Systems and methods for delivering microdoses of medication

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are provided herein for delivering medication (e.g., insulin) via a wearable pump having a patch-style form factor for adhesion to a user's body. The reusable pump may be coupled to a disposable cap housing a microdosing system for delivering precise, repeatable doses of medication to a cannula configured to deliver medication to a target infusion area beneath the user's outer skin layer. The system further may include an applicator for inserting the cannula into the user's skin and/or applying an adhesive pad to the skin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medication infusion device comprising:
 a patch pump configured to be removably adhered to a wearer's skin for delivering doses of medication from a cartridge through a transcutaneous portion, the patch pump comprising a pump housing;   a pump motor disposed within the pump housing, the pump motor configured to pump the medication towards the transcutaneous portion;   a sensor configured to sense a parameter;   a vibration motor separate from the pump motor; and   a controller operatively coupled to the sensor and the vibration motor, the controller configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate to alert the wearer based at least in part on the parameter sensed by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the sensed parameter falls outside a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that an error has occurred associated with operation of the patch pump based on the sensed parameter to cause the vibration motor to vibrate based on the determination of the error. 
     
     
         4 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense a pressure within the cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . The medication infusion device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the pressure within the cartridge falls outside a predetermined pressure range. 
     
     
         6 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , further comprising a dosing tube disposed within the pump housing, the dosing tube configured to receive medication from the cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . The medication infusion device of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an occlusion within the dosing tube or the transcutaneous portion. 
     
     
         8 . The medication infusion device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the sensor detects information indicative of the occlusion within the dosing tube or the transcutaneous portion. 
     
     
         9 . The medication infusion device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the sensor detects repeated occlusions. 
     
     
         10 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to monitor glucose levels of the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The medication infusion device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the wearer's glucose level falls outside a predetermined glucose level range. 
     
     
         12 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is disposed in a housing separate from the pump housing. 
     
     
         13 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a photoplethysmographic module configured to sense at least one of the wearer's heart rate or physiologic parameters. 
     
     
         14 . The medication infusion device of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the at least one of the wearer's heart rate or physiologic parameters fall outside a predetermined photoplethysmographic threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an accelerometer and the sensed parameter is associated with the wearer's activity level. 
     
     
         16 . The medication infusion device of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the wearer's activity level is outside a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The medication infusion device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a temperature within the patch pump. 
     
     
         18 . The medication infusion device of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the vibration motor to vibrate when the temperature falls outside a predetermined range. 
     
     
         19 . A method for using a medication infusion device, the method comprising:
 providing a patch pump configured to be removably adhered to a wearer's skin for delivering doses of medication from a cartridge through a transcutaneous portion, the patch pump comprising a pump housing and a pump motor disposed within the pump housing, the pump motor configured to pump the medication towards the transcutaneous portion, the patch pump further comprising a vibration motor separate from the pump motor;   sensing a parameter using a sensor; and   causing the vibration motor to vibrate to alert the wearer based at least in part on the parameter sensed by the sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the vibration motor to vibrate comprises causing the vibration motor to vibrate when the sensed parameter falls outside a predetermined threshold.