Infusion pump assembly with a backup power supply

Abstract

An infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir assembly configured to contain an infusible fluid. A motor assembly is configured to act upon the reservoir assembly and dispense at least a portion of the infusible fluid contained within the reservoir assembly. Processing logic is configured to control the motor assembly. A primary power supply is configured to provide primary electrical energy to at least a portion of the processing logic. A backup power supply is configured to provide backup electrical energy to the at least a portion of the processing logic in the event that the primary power supply fails to provide the primary electrical energy to the at least a portion of the processing logic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 dispensing an infusible fluid from a reservoir of an infusion pump;   electrically coupling a first electric power supply to at least a portion of a processing logic;   detecting a failure of the first electric power supply to power the at least a portion of the processing logic;   electrically coupling a second electric power supply to the at least a portion of the processing logic after the failure is detected;   allowing the first power supply to charge the second power supply; and   prohibiting the second power supply from providing the second electric power to at least a second portion of the processing logic different than the at least a portion of the processing logic simultaneously with the allowing act.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first power supply includes a first battery. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second power supply is a super capacitor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the processing logic comprises includes one or more circuit partitioning components configured to divide the processing logic into first processing logic and second processing logic. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the first processing logic includes a first microprocessor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the second processing logic includes a safety microprocessor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the one or more circuit partitioning components includes one or more of a diode and a current limiting. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the diode is configured to allow the first power supply to charge the second power supply while prohibiting the second power supply from providing the second electric power to the first processing logic in the event that the first power supply fails to provide the first electric power to the first processing logic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the current limiting is configured to limit the amount of the first electric power available to charge the second power supply. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first power supply is configured to provide electrical energy to one or more subsystems included within the infusion pump. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first power supply and the second power supply are configured to provide electrical energy to an audio system included within the infusion pump. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the audio system is configured to provide an escalating alarm sequence in the event of a loss of a beacon signal, wherein the escalating alarm sequence includes at least a low-intensity alarm and a high-intensity alarm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the processing logic includes one or more circuit partitioning components configured to allow the first power supply to charge the second power supply by diverting a portion of the first electric power from the at least a portion of the processing logic to the second power supply. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 dispensing an infusible fluid from a reservoir of an infusion pump;   electrically coupling a battery to at least a portion of a processing logic;   detecting a failure of the battery to power the at least a portion of the processing logic;   electrically coupling a super capacitor to the at least a portion of the processing logic after the failure is detected;   allowing the battery to charge the super capacitor; and   prohibiting the super capacitor from providing power to at least a second portion of the processing logic different than the at least a portion of the processing logic simultaneously with the allowing act.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the processing logic includes one or more circuit partitioning components configured to divide the processing logic into first processing logic and second processing logic. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first processing logic includes a first microprocessor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the second processing logic includes a safety microprocessor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the one or more circuit partitioning components includes one or more of a diode and a current limiting. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the circuit partitioning component is configured to allow the battery to charge the super capacitor by diverting a portion of the power from the at least a portion of the processing logic to the super capacitor.