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.

1 - 41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . An external infusion system for infusing a fluid into a body, the infusion system comprising: 
 an external infusion device comprising: 
 a housing adapted for use on an exterior of the body;  
 a reservoir contained in the housing for containing the fluid before infusing;  
 a drive system for delivering the fluid from the reservoir into the body; and  
 an electronics system coupled to the drive system that uses a plurality of control parameters to regulate the drive system to deliver the fluid from the reservoir into the body;  
 wherein the infusion device has a predetermined usage life, and when the predetermined usage life for the infusion device expires, the infusion device ceases to deliver the fluid from the reservoir into the body; and  
   a supplemental device comprising: 
 an input device for inputting data to adjust at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device;  
 a display coupled to the input device for displaying the at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device; and  
 a communication system coupled to the input device and the display that interfaces with the electronics system of the infusion device to adjust the at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device.  
   
     
     
         43 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the predetermined usage life for the infusion device is programmed into the electronics system as a number of days the infusion device is in use.  
     
     
         44 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the predetermined usage life for the infusion device is programmed into the electronics system as a number of times the reservoir is replaced in the infusion device.  
     
     
         45 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the infusion device further comprises a power supply coupled to the drive system and the electronics system for providing power to the drive system and the electronics system.  
     
     
         46 . The infusion system of  claim 45 , wherein the power supply of the infusion device is a battery, and the predetermined usage life for the infusion device is programmed into the electronics system as a number of times the battery is replaced in the infusion device.  
     
     
         47 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the drive system of the infusion device comprises a shape memory alloy driven motor.  
     
     
         48 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the drive system of the infusion device comprises a DC motor.  
     
     
         49 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the supplemental device communicates with the infusion device using a wireless connection.  
     
     
         50 . The infusion system of  claim 49 , wherein the supplemental device communicates with the infusion device using RF frequencies.  
     
     
         51 . The infusion device of  claim 42 , wherein the infusion device further comprises an alarm that is activated when the predetermined usage life for the infusion device expires.  
     
     
         52 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the communication system of the supplemental device further interfaces with the electronics system of the infusion device to receive data from the infusion device.  
     
     
         53 . The infusion system of  claim 52 , wherein the display of the supplemental device further displays the data received from the infusion device.  
     
     
         54 . The infusion system of  claim 52 , wherein the supplemental device further comprises an alarm that is activated when the communication system receives data from the infusion device indicating that the predetermined usage life for the infusion device has expired.  
     
     
         55 . The infusion system of  claim 42 , wherein the fluid to be infused into the body is insulin.  
     
     
         56 . The infusion system of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device adjusted by the supplemental device is a basal rate of the insulin to be infused into the body.  
     
     
         57 . The infusion system of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device adjusted by the supplemental device is a bolus of the insulin to be infused into the body.  
     
     
         58 . An external infusion device for infusing a fluid into a body, the infusion device comprising: 
 a housing adapted for use on an exterior of the body;    a reservoir contained in the housing for containing the fluid before infusing;    a drive system including a shape memory alloy driven motor for delivering the fluid from the reservoir into the body; and    an electronics system coupled to the drive system that uses a plurality of control parameters to regulate the drive system to deliver the fluid from the reservoir into the body and that is adapted to interface with a supplemental device to adjust at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device;    wherein the infusion device has a predetermined usage life that is programmed into the electronics system as a number of days the infusion device is in use.    
     
     
         59 . The infusion device of  claim 58 , wherein when the predetermined usage life for the infusion device expires, the infusion device ceases to deliver the fluid from the reservoir into the body.  
     
     
         60 . The infusion device of  claim 58 , wherein the electronics system is adapted to interface with the supplemental device using a wireless connection.  
     
     
         61 . The infusion device of  claim 60 , wherein the electronics system is adapted to interface with the supplemental device using RF frequencies.  
     
     
         62 . The infusion device of  claim 58 , wherein the fluid to be infused into the body is insulin.  
     
     
         63 . The infusion device of  claim 62 , wherein the at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device adjusted by the supplemental device is a basal rate of the insulin to be infused into the body.  
     
     
         64 . The infusion device of  claim 62 , wherein the at least one of the control parameters of the infusion device adjusted by the supplemental device is a bolus of the insulin to be infused into the body.