Abstract: An infusion system includes a characteristic determining device and an infusion device. The characteristic determining device includes a receptacle for receiving and testing an analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the analyte in the user. The characteristic determining device also includes a communication system for transmitting a communication including data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user, and the infusion device includes a communication system for receiving the communication from the characteristic determining device. The infusion device further includes a bolus estimator for calculating an estimated amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user based upon the received data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user and a target concentration of the analyte in the user, and an indicator to indicate when the estimated amount of fluid to be infused has been calculated.

Abstract: An infusion system includes a characteristic determining device and an infusion device. The characteristic determining device includes a receptacle for receiving and testing an analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the analyte in the user. The characteristic determining device also includes a communication system for transmitting a communication including data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user, and the infusion device includes a communication system for receiving the communication from the characteristic determining device. The infusion device further includes a bolus estimator for calculating an estimated amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user based upon the received data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user and a target concentration of the analyte in the user, and an indicator to indicate when the estimated amount of fluid to be infused has been calculated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. A base is provided which is adapted to receive a reservoir. The base has a base engagement member, such as a detent, projecting therefrom. A cap is provided which is adapted to receive the base. The cap includes a first cap engagement member, such as a detent opening, which is adapted to removably engage the base detent. The cap further includes a second cap detent opening which is adapted to removably engage the base detent. A piercing member, such as a needle, is disposed in the interior of the cap in such a manner that the needle is separated from the reservoir septum when the base detent is in the first cap detent opening, and the needle pierces the reservoir septum when the base detent is in the second cap detent opening.

Abstract: A system and method for degassing a fluid in a syringe comprising and inserting the fluid into a negative pressure device. The system may include a holder for holding the syringe; a guide affixed to the holder; a slide for holding a plunger of the syringe, the slide being movably attached to the guide; and a locking mechanism opposite the holder for maintaining a position of the slide. The fluid degasses when the locking mechanism maintains the position of the slide. The system may also include a piercing element adjacent the holder for piercing the syringe. The system and method may also be used for removing fluid from a negative pressure device.

Abstract: An infusion system includes a characteristic determining device and an infusion device. The characteristic determining device includes a receptacle for receiving and testing an analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the analyte in the user. The characteristic determining device also includes a communication system for transmitting a communication including data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user, and the infusion device includes a communication system for receiving the communication from the characteristic determining device. The infusion device further includes a bolus estimator for calculating an estimated amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user based upon the received data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user and a target concentration of the analyte in the user, and an indicator to indicate when the estimated amount of fluid to be infused has been calculated.

Abstract: An infusion system includes a characteristic determining device and an infusion device. The characteristic determining device includes a receptacle for receiving and testing an analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the analyte in the user. The characteristic determining device also includes a communication system for transmitting a communication including data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user, and the infusion device includes a communication system for receiving the communication from the characteristic determining device. The infusion device further includes a bolus estimator for calculating an estimated amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user based upon the received data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user and a target concentration of the analyte in the user, and an indicator to indicate when the estimated amount of fluid to be infused has been calculated.

Abstract: An infusion system includes a characteristic determining device and an infusion device. The characteristic determining device includes a receptacle for receiving and testing an analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the analyte in the user. The characteristic determining device also includes a communication system for transmitting a communication including data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user, and the infusion device includes a communication system for receiving the communication from the characteristic determining device. The infusion device further includes a bolus estimator for calculating an estimated amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user based upon the received data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user and a target concentration of the analyte in the user, and an indicator to indicate when the estimated amount of fluid to be infused has been calculated.

Abstract: A method of calibrating glucose monitor data includes collecting the glucose monitor data over a period of time at predetermined intervals, obtaining reference glucose values from a reference source that temporally correspond with the glucose monitor data obtained at the predetermined intervals, calculating the calibration characteristics using the reference glucose values and corresponding glucose monitor data to regress the obtained glucose monitor data, and calibrating the obtained glucose monitor data using the calibration characteristics. In additional embodiments, calculation of the calibration characteristics includes linear regression and, in particular embodiments, least squares linear regression. Alternatively, calculation of the calibration characteristics includes non-linear regression. Data integrity may be verified and the data may be filtered. Further, calibration techniques may be modified during a fast rate of change in the patient's blood glucose level to increase sensor accuracy.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for sensing an output of a sensor having at least one electrode pair and circuitry for obtaining and processing the sensor output. The electrode pair may be laid out such that one electrode is wrapped around the other electrode in a U-shaped fashion. The electronic circuitry may include, among other things, a line interface for interfacing with input/output lines, a rectifier in parallel with the line interface, a counter connected to the line interface and a data converter connected to the counter and the electrode pair. The data converter may be a current-to-frequency converter. In addition, the rectifier may derive power for the electronic circuit from communication pulses received on the input/output lines.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for dispensing flexible conduits, such as tubing or electrical cable, are disclosed, particularly for portable medical devices. An exemplary apparatus for dispensing flexible conduit or cable, includes a flexible conduit housing, including a base for temporarily housing a flexible conduit, the base having an opening for receiving the flexible conduit and a cover attached to the base for substantially closing the opening. The apparatus also includes an interface for mounting the housing. The flexible conduit is dispensable with the flexible conduit housing to a fixable variable length.

Abstract: A subcutaneous infusion set. The subcutaneous infusion set may include a base for providing an infusion path; a cannula connected to and extending away from the base; a connector removably attachable to the base; and a tubing affixed to the connector. The connector may be limitedly rotatable on the base when the connector is removably attached to the base. Also, a contiguous pass for passing fluids may be formed from the tubing to the cannula when the connector is removably attached to the base.

Abstract: An infusion system includes a characteristic determining device and an infusion device. The characteristic determining device includes a receptacle for receiving and testing an analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the analyte in the user. The characteristic determining device also includes a communication system for transmitting a communication including data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user, and the infusion device includes a communication system for receiving the communication from the characteristic determining device. The infusion device further includes a bolus estimator for calculating an estimated amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user based upon the received data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user and a target concentration of the analyte in the user, and an indicator to indicate when the estimated amount of fluid to be infused has been calculated.

Abstract: An infusion system includes a characteristic determining device and an infusion device. The characteristic determining device includes a receptacle for receiving and testing an analyte from the user to determine a concentration of the analyte in the user. The characteristic determining device also includes a communication system for transmitting a communication including data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user, and the infusion device includes a communication system for receiving the communication from the characteristic determining device. The infusion device further includes a bolus estimator for calculating an estimated amount of fluid to be infused into the body of the user based upon the received data indicative of the determined concentration of the analyte in the user and a target concentration of the analyte in the user, and an indicator to indicate when the estimated amount of fluid to be infused has been calculated.

Abstract: A substrate with hermetically sealed vias extending from one side of the substrate to another and a method for fabricating same. The vias may be filled with a conductive material such as, for example, a fritless ink. The conductive path formed by the conductive material aids in sealing one side of the substrate from another. One side of the substrate may include a sensing element and another side of the substrate may include sensing electronics.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit substrate for multi-chip modules or hybrid circuits includes a dielectric base substrate, conductors formed on the base substrate and a vacuum deposited dielectric thin film formed over the conductors and the base substrate. The vacuum deposited dielectric thin film is patterned using sacrificial structures formed by shadow mask techniques. Substrates formed in this manner enable significant increases in interconnect density and significant reduction of over-all substrate thickness.

Abstract: A portable infusion system that is programmable by an individual for delivering fluid from a reservoir into a user includes a drive mechanism, an input device, a processor, and a display. The drive mechanism forces the fluid out of the reservoir, and the input device accepts one or more inputs. The processor uses one or more of the one or more inputs to control the drive mechanism. The display receives information from the processor and visually displays one or more screens containing the information. At least one of the one or more screens includes a menu with at least two menu items, and the input device is used to select one menu item from amongst the at least two menu items.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter having tubings extending into lumens within the catheter. The lumens may be used for blood, drugs or other medicants. The lumens may also be used for sensors. The junction element, external to the patient, connects the tubings to the lumens. The tubings, also external to the patient, connect to infusion members, to which one or more infusion systems may be connected to deliver blood, drugs and other medicants to the patient. A sensor having a sensing element may extend through the sensor lumen and be positioned internal to the patient for physiological parameter sensing. An external portion of the sensor may be connected to associated electronics to provide automatic monitoring of the physiological parameters and automatic delivery and control of the infusants.

Abstract: An infusion set for subcutaneous delivery of an infusant. The infusion set may include a base removably attachable to an infusion site and a connector temporarily lockable to the base. The connector can engage the base in a plurality of orientations. The connector locks into the base after at least partial rotation of the connector about the base. The connector may include flexible arms which unlock the connector from the base. The base includes a cannula for insertion through the infusion site. The connector includes a tubing for passing the infusant. The infusant is subcutaneously passable from the tubing through the cannula when the connector is attached to the base. The infusion set may also include a hub removably attachable to the base that includes a needle that extends through the base and the cannula and a guard removably attachable to the base opposite the hub for surrounding the needle.

Abstract: A device to determine the level of a substance of interest in a patient's body and provide a therapeutic amount of medicament is disclosed. The level of a substance of interest in the patient's body is determined by iontopheretically sampling the patient's blood and then analyzing the resulting sample to determine the level of the substance of interest. The information about the level of a substance of interest is transmitted to an implanted drug pump in the patient's body. In the preferred embodiment, the substance of interest sensor is an external sensor applied to the user's skin. In an alternate embodiment, the sensor may be implanted. The preferred method of transmitting information about the level of a substance of interest determined by the sensor is transmitted to an implanted drug pump in the patient's body is via a so called “body bus”. The “body bus” is a telemetry system where the patient's own body provides the interconnection between the iontopheretic device and the implanted drug pump.

Abstract: A modular external infusion device that controls the rate a fluid is infused into an individual's body, which includes a first module and a second module. More particularly, the first module may be a pumping module that delivers a fluid, such as a medication, to a patient while the second module may be a programming module that allows a user to select pump flow commands. The second module is removably attachable to the first module.