Patents Assigned to MiniMed
  • Patent number: 8795231
    Abstract: An automated reservoir filling system for a portable medical device is disclosed. The system includes a vial sealed by a septum partially filled with a liquid and a gas occupying a headspace. The system further includes a reservoir with a volume defined between a reservoir septum and a plunger head. The plunger head is coupled to a plunger arm which is further coupled to a drive system. Further included is a transfer system with a vial end that pierces the vial septum and remains in contact with the liquid, and a reservoir end that pierces the reservoir septum and remains in the reservoir volume. A controller coupled to the drive system to actuates the drive system automatically drawing fluid from the vial to the reservoir through the degas system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin A. Chong, Arsen Ibranyan, Eric M. Lorenzen, Edgardo C. Halili
  • Patent number: 8792981
    Abstract: A portable medical device is provided with an internal accelerometer device. The medical device includes a circuit board, the accelerometer device, and a response module coupled to the accelerometer device. The accelerometer device is mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuit board, and it includes a plurality of mass-supporting arms for a plurality of electrically distinct sensor electrodes, piezoelectric material for the mass-supporting arm, and a proof mass supported by the mass-supporting arms. Each of the mass-supporting arms has one of the sensor electrodes located thereon. Acceleration of the proof mass causes deflection of the piezoelectric material, which generates respective sensor signals at one or more of the sensor electrodes. The response module is configured to initiate an acceleration-dependent operation of the portable medical device in response to generated sensor signals present at the sensor electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Yudovsky, Ian B. Hanson, Sheldon B. Moberg
  • Publication number: 20140207064
    Abstract: A fluid infusion device is provided. The fluid infusion device can include a fluid reservoir having a barrel portion and a housing defining a receiving portion for removably receiving the fluid reservoir within the housing. The housing can have a first side including a first engagement system that cooperates with the barrel portion to bias the fluid reservoir relative to the housing in a direction substantially opposite a direction of fluid flow out of the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew William Yavorsky
  • Publication number: 20140207065
    Abstract: A housing for a fluid infusion device is provided. The housing can include a first housing component including a first engagement system. The first housing component can define a first compartment and a second compartment. The first engagement system can be coupled to the second compartment and movable relative to the second compartment. The housing can also include a second housing component coupled to the first compartment of the first housing component. The second housing component can include a second engagement system. The second engagement system can be movable relative to the second housing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew William Yavorsky
  • Publication number: 20140207066
    Abstract: A fluid reservoir for use with a fluid infusion device is provided. The fluid reservoir can include a first portion having a first end and a second end. The first end can include an alignment feature and a delivery port. The fluid reservoir can include a second portion coupled to the second end of the first portion, with a portion of the second portion movable within the first portion to advance a fluid out of the delivery port. The fluid reservoir can also include a reservoir defined between the first portion and the second portion that receives the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew William Yavorsky
  • Patent number: 8784370
    Abstract: A system and process for providing safety limits on the delivery of an infusion formulation by an infusion pump system in response to a sensed biological state. The safety limits may comprise user-initiated event signals corresponding to events that may significantly affect the biological state. The safety limits may further comprise user-initiated event ranking signals for respective events which specify a degree, quantity, or measure for the respective event. The user-initiated event and event ranking signals may be communicated to a computing element associated with the infusion pump by an associated communication device having a user interface which comprises a plurality of user-selectable operators for entering information about the events and event rankings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Lebel, Timothy Starkweather
  • Patent number: 8784369
    Abstract: A system and method for providing closed loop infusion formulation delivery which accurately calculates a delivery amount based on a sensed biological state by adjusting an algorithm's programmable control parameters. The algorithm calculates a delivery amount having proportional, derivative, and basal rate components. The control parameters may be adjusted in real time to compensate for changes in a sensed biological state that may result from daily events. Safety limits on the delivery amount may be included in the algorithm. The algorithm may be executed by a computing element within a process controller for controlling closed loop infusion formulation delivery. The biological state is sensed by a sensing device which provides a signal to the controller. The controller calculates an infusion formulation delivery amount based on the signal and sends commands to an infusion formulation delivery device which delivers an amount of infusion formulation determined by the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Starkweather, Ronald J. Lebel, Rajiv Shah, Michael E. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140200923
    Abstract: Systems and processes for managing data relating to one or more medical or biological conditions of a plurality of subjects (such as patients) over a wide area network, such as the Internet, may be employed for diabetes subjects or subjects with other medical conditions requiring monitoring and/or treatment over time. Such systems and processes provide various functions for several types of users, including patients or subject-users, healthcare provider-users and payor entity-users and combinations thereof, which allow for improved treatment and medical data management of individual subjects and groups of subjects and which allow collection and analysis of aggregate data from many subject sources, for improving overall healthcare practices of providers and subjects (e.g., patients).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary COHEN, Joel GOLDSMITH, Pam S. ROLLER, Sanford WIDRAN, George W. PATTERSON, James R. DAUGHERTY, William P. VAN ANTWERP
  • Publication number: 20140200336
    Abstract: A sensor for the detection or measurement of a carbohydrate analyte in fluid comprises components of a competitive binding assay the readout of which is a detectable or measurable optical signal retained by a material that permits diffusion of the analyte but not the assay components, the assay components comprising: a carbohydrate binding molecule labelled with one of a proximity based signal generating/modulating moiety pair; and a carbohydrate analogue capable of competing with the analyte for. binding to the carbohydrate binding molecule, the carbohydrate analogue being a flexible water-soluble polymer comprising: polymerized or co-polymerised residues of monomer units, the monomer unit residues bearing pendant carbohydrate or carbohydrate mimetic moieties and pendant moieties which are the other of the proximity based signal generating/modulating moiety pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Jesper Svenning KRISTENSEN, Klaus GREGORIUS, Casper STRUVE, Yihua YU
  • Patent number: 8777924
    Abstract: An infusion system, which may be a closed loop, or “semi-closed-loop”, infusion system, uses state variable feedback to control the rate at which fluid is infused into a user's body. The closed loop system includes a sensor system, a controller, and a delivery system. The “semi-closed-loop” system further includes prompts that provide indications to the user prior to fluid delivery. The sensor system includes a sensor for monitoring a condition of the user and produces a sensor signal which is representative of the user's condition. The delivery system infuses a fluid into the user at a rate dictated by the commands from the controller. The system may use three state variables, e.g., subcutaneous insulin concentration, plasma insulin concentration, and insulin effect, and corresponding gains, to calculate an additional amount of fluid to be infused with a bolus and to be removed from the basal delivery of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sami S. Kanderian, Jr., Garry M. Steil
  • Patent number: 8777925
    Abstract: The disclosures made herein relate to an infusion device specifically adapted for syringe injections. In one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, an infusion device comprises a body including an accessible surface having a single inlet port therein, an engagement surface having a single outlet port therein, a medication delivery channel extending between the single inlet port and the single outlet port, and an identification feature on the accessible surface of the body adjacent to the single inlet port. The single inlet port of the medication delivery channel is tapered thereby forming a funnel-shaped entry into the medication delivery channel. A cannula is coupled to the body at the single outlet port and is adapted for receiving medication from the single outlet port and transmitting the medication therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventor: Catherine C. Patton
  • Patent number: 8777852
    Abstract: An implantable sensing system that includes a sensor for sensing a biological parameter, a processor connected to the sensor for processing the parameter and a drug delivery unit connected to the processor for responding to the processor based on the parameter. The processor is programmed to adjust an output of the sensor by compiling an array of data relating to the sensor, adjusting a sensor parameter a first time based on data in the array, adjusting a curve representing the sensor output based on data in the array and adjusting the sensor parameter a second time based on data in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanan Zhang, Lu Wang, Rajiv Shah
  • Patent number: 8777896
    Abstract: A system and method for providing closed loop infusion formulation delivery which accurately calculates a delivery amount based on a sensed biological state by adjusting an algorithm's programmable control parameters. The algorithm calculates a delivery amount having proportional, derivative, and basal rate components. The control parameters may be adjusted in real time to compensate for changes in a sensed biological state that may result from daily events. Safety limits on the delivery amount may be included in the algorithm. The algorithm may be executed by a computing element within a process controller for controlling closed loop infusion formulation delivery. The biological state is sensed by a sensing device which provides a signal to the controller. The controller calculates an infusion formulation delivery amount based on the signal and sends commands to an infusion formulation delivery device which delivers an amount of infusion formulation determined by the commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Starkweather, Ronald J. Lebel, Rajiv Shah, Michael E. Miller
  • Publication number: 20140194819
    Abstract: An infusion set is provided for use in delivering fluid through a cannula, which is housed on a cannula housing, to a selected subcutaneous infusion site on a patient. The fluid is generally a medication, e.g., insulin. The cannula is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway surrounded by a projection on the cannula housing that includes one or more rail-like extensions acting as guides. A connector connects the cannula housing to a fluid delivery system, e.g., an infusion pump. The connector includes a needle, one or more guide arms that slide over the rail-like extensions to guide the needle into the self-sealing septum, and one or more locking arms, with barbs at the end, to connect with corresponding recesses in the cannula housing. An introducer having one or more similar guide arms and locking arms, and a longer needle, may be used to insert the cannula into the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Susie E. Maule, Sheldon B. Moberg, Arin N. Holecek, Christopher G. Griffin, Julian D. Kavazov, Paul H. Kovelman
  • Patent number: 8771222
    Abstract: An infusion system, which may be a closed loop infusion system or “semi-closed-loop” system, uses state variable feedback to control the rate that fluid is infused into the body of a user. The closed loop infusion system includes a sensor system, a controller, and a delivery system. The “semi-closed-loop” system further includes prompts that are displayed or sounded or otherwise provide indications to the user prior to fluid delivery. The sensor system includes a sensor for monitoring a condition of the user. The sensor produces a sensor signal, which is representative of the condition of the user. The delivery system infuses a fluid into the user at a rate dictated by the commands from the controller. The system may use three state variables, subcutaneous insulin concentration, plasma insulin concentration, and insulin effect, and corresponding gains, to calculate an additional amount of fluid to be infused as a bolus and to be removed from the basal delivery of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sami S. Kanderian, Jr., Garry M. Steil
  • Patent number: 8764723
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to equalizing pressure in a reservoir containing fluidic media, possibly due to imperfect installation of the reservoir or an external influence such as an altitude or a temperature change. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled from the reservoir through a needle and contained in an interior volume of a pierceable member before the needle pierces the pierceable member to establish a flow path to a user. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a port of the reservoir into a chamber. In further embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a channel in a plunger head and out a passage in the reservoir when the channel and passage are aligned. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a valve, and the valve may be pierceable by a needle to establish a flow path to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin A. Chong, Julian D. Kavazov, Eric M. Lorenzen
  • Patent number: 8764707
    Abstract: An insertion device, generally used with an infusion set, including a needle being adapted for puncturing at one end and including at the opposite end a hub. The hub includes a handle part and a guard part that are capable of securing the needle through the use of locks. Locking structures are used to secure the insertion device in a position where the needle is covered in a locked position, avoiding unintended contact with the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Susie E. Maule, Mark D. Holt, Paul S. Cheney, II, Arin N. Holecek, Christopher G. Griffin, Julian D. Kavazov
  • Patent number: 8753326
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to equalizing pressure in a reservoir containing fluidic media, possibly due to imperfect installation of the reservoir or an external influence such as an altitude or a temperature change. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled from the reservoir through a needle and contained in an interior volume of a pierceable member before the needle pierces the pierceable member to establish a flow path to a user. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a port of the reservoir into a chamber. In further embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a channel in a plunger head and out a passage in the reservoir when the channel and passage are aligned. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a valve, and the valve may be pierceable by a needle to establish a flow path to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin A. Chong, Julian D. Kavazov, Eric M. Lorenzen
  • Patent number: 8755269
    Abstract: Operating techniques and methodologies for a body area network of medical devices are provided. One technique relates to an intelligent channel hopping scheme that detects loss of wireless synchronization on an initial wireless channel, thereafter obtains a measure of quality for the initial wireless channel, and then selects a new wireless channel when the obtained measure of quality fails to satisfy a threshold criteria. Another operating technique dynamically adapts an ordered list of available wireless channels in accordance with a quality measure of the available wireless channels. Thus, when quality degradation associated with a first wireless channel is detected, the ordered list can be updated to indicate a lower preference for the first wireless channel and to indicate a higher preference for a second wireless channel that does not suffer from quality degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventor: James Jollota
  • Publication number: 20140158873
    Abstract: A motor may be configured to drive a drive shaft and an engagement member supported on the drive shaft. A detectable feature comprising a rotary member may be supported on the drive shaft such that movement of the drive shaft by the motor changes a state of the detectable feature. At least one sensor may be arranged to detect the state of the detectable feature. Circuitry may be configured to provide a signal in response to a change in the state of the detectable feature detected by the at least one sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Ian B. HANSON, Paul F. BENTE,, IV, Jacques L. Favreau, Lothar Westerweck