Methods, apparatuses, and uses for infusion pump fluid pressure and force detection

US6485465B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC. · US

Inventors

• Sheldon B. Moberg · Thousand Oaks, US
• James Causey · Simi Valley, US
• Rex O. Bare · Lake Forest, US
• Andrew J. Scherer · Trabuco Canyon, US
• Bradley Joseph Sargent · Mission Viejo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 27, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 27, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2205/50
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An occlusion detection system detects an occlusion in a fluid path of an infusion pump. The infusion pump is for delivering fluid to a user. The infusion pump includes a housing, a motor, a reservoir, one or more drive train components, a sensor, and an electronics system. The motor is contained within the housing. The reservoir contains the fluid to be delivered. The one or more drive train components react to stimulus from the motor to force the fluid from the reservoir into the user. The sensor is positioned to measure a parameter associated with the motor or a drive train component, and the sensor produces three or more output levels across a range of measurements. The electronics system processes the senor output levels to declare when an occlusion exists.