Patents Assigned to MiniMed
  • FLUID RESERVOIR SEATING PROCEDURE FOR A FLUID INFUSION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140163522
    Abstract: A method of seating a fluid reservoir in a housing of a fluid infusion device is presented here. The method is performed prior to establishing an outgoing fluid flow path from the fluid reservoir. The method begins by detecting insertion of the fluid reservoir into the housing of the fluid infusion device. In response to detecting the insertion, the method determines whether the fluid reservoir is in need of depressurization. When the fluid reservoir is in need of depressurization, the drive motor assembly of the fluid infusion device is rewound to depressurize the fluid reservoir. After depressurizing the fluid reservoir, an equalization state for the fluid reservoir is achieved. After achieving the equilibrium state, the drive motor assembly is advanced to obtain an initial seated state for the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Juan M. Alderete, JR., Salman Monirabbasi
  • MICROARRAY ELECTRODES USEFUL WITH ANALYTE SENSORS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THEM
    Publication number: 20140163346
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors having optimized electrodes and/or configurations of electrode elements as well as methods for making and using such sensors. Typical embodiments of the invention include glucose sensors used in the management of diabetes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Pesantez, Xiaolong Li, Bradley Chi Liang
  • Connectivity Verification and Notification
    Publication number: 20140162563
    Abstract: A system to monitor communications integrity is disclosed. The system includes a portable medical device with a medical device transmitter to establish a medical device link. The medical device link defined to periodically transmit data from the portable medical device to a remote system with a receiver to receive the medical device link. The remote system further including a remote system transmitter defined to establish a mobile device link. The mobile device link defined to periodically report status of the medical device link to the mobile system, the mobile system further having a plurality of alarm triggers associated with the integrity of the medical device link and the mobile device link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Mastrototaro
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING OCCLUSIONS IN AN AMBULATORY INFUSION PUMP
    Publication number: 20140148785
    Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on a series of measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Ian B. Hanson, Cary D. Talbot
  • Equilibrium non-consuming fluorescence sensor for real time intravascular glucose measurement
    Patent number: 8738107
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relates to analyte sensors. In particular, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to non-consuming intravascular glucose sensors based on fluorescence chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Markle, William Markle
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING OCCLUSIONS IN AN AMBULATORY INFUSION PUMP
    Publication number: 20140142499
    Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on a series of measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Ian B. Hanson, Cary D. Talbot
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALIGNMENT AND DETECTION OF A CONSUMABLE COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20140135692
    Abstract: Systems and methods for alignment and detection of a consumable component are disclosed herein. For example, a method for determining if a consumable component is coupled to a durable component to enable dispersion of a medicine is provided. The method includes determining if a signal from an electrical contact coupled to a durable component has changed an electrical state, and comparing the signal to a reference signal from a second electrical component coupled to the durable component. The method includes sampling a sensor coupled to the durable component to acquire sensor data indicative of a magnetic field observed by the sensor, and outputting data that a consumable component is coupled to the durable component if the signal is different than the reference signal, and the sensor data is within an acceptable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Juan M. ALDERETE, JR., R. Marie Tieck
  • METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DETECTING OCCLUSIONS IN AN AMBULATORY INFUSION PUMP
    Publication number: 20140135694
    Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump are provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump may be measured. Based on measurements of one or more variables, such as force, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system. The methods of detecting occlusions may be dynamic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Ian B. Hanson, Cary D. Talbot
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTIMIZING SENSOR FUNCTION BY THE APPLICATION OF VOLTAGE
    Publication number: 20140135605
    Abstract: A method is provided for initializing an analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor. Where a sensor has been disconnected and reconnected, a disconnection time is determined and a sensor initialization protocol is selected based upon the disconnection time. The sensor initialization protocol may include applying a first series of voltage pulses to the sensor. A method for detecting hydration of a sensor is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca K. Gottlieb, Chia-Hung Chiu, Ashwin K. Rao
  • METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DETECTING OCCLUSIONS IN AN AMBULATORY INFUSION PUMP
    Publication number: 20140128807
    Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system. The methods of detecting occlusions may be dynamic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Ian B. Hanson, Cary D. Talbot
  • GLUCOSE SENSOR SIGNAL PURITY ANALYSIS
    Publication number: 20140128706
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, etc. for glucose sensor signal purity analysis. In certain example embodiments, a series of samples of at least one sensor signal that is responsive to a blood glucose level of a patient may be obtained. Based at least partly on the series of samples, at least one metric may be determined to characterize one or more non-physiological anomalies of a representation of the blood glucose level of the patient by the at least one sensor signal. A reliability of the at least one sensor signal to represent the blood glucose level of the patient may be assessed based at least partly on the at least one metric. Other example embodiments are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Anirban Roy
  • Method and apparatus for detecting errors, fluid pressure, and occlusions in an ambulatory infusion pump
    Patent number: 8715237
    Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting a force sensor failure in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on the current measurements, the infusion pump detects when the plunger slide is seated in the reservoir, and detects a problem with the force sensor when the force sensor independently fails to register a value indicating that the plunger slide is seated in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Ian B. Hanson
  • Sensors with thromboresistant coating
    Patent number: 8715589
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to analyte sensors comprising a heparin coating, and methods of coating analyte sensors. The heparin can be stably associated with at least a portion of a porous membrane that covers a portion of the analyte sensors. The heparin can be photochemically linked to the coating through the formation of covalent bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Romey, Soya Gamsey, David R. Markle
  • Medical data management system and process
    Patent number: 8715180
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Cohen, Joel Goldsmith, Pam S. Roller, Sanford Widran, George W. Patterson, James R. Daugherty, William P. Van Antwerp
  • Reservoir barrier layer systems and methods
    Patent number: 8702655
    Abstract: A reservoir and a plunger head contained within may be configured to move relative to each other in response to at least one of the reservoir being detached from a base, the base and/or the reservoir being removed from a packaging, and the base and/or the reservoir being moved relative to each other. A first layer may be configured to define a reservoir, the first layer, which may be made of a material compatible with fluidic media in the reservoir, may be adjacent a second layer for inhibiting a diffusion through the second layer. A first layer that may be less than 0.3 mm and made of a cyclic olefin copolymer may be configured to define a reservoir. A reservoir may be defined by a wall made of a cyclic olefin copolymer and the wall may be for substantially preventing light from passing through the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin A. Chong, Eric M. Lorenzen, Rafael Bikovsky, Truong Gia Luan, Arsen Ibranyan
  • INSERTION DEVICE FOR AN INSERTION SET AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20140107581
    Abstract: An insertion device and insertion set. The insertion device for inserting at least a portion of at least one piercing member of an insertion set through the skin of a patient includes a device housing, a carrier body and a driver. The carrier body is slidably received within the device housing for movement between an advanced position and a retracted position. The carrier body also includes a receiving structure to support the insertion set in a position with the at least one piercing member oriented for insertion through the skin of the patient at a predetermined angle relative to the skin of the patient upon movement of the carrier body from the retracted position to the advanced position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Jason H. Safabash, Susan M. McConnell, Randy W. Adair, Jeffery V. Funderburk, April A. Marano, Jeffrey F. Field
  • Infusion device and driving mechanism for same
    Patent number: 8696631
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for delivery of infusion medium has a coil and an armature movable toward a forward position, in response to the electromagnetic field produced by activation of the coil. A piston is movable axially within a piston channel to a forward position, in response to movement of the armature to its forward position. The armature and piston are moved toward a retracted position, when the coil is not energized. In the retracted position of the piston, a piston chamber is formed between the piston and a valve member and is filled with infusion medium. As the piston is moved to its forward position, the piston chamber volume is reduced and pressure within the piston chamber increases to a point where the pressure moves the valve member into an open position through an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: John Gray, Robert W. Bosley
  • Sensor for detection of carbohydrate
    Patent number: 8700113
    Abstract: A sensor for the detection or measurement of carbohydrate analyte (such as glucose) in fluid comprises components of a competitive binding assay the readout of which is a detectable or measurable optical signal (such as FRET assay) retained by a material that permits diffusion of analyte but not the assay components, the assay components comprising: an animal lectin; and an analyte analogue capable of competing with analyte for binding to the lectin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesper Svenning Kristensen, Klaus Gregorius, Casper Struve, John Myhre Frederiksen, Yihua Yu
  • INFUSION DEVICE WITH A GROOVED PISTON CHANNEL WALL
    Publication number: 20140100527
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a fluid includes a housing, an inlet in the housing for receiving the fluid, and an outlet in the housing for discharging the fluid. A piston channel is provided within the housing through which the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet. An actuator is positioned within the housing and is moveable between a retracted position and a forward position, the actuator defining a piston chamber for storing fluid received through the inlet when the actuator is in the retracted position and for driving the fluid stored in the piston chamber toward the outlet when the actuator transitions from the retracted position to the forward position. The actuator includes an armature and a piston coupled to the armature and moveable within the piston channel. The piston channel wall is provided with a groove for conducting fluid from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: John Gray
  • Fluid reservoir seating procedure for a fluid infusion device
    Patent number: 8690855
    Abstract: A method of seating a fluid reservoir in a housing of a fluid infusion device is presented here. The method is performed prior to establishing an outgoing fluid flow path from the fluid reservoir. The method begins by detecting insertion of the fluid reservoir into the housing of the fluid infusion device. In response to detecting the insertion, the method determines whether the fluid reservoir is in need of depressurization. When the fluid reservoir is in need of depressurization, the drive motor assembly of the fluid infusion device is rewound to depressurize the fluid reservoir. After depressurizing the fluid reservoir, an equalization state for the fluid reservoir is achieved. After achieving the equilibrium state, the drive motor assembly is advanced to obtain an initial seated state for the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan M. Alderete, Jr., Salman Monirabbasi