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 for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:
 a housing that receives a fluid cartridge module having coded features thereon, wherein the coded features are physical features of the fluid cartridge module;   a fluid pump mechanism within the housing;   a drive motor coupled to actuate the fluid pump mechanism;   a transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism;   an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body; and   a processor device operatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein the processor device executes computer readable program instructions to initiate an automatic startup routine when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing, to interpret the coded features of the fluid cartridge module, and to automatically configure at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device in accordance with the coded features as interpreted;   wherein the insertion mechanism is automatically activated to insert the fluid conduit into the body when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a basal rate of the medication fluid to be delivered by the fluid infusion device. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions executed by the processor device initiate an automatic priming operation when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor system enclosed within the housing, wherein the sensor system detects when the fluid cartridge is initially installed in the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fluid infusion device is a disposable insulin pump device; and   the medication fluid comprises insulin.   
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a fluid infusion device comprising a housing, a fluid pump mechanism, a drive motor coupled to actuate the fluid pump mechanism, a transcutaneous conduit assembly having a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism, and an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body, the method comprising:
 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, wherein the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features integrated therein and implemented as electrically, optically, or magnetically detectable features;   in response to the detecting, interpreting the coded features of the fluid cartridge module;   automatically configuring at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device in accordance with the coded features as interpreted; and   in response to the detecting, automatically activating the insertion mechanism to insert the fluid conduit into the body.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 in response to the detecting, initiating an automatic startup routine for the fluid infusion device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a basal rate of the medication fluid to be delivered by the fluid infusion device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a programmed bolus value. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 after inserting the fluid conduit into the body, initiating an automatic priming operation to prepare the fluid infusion device for delivery of the medication fluid.   
     
     
         13 . A fluid infusion device for delivering a medication fluid to a body, the fluid infusion device comprising:
 a housing comprising a structural housing feature thereon, the housing configured to receive a fluid cartridge module having a structural cartridge thereon that cooperates with the structural housing feature;   a fluid pump mechanism within the housing;   a drive motor coupled to actuate the fluid pump mechanism;   a transcutaneous conduit assembly comprising a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid pump mechanism; and   an insertion mechanism for inserting the fluid conduit into the body, the insertion mechanism being automatically activated to insert the fluid conduit into the body when the fluid cartridge module is initially installed in the housing;   wherein, after the insertion mechanism inserts the fluid conduit into the body, the fluid pump mechanism performs an automatic priming operation to prepare the fluid infusion device for delivery of the medication fluid, the automatic priming operation initiated in response to engagement of between the structural housing feature and the structural cartridge feature during installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features;   the fluid infusion device reads the coded features in response to installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing; and   at least one operating parameter of the fluid infusion device is automatically configured in accordance with the coded features as read.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises a basal rate of the medication fluid to be delivered by the fluid infusion device. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 14 , wherein the coded features are integrated into the fluid cartridge module as electrically, optically, or magnetically detectable features. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the fluid cartridge module comprises coded features;   the fluid infusion device reads the coded features in response to installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing; and   the coded features are indicative of at least one characteristic of medication fluid contained in the fluid cartridge module.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 17 , wherein the coded features are integrated into the fluid cartridge module as electrically, optically, or magnetically detectable features. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the fluid infusion device is a disposable insulin pump device; and   the medication fluid comprises insulin.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid infusion device of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid infusion device initiates an automatic startup routine in response to engagement of between the structural housing feature and the structural cartridge feature during installation of the fluid cartridge module in the housing.