Methods for monitoring infusion sites for ambulatory infusion pumps

Abstract

Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for improved use of infusion sites for infusion pumps. Apparatuses and methods for delivery of medicaments such as insulin disclosed herein can increase the effectiveness of therapy by more accurately determining when an infusion site is no longer absorbing insulin at an acceptable rate as well as determining the effectiveness of different infusion sites on the body with respect to each other and over time.

1 . A method of providing diabetes therapy to a patient with a portable infusion pump, comprising:
 detecting that a patient has inserted a cannula for delivery of medicament with the portable infusion pump at an infusion site on a body of the patient;   delivering the medicament to the patient at the infusion site with the portable infusion pump;   receiving data obtained by a glucose sensor;   monitoring glucose levels of the patient based on the data obtained by the glucose sensor;   determining if the monitored glucose levels are lowering as expected in response to the medicament being delivered to the patient; and   providing an infusion site alert to the patient if it is determined that the monitored glucose levels are not lowering as expected in response to the medicament.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing an infusion site alert includes instructing the patient to rotate to a new infusion site at a different location on the body. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising not instructing the user to rotate to a new infusion site until it is determined that the monitored glucose levels are not lowering as expected in response to the medicament. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting that the patient has inserted the cannula at the infusion site includes receiving user input instructing the portable infusion pump to fill the cannula with the medicament. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting that the patient has inserted the cannula at the infusion site includes receiving user input instructing the portable infusion pump to fill tubing extending between the portable infusion pump and the cannula with the medicament. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining if the monitored glucose levels are lowering as expected in response to the medicament being delivered to the patient includes determining if the monitored glucose levels are lowering as expected in response to one or more of preprogrammed basal insulin delivery, meal boluses and correction boluses. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining if the monitored glucose levels are lowering as expected in response to the medicament being delivered to the patient includes determining if the monitored glucose levels are lowering as expected in response to a test bolus of insulin delivered to determine a response at the infusion site rather than in response to actual or anticipated increases in glucose levels. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  1 , wherein determining if the monitored glucose levels are lowering as expected in response to the medicament being delivered to the patient includes generally continuously monitoring glucose levels with respect to the medicament being delivered. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  1 , wherein determining if the monitored glucose levels are lowering as expected in response to the medicament being delivered to the patient includes periodically monitoring glucose levels with respect to the medicament being delivered at regular intervals. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reviewing other factors that could cause the monitored glucose levels to not lower as expected in response to the medicament being delivered to the patient prior to providing the infusion site alert. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein reviewing other factors includes determining if a meal has recently been consumed by the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein reviewing other factors includes determining if the patient is exercising. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing diabetes therapy to a patient with a portable infusion pump, comprising:
 receiving user input indicating a location on a body of a patient being used as an infusion site for delivering medicament to the patient with a portable infusion pump;   delivering the medicament to the patient at the infusion site with the portable infusion pump;   receiving data obtained by a glucose sensor;   tracking medicament delivery parameters and glucose levels of the patient based on the data obtained by the glucose sensor while medicament is being delivered at the infusion site; and   storing the tracked medicament delivery parameters and glucose levels while the medicament is being delivered at the infusion site as a measure of an effectiveness of the infusion site.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising presenting a visual depiction of the body to the patient on a display, and wherein receiving user input indicating the location on the body of the patient being used as the infusion site includes receiving user input selecting the location on the visual depiction of the body. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  14 , wherein presenting the visual depiction of the body includes enabling selection of only locations on the body that are commonly used as infusion sites. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising presenting a list of locations on the body on a user interface, and wherein receiving user input indicating the location on the body of the patient being used as the infusion site includes receiving user input selecting the location from the list. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising presenting a text box on a user interface, and wherein receiving user input indicating the location on the body of the patient being used as the infusion site includes receiving user input identifying the location in the text box. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising storing tracked medicament delivery parameters and glucose levels while the medicament is being delivered at a plurality of additional infusion sites as measures of effectiveness of the plurality of additional infusion sites. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a recommendation for a subsequent infusion site based on the measures of effectiveness of the infusion site and the plurality of additional infusion sites. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing the recommendation for the subsequent infusion site includes evaluating a length of time since each of the infusion site and the plurality of additional infusion sites was previously used.