US 12,109,391 B2
Connection and alignment detection systems and methods
Ian B. Hanson, Wayne, PA (US); and Paul F. Bente, IV, South Pasadena, CA (US)
Assigned to Medtronic MiniMed, Inc., Northridge, CA (US)
Filed by MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC., Northridge, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/046,863.
Application 18/046,863 is a continuation of application No. 16/428,488, filed on May 31, 2019, granted, now 11,497,850.
Application 16/428,488 is a continuation of application No. 15/438,676, filed on Feb. 21, 2017, granted, now 10,350,353, issued on Jul. 16, 2019.
Application 15/438,676 is a continuation of application No. 13/791,773, filed on Mar. 8, 2013, granted, now 9,610,405, issued on Apr. 4, 2017.
Application 13/791,773 is a continuation of application No. 13/235,288, filed on Sep. 16, 2011, granted, now 8,435,209, issued on May 7, 2013.
Application 13/235,288 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/103,014, filed on May 6, 2011, granted, now 9,421,321, issued on Aug. 23, 2016.
Application 13/235,288 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/649,619, filed on Dec. 30, 2009, granted, now 8,308,679, issued on Nov. 13, 2012.
Application 13/103,014 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/650,378, filed on Dec. 30, 2009, granted, now 8,998,840, issued on Apr. 7, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/332,318, filed on May 7, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2023/0069487 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 5/172 (2006.01); A61M 5/14 (2006.01); A61M 5/142 (2006.01); A61M 5/145 (2006.01); A61M 5/168 (2006.01); A61M 5/50 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 5/172 (2013.01) [A61M 5/1413 (2013.01); A61M 5/14248 (2013.01); A61M 5/1456 (2013.01); A61M 5/1684 (2013.01); A61M 5/5086 (2013.01); A61M 2005/14268 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3389 (2013.01); A61M 2205/581 (2013.01); A61M 2205/582 (2013.01); A61M 2205/583 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6018 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6027 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6036 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6045 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6054 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6063 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6072 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6081 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49117 (2015.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A delivery system for delivering fluidic media to a user, the delivery system comprising:
a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user, and a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion;
a reservoir carried by one of the first housing portion or the second housing portion, the reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media and a plunger head moveable within the interior volume of the reservoir along an axial direction of the reservoir;
a drive device supported by one of the first housing portion or the second housing portion and configured such that, while the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged, the reservoir is operatively coupled to the drive device;
a first interactive element supported on the first housing portion;
a second interactive element supported on the second housing portion at a location to be interactable with the first interactive element; and
circuitry configured to detect an interaction between the first interactive element and the second interactive element, and, in response to detecting the interaction between the first interactive element and the second interactive element, provide a signal corresponding to a state of the interaction,
wherein one of the first interactive element or the second interactive element is a magnetic material, wherein the other of the first interactive element or the second interactive element is a magnetic sensor configured to sense a field direction of the magnetic material or a gauss level, and wherein the circuitry is configured to detect the interaction between the first interactive and the second interactive element by receiving signals from the magnetic sensor and comparing the signals with pre-stored values or thresholds.