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