Apparatus for Detecting Mating of a Cap with a Fluid Delivery Device and Method

Abstract

This disclosure includes an apparatus for detecting mating of a cap with a fluid delivery device having a housing, a receptacle, and a sensor. The housing is configured to carry an insulin delivery device having a reservoir of the fluid. The receptacle is provided by the housing having a coupling with a locking recess configured to receive a cap with a sprung locking arm. The pressure sensor is carried by the receptacle proximate the coupling and configured to detect engagement force of the sprung locking arm with the receptacle when mated with the housing. A method is also provided.

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         17 . A method of detecting user mating/demating of a cap and a delivery tube with a fluid delivery device, comprising:
 providing a housing supporting a reservoir of fluid having a receptacle, a cap with a fluid insulin delivery tube configured to removably mate with the receptacle, and a pair of mating interlocking connectors provided between the cap and the receptacle, the connectors on the cap having a locking wing with a outwardly extending finger extending from a flexible arm that is urged inwardly when de-mating and mating the cap from the receptacle proximate a locked position;   detecting a force from the urged flexible arm while engaging and disengaging the cap from the receptacle; and   recording in a memory the detected force between the cap and the receptacle during mating and demating.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein detecting comprises measuring pressure exerted from the urged flexible arm against an inner surface of the receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising recording in the memory the detected force exerted between the locked cap and the housing by the wing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising determining a locked condition of the cap to the housing by comparing the detected force with a known force indicative of the cap locked onto the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising comparing the recorded detected force with an acceptable range of forces to ascertain whether the cap is a compliant cap. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing detents in the receptacle for receiving the finger of the flexible arm on each interlocking connector in interlocked engagement. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising locking the cap within the receptacle by receiving each of the fingers within each of the corresponding detents in the receptacle. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing a pressure sensor within the recess proximate one of the detents, wherein detecting a force from the urged flexible arm comprises detecting pressure of the arm against the sensor prior to one of the fingers engaging within the one detent. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the detected pressure of the arm against the sensor prior to one of the fingers engaging within the one detent indicates a first unlocked state. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein detecting a force from the urged flexible arm comprises detecting pressure of the arm against the sensor when one of the fingers engages within the one detent. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the detected pressure of the arm against the sensor when one of the fingers engages within the one detent indicates a second locked state. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising detecting whether the cap is in the locked position relative to the receptacle by comparing the detected force between the cap and the receptacle recorded in the memory with a range of forces indicative of the locked state. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising detecting whether the cap is a non-complying after-market cap by comparing one of the first state and the second state in the memory with a known range of forces corresponding with a complying factory cap. 
     
     
         30 . A method of detecting user mating/demating of a cap and a delivery tube with a fluid delivery device, comprising:
 providing a housing supporting a reservoir of fluid having a receptacle, a sensor provided in the receptacle, a cap with a fluid insulin delivery tube configured to removably mate with the receptacle, and a pair of mating interlocking connectors provided between the cap and the receptacle, the connectors on the cap having a locking wing with a outwardly extending finger extending from a flexible arm that is urged inwardly when de-mating and mating the cap from the receptacle proximate a locked position;   detecting a force from the urged flexible arm with the sensor while engaging and disengaging the cap from the receptacle; and   recording in a memory the detected force between the cap and the receptacle during mating and demating.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor provided within a recess of the receptacle. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , providing a pair of detents in the receptacle along an inner surface of the recess configured to receive the finger of the flexible arm on each interlocking connector in interlocked engagement. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the pressure sensor is provided proximate one of the detents, and wherein detecting a force from the urged flexible arm comprises detecting pressure of the arm against the sensor prior to one of the fingers engaging within the one detent. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein detecting comprises measuring pressure exerted from the urged flexible arm against an inner surface of the receptacle. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the detected pressure of the arm against the sensor prior to one of the fingers engaging within the one detent indicates a first unlocked state. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein detecting a force from the urged flexible arm comprises detecting pressure of the arm against the sensor when one of the fingers engages within the one detent indicating a second locked state.