Fluid infusion patch pump device with automatic startup feature

Abstract

A fluid infusion device and related operating methods are disclosed. The fluid infusion device has a housing, a fluid pump mechanism, a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit coupled to the pump mechanism, and an insertion mechanism for inserting the conduit into the body. An exemplary method begins by detecting a first installation of a fluid cartridge module in the housing, wherein the detecting occurs after the housing has been affixed to the body. In response to the detecting, the operating method automatically activates the insertion mechanism to insert the fluid conduit into the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid infusion device comprising:
 means for detecting installation of a fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device; and   means for automatically inserting a cannula into a user in response to detecting installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to mechanically interact with a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to electrically interact with a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to magnetically interact with a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to optically detect a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to detect, based on inductive sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to detect, based on capacitive sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to detect, based on acoustic sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to detect, based on infrared sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to detect, based on radio-frequency identification (RFID), a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 an interface of the fluid infusion device that is configured to detect, based on resistive sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         12 . A method performed by a fluid infusion device, the method comprising:
 detecting installation of a fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device; and   in response to detecting installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device, automatically activating a cannula insertion mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 detecting mechanical interaction between an interface of the fluid infusion device and a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 detecting electrical interaction between an interface of the fluid infusion device and a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 detecting magnetic interaction between an interface of the fluid infusion device and a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 optically detecting a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 detecting, based on capacitive sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 detecting, based on infrared sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 detecting, based on radio-frequency identification (RFID), a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein detecting installation of the fluid cartridge comprises:
 detecting, based on resistive sensing, a carrier for the fluid cartridge upon installation of the fluid cartridge in the fluid infusion device.