Methods and apparatuses for detecting medical device acceleration, temperature, and humidity conditions

Abstract

An ambulatory medical device for detecting acceleration, temperature, and/or humidity conditions in or around the medical device is provided. The medical device includes one or more acceleration, thermal, and/or humidity sensors which detect acceleration, temperature, and/or humidity conditions in or around the medical device. In response to detected conditions, the medical device may, among other things, alter the operation of the device, provide an alarm or warning to the user, or transmit data about the detected conditions to another device.

1 . An external infusion device for infusing fluid into a person from a reservoir, comprising:
 a housing adapted to be carried by on an exterior of the person;   a drive mechanism contained in the housing and operatively coupled to the reservoir to deliver fluid from the reservoir into the person's body;   a processor contained in the housing;   a memory coupled to the processor and adapted to store a predetermined temperature threshold; and   a thermal sensor coupled to the processor and adapted to provide a temperature output signal as a function of temperature in the housing;   wherein the processor is adapted to compare the temperature output signal with the predetermined temperature threshold, and to control the infusion device based on the temperature comparison.   
   
   
       2 . The external infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal sensor is one of a thermoresistor, a thermocouple, a thermal flow rate sensor, a resistance temperature detector, a platinum resistor, a diode temperature sensor, a silicon transistor thermometer, an integrated temperature transducer, a PTAT circuit, a thermopile, a pyroelectric thermometer, and a quartz thermometer. 
   
   
       3 . The external infusion device of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to provide at least one of a visual indication, an audible indication, or a tactile indication to indicate information to the person about the infusion device. 
   
   
       4 . The external infusion device of  claim 3 , wherein if the temperature output signal exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, the processor is adapted to control the infusion device by causing the indicator to provide an alarm or a warning to the person about the temperature output signal. 
   
   
       5 . The external infusion device of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid infused into the person is medication, and the predetermined temperature threshold corresponds to a temperature that causes the medication to degrade, and further wherein the alarm or warning indicates degradation of the medication to the person. 
   
   
       6 . The external infusion device of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature threshold corresponds to a temperature that causes the indicator to malfunction, and further wherein the alarm or warning indicates malfunction of the indicator to the person. 
   
   
       7 . The external infusion device of  claim 3 , wherein if the temperature output signal is less than the predetermined temperature threshold, the processor is adapted to control the infusion device by causing the indicator to provide an alarm or a warning to the person about the temperature output signal. 
   
   
       8 . The external infusion device of  claim 7 , further comprising a battery contained in the housing and adapted to provide power for the infusion device, wherein the battery has a discharge resistance, and wherein the predetermined temperature threshold corresponds to a temperature that causes the discharge resistance of the battery to increase by at least 10 percent, and further wherein the alarm or warning indicates reduced life of the battery to the person. 
   
   
       9 . The external infusion device of  claim 7 , further comprising a battery contained in the housing and adapted to provide power for the infusion device, wherein the processor is adapted to sample the battery at a first sampling frequency to determine remaining power of the battery, and further wherein if the temperature output signal is less than the predetermined temperature threshold, the processor is further adapted to control the infusion device by altering sampling of the battery from the first sampling frequency to a second sampling frequency. 
   
   
       10 . The external infusion device of  claim 7 , wherein the memory is further adapted to store a predetermined force threshold corresponding to a fluid occlusion in the infusion device, and further wherein if the temperature output signal is less than the predetermined temperature threshold, the processor is further adapted to control the infusion device by modifying the predetermined force threshold to provide a modified force threshold. 
   
   
       11 . The external infusion device of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter/receiver contained in the housing and coupled to the processor, wherein the transmitter/receiver is adapted to communicate with a remote device, and further wherein the processor is adapted to control the infusion device by causing the transmitter/receiver to send information about the infusion device to the remote device based on the temperature comparison. 
   
   
       12 . An external infusion device for infusing fluid into a person, comprising:
 a housing adapted to be carried by on an exterior of the person's body;   a processor contained in the housing;   an indicator operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to provide at least one of a visual indication, an audible indication, or a tactile indication to indicate information about the infusion device to the person;   a memory coupled to the processor and adapted to store a predetermined humidity threshold; and   a humidity sensor coupled to the processor and adapted to provide a humidity output signal as a function of humidity in or around the housing;   wherein the processor is adapted to compare the humidity output signal with the predetermined humidity threshold, and to control the infusion device based on the humidity comparison.   
   
   
       13 . The external infusion device of  claim 12 , wherein the humidity sensor is one of a capacitive humidity sensor, a resistive humidity sensor, and a thermal conductivity humidity sensor. 
   
   
       14 . The external infusion device of  claim 12 , wherein if the humidity output signal exceeds the predetermined humidity threshold, the processor is adapted to control the infusion device by causing the indicator to provide an alarm or a warning to the person about the humidity output signal. 
   
   
       15 . The external infusion device of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined humidity threshold corresponds to entry of water into the housing, and the indicator is adapted to provide the alarm or warning to the person about the entry of water into the housing. 
   
   
       16 . The external infusion device of  claim 12 , wherein if the humidity output signal is less than the predetermined humidity threshold, the processor is adapted to control the infusion device by causing the indicator to provide an alarm or a warning to the person about the humidity output signal. 
   
   
       17 . The external infusion device of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined humidity threshold corresponds to a humidity level that causes the infusion device to be susceptible to damage due to static electricity, and the indicator is adapted to provide the alarm or warning to the person about the static electricity. 
   
   
       18 . The external infusion device of  claim 12 , further comprising a transmitter/receiver contained in the housing and coupled to the processor, wherein the transmitter/receiver is adapted to communicate with a remote device, and further wherein the processor is adapted to control the infusion device by causing the transmitter/receiver to send information about the infusion device to the remote device based on the humidity comparison. 
   
   
       19 . An external ambulatory medical device for use on a person's body, comprising:
 a housing adapted to be carried by on an exterior of the person's body;   a processor contained in the housing;   an indicator operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to provide at least one of a visual indication, an audible indication, or a tactile indication to indicate information about the ambulatory medical device to the person;   a memory coupled to the processor and adapted to store a predetermined temperature threshold; and   a thermal sensor coupled to the processor and adapted to provide a temperature output signal as a function of temperature in the housing;   wherein the processor is adapted to compare the temperature output signal with the predetermined temperature threshold, and further wherein the processor is adapted to control the ambulatory medical device and the indicator is adapted to indicate information about the ambulatory medical device based on the temperature comparison.   
   
   
       20 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 19 , wherein the ambulatory medical device is an external infusion pump. 
   
   
       21 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 19 , wherein the ambulatory medical device is a glucose monitoring device. 
   
   
       22 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 19 , further comprising a transmitter/receiver contained in the housing and coupled to the processor, wherein the transmitter/receiver is adapted to communicate with a remote device, and further wherein the processor is adapted to control the ambulatory medical device by causing the transmitter/receiver to send information about the ambulatory medical device to the remote device based on the temperature comparison. 
   
   
       23 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 19 , wherein the thermal sensor is one of a thermoresistor, a thermocouple, a thermal flow rate sensor, a resistance temperature detector, a platinum resistor, a diode temperature sensor, a silicon transistor thermometer, an integrated temperature transducer, a PTAT circuit, a thermopile, a pyroelectric thermometer, and a quartz thermometer. 
   
   
       24 . An external ambulatory medical device for use on a person's body, comprising:
 a housing adapted to be carried by on an exterior of the person's body;   a processor contained in the housing;   an indicator operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to provide at least one of a visual indication, an audible indication, or a tactile indication to indicate information about the ambulatory medical device to the person;   a memory coupled to the processor and adapted to store a predetermined humidity threshold; and   a humidity sensor coupled to the processor and adapted to provide a humidity output signal as a function of humidity in or around the housing;   wherein the processor is adapted to compare the humidity output signal with the predetermined humidity threshold, and further wherein the processor is adapted to control the ambulatory medical device and the indicator is adapted to indicate information about the ambulatory medical device based on the humidity comparison.   
   
   
       25 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 24 , wherein the ambulatory medical device is an external infusion pump. 
   
   
       26 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 24 , wherein the ambulatory medical device is a glucose monitoring device. 
   
   
       27 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 24 , further comprising a transmitter/receiver contained in the housing and coupled to the processor, wherein the transmitter/receiver is adapted to communicate with a remote device, and further wherein the processor is adapted to control the ambulatory medical device by causing the transmitter/receiver to send information about the ambulatory medical device to the remote device based on the humidity comparison. 
   
   
       28 . The ambulatory medical device of  claim 24 , wherein the humidity sensor is one of a capacitive humidity sensor, a resistive humidity sensor, and a thermal conductivity humidity sensor.