Control tabs for infusion devices and methods of using the same

Abstract

An external infusion device that infuses a fluid into an individual's body includes a housing, a reservoir, a drive system, a power supply, electrical elements, and a tab. The reservoir contains the fluid, and the drive system forces the fluid from the reservoir. The electrical elements control the power to the drive system to regulate the rate that fluid is forced from the reservoir. The tab mates with the housing, and contains at least one electrical element. The tab is removable, and may be replaced with a different tab. The different tab may change the rate fluid is forced from the reservoir. A tab may be removed from one external infusion device and installed in a different external infusion device. The tab may be limited to use in a predetermined number of external infusion devices and may include a power supply.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An external infusion device for infusing a fluid into a body, the infusion device comprising: 
 a housing;    a reservoir in the housing that contains the fluid;    a drive system that forces the fluid from the reservoir;    at least one power supply that provides power to actuate the drive system;    one or more electrical elements coupled to the power supply and the drive system wherein the one or more electrical elements regulate the rate that the drive system forces fluid from the reservoir; and    a tab that mates with the housing, and wherein the tab contains at least one of the one or more electrical elements.    
     
     
         2 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab is replaceable with a different tab.  
     
     
         3 . An external infusion device according to    claim 2   , wherein the different tab changes the rate that the drive system forces fluid from the reservoir.  
     
     
         4 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes at least one of the at least one power supply.  
     
     
         5 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes a seal to improve resistance to water or contaminants entering the housing.  
     
     
         6 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the housing includes a seal that is in contact with the tab to improve resistance to water or contaminants entering the housing.  
     
     
         7 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab is insertable into an opening in the housing.  
     
     
         8 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab is attachable to the exterior of the housing.  
     
     
         9 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab is disposable.  
     
     
         10 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab, once it is installed, is not removable from the housing.  
     
     
         11 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the reservoir of the external infusion device can only be filled once.  
     
     
         12 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab is removable.  
     
     
         13 . An external infusion device according to    claim 12   , wherein the tab is removed from one external infusion device and mated with a different external infusion device to affect the operation of the different external infusion device.  
     
     
         14 . An external infusion device according to    claim 13   , wherein the tab may only be used in a predetermined number of external infusion devices.  
     
     
         15 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab affects whether a medicament filling apparatus can mate with the infusion device.  
     
     
         16 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab affects whether or not a fluid path between a medicament filling apparatus and the reservoir is open.  
     
     
         17 . A tab for an external infusion device having a housing containing a reservoir for fluid to be infused into a body and a drive system to force the fluid from the reservoir powered by at least one power supply and controlled by one or more electrical elements, the tab comprising: 
 a support structure that mates with the housing of the external infusion device; and    at least one of the one or more electrical elements attached to the support structure.    
     
     
         18 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab affects the rate that the fluid is infused into the body.  
     
     
         19 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab includes at least one of the at least one power supply.  
     
     
         20 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab includes a seal to improve resistance to water or contaminants entering the housing.  
     
     
         21 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein once the tab is installed it contacts a seal on the housing that improves resistance to water or contaminants entering the housing.  
     
     
         22 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab is insertable into an opening in the housing.  
     
     
         23 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab is attachable to the exterior of the housing.  
     
     
         24 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab is disposable.  
     
     
         25 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab, after it is installed, is not removable from the housing.  
     
     
         26 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab can only be used once.  
     
     
         27 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab is removable.  
     
     
         28 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab is removed form one external infusion device and mated with a different external infusion device to affect at least one control parameter of the different external infusion device.  
     
     
         29 . A tab according to    claim 28   , wherein the tab may only be used in a predetermined number of external infusion devices.  
     
     
         30 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab affects whether a medicament filling apparatus can mate with the infusion device.  
     
     
         31 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab affects whether or not a fluid path between a medicament filling apparatus and the reservoir is open.  
     
     
         32 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes all of the one or more electrical elements.  
     
     
         33 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes the drive system.  
     
     
         34 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes at least a portion of the drive system.  
     
     
         35 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes one or more components that are sensitive to sterilization treatments.  
     
     
         36 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes one or more components that are reusable.  
     
     
         37 . An external infusion device according to    claim 1   , wherein the tab includes one or more indicators.  
     
     
         38 . An external infusion device according to    claim 37   , wherein the one or more indicators indicate that the drive system is powered.  
     
     
         39 . An external infusion device according to    claim 37   , wherein the one or more indicators indicate that fluid delivery is in process.  
     
     
         40 . An external infusion device according to    claim 37   , wherein the one or more indicators indicate a power supply status.  
     
     
         41 . A tab according to    claim 17   , wherein the tab includes at least a portion of the drive system.