Controller device for an infusion pump

Abstract

An infusion system that includes a controller device and a communication system to provide for two-way communication between the controller device and an infusion device that controls delivery of fluids to a user's body. Either the controller device or the infusion device may be integrated with a characteristic determining device in a single housing. The housing, in turn, may include a test-strip receptacle and an illuminator disposed so as to illuminate an area covering the receptacle and a test-strip inserted therein. The illuminator may be configured to be activated automatically when a test strip is inserted into the receptacle, selectively by the user via a button, key, or similar mechanism, and/or when the ambient light level, measured, e.g., with a light sensor, falls below a predetermined intensity. The illuminator may be a LED emitting white light, and may provide illumination at various levels of intensity.

1 . A controller device adapted to be carried by a user, comprising:
 a controller device display;   a controller device transmitter adapted to transmit a first communication to an infusion device;   a controller device receiver adapted to receive a second communication from the infusion device;   a receptacle adapted to receive therein a test strip for testing a first analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the first analyte in the user; and   an illuminator disposed proximate said receptacle and configured to illuminate at least one of the receptacle and the test strip.   
     
     
         2 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the control device display includes a backlight, and the illuminator is configured to provide low-intensity illumination when said backlight is on. 
     
     
         3 . The controller device of  claim 2 , wherein said low-intensity illumination falls within a range of about 2 to about 5 millicandelas at 110° F. 
     
     
         4 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminator is configured to provide high-intensity illumination when the test strip is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The controller device of  claim 4 , wherein said high-intensity illumination falls within a range of about 40 to about 50 millicandelas at 110° F. 
     
     
         6 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminator is a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         7 . The controller device of  claim 6 , wherein the LED emits white light. 
     
     
         8 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminator is configured to project its light up to a distance of about 20 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the test strip has an insertion end and a free end, and the illuminator is configured to illuminate an area covering at least the test strip's free end when the test strip is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminator is configured to activate automatically when the test strip is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further including a processor adapted to process the determined concentration of the first analyte. 
     
     
         12 . The controller device of  claim 11 , wherein the controller device display is configured to display the determined concentration of the first analyte. 
     
     
         13 . The controller device of  claim 12 , wherein the controller device display is configured to display at least one of trends of the determined concentration of the first analyte and levels of the first analyte for a period of time selected by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The controller device of  claim 12 , wherein the first analyte is blood glucose. 
     
     
         15 . The controller device of  claim 12 , further including at least one of a visual indication, an audible indication, and a tactile indication to indicate when the determined concentration of the first analyte is below or above predetermined levels. 
     
     
         16 . The controller device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller device is configured to automatically contact an emergency response system if the determined concentration of the first analyte is below or above predetermined levels. 
     
     
         17 . The controller device of  claim 16 , wherein the controller device is further configured to transmit a global positioning signal to the emergency response system. 
     
     
         18 . The controller device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further adapted to process said second communication from the infusion device. 
     
     
         19 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the second communication includes instructions to display a first screen on the controller device display and wherein the infusion device includes an infusion device display configured to display a screen. 
     
     
         20 . The controller device of  claim 19 , wherein the screen displayed on the infusion device display is substantially the same screen displayed on the controller device display. 
     
     
         21 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication includes instructions for acts to be performed by the infusion device and the infusion device acts in response to the instructions. 
     
     
         22 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the infusion device is an insulin infusion pump. 
     
     
         23 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further including a controller device housing wherein each of the controller device display, the controller device transmitter, the controller device receiver, the receptacle, and the illuminator is disposed on or in the controller device housing. 
     
     
         24 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further including one or more input devices for at least one of data entry and option selection. 
     
     
         25 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller device display switches to an idle screen when communication between the controller device and the infusion device is interrupted and wherein the idle screen disappears from the controller device display after communication between the controller device and the infusion device is re-established. 
     
     
         26 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller device display is adapted to display on a remote device selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a computer monitor, a key fob remote, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, and a watch remote. 
     
     
         27 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller device transmitter transmits the first communication to the infusion device using wireless communication. 
     
     
         28 . The controller device of  claim 27 , wherein the wireless communication is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency, infrared, ZigBee, and Bluetooth. 
     
     
         29 . The controller device of  claim 27 , wherein the wireless communication is selected from single frequency communication, spread spectrum communication, and frequency hopping communication. 
     
     
         30 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further including options selected from the group consisting of voice synthesis, voice activation, polyphonic speakers for the vision impaired, and plugs on the controller device for headphones. 
     
     
         31 . The controller device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller device transmitter and receiver are combined into a transceiver. 
     
     
         32 . The controller device of  claim 31 , wherein the controller device transceiver is adapted to receive data from a remote station and transmit the received data to the infusion device. 
     
     
         33 . The controller device of  claim 32 , wherein the remote station is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a hospital database, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, and the internet. 
     
     
         34 . The controller device of  claim 1 , further including a light sensor to measure ambient light, wherein the illuminator is configured to activate when a level of ambient light measured by the light sensor falls below a pre-determined level. 
     
     
         35 . An infusion device adapted to be carried by a user and controlled by a controller device, the infusion device comprising:
 an infusion device display;   a drive mechanism operatively coupled to a reservoir containing a fluid to be infused into a body of the user;   an infusion device receiver adapted to receive a first communication from the controller device;   an infusion device transmitter adapted to transmit a second communication to the controller device;   a receptacle adapted to receive therein a test strip for testing a first analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the first analyte in the user; and   an illuminator disposed proximate said receptacle and configured to illuminate at least one of the receptacle and the test strip.   
     
     
         36 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the infusion device display includes a backlight, and wherein the illuminator is configured to provide low-intensity illumination when said backlight is on. 
     
     
         37 . The infusion device of  claim 36 , wherein said low-intensity illumination falls within a range of about 2 to about 5 millicandelas at 110° F. 
     
     
         38 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the illuminator is configured to provide high-intensity illumination when the test strip is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         39 . The infusion device of  claim 38 , wherein said high-intensity illumination falls within a range of about 40 to about 50 millicandelas at 110° F. 
     
     
         40 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the illuminator is a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         41 . The infusion device of  claim 40 , wherein the LED emits white light. 
     
     
         42 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the illuminator is configured to project its light up to a distance of about 20 mm. 
     
     
         43 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the test strip has an insertion end and a free end, and the illuminator is configured to illuminate an area covering at least the test strip's free end when the test strip is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         44 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the illuminator is configured to activate automatically when the test strip is inserted into the receptacle. 
     
     
         45 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , further including a processor adapted to process the determined concentration of the first analyte and the first communication received from the controller device. 
     
     
         46 . The infusion device of  claim 45 , wherein the infusion device further includes an infusion device housing and wherein each of the drive mechanism, the infusion device receiver, the infusion device transmitter, the infusion device processor, the infusion device display, the receptacle, and the illuminator is disposed on or in the infusion device housing. 
     
     
         47 . The infusion device of  claim 45 , wherein the infusion device further includes a bolus estimator used in conjunction with the infusion device processor for estimating an amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user. 
     
     
         48 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the infusion device receiver is further configured to receive data downloaded from a remote station. 
     
     
         49 . The infusion device of  claim 48 , wherein the remote station is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a hospital database, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, and the Internet. 
     
     
         50 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the infusion device receiver and transmitter are combined into a transceiver. 
     
     
         51 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the first communication includes instructions for acts to be performed by the infusion device and the infusion device acts in response to the instructions. 
     
     
         52 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , wherein the infusion device and the controller device communicate using wireless communication. 
     
     
         53 . The infusion device of  claim 52 , wherein the wireless communication is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency, infrared, ZigBee, and Bluetooth. 
     
     
         54 . The infusion device of  claim 52 , wherein the wireless communication is selected from single frequency communication, spread spectrum communication, and frequency hopping communication. 
     
     
         55 . The infusion device of  claim 35 , further including a light sensor to measure ambient light, wherein the illuminator is configured to activate when a level of ambient light measured by the light sensor falls below a pre-determined level.