Battery antenna arrangement for on-body medical device

Abstract

To solve drawbacks in the conventional approaches of providing an antenna on a printed circuit board in an on-body medical device like a drug delivery device.SOLUTION: One or more button type batteries may be used in an on-body medical device like a drug delivery device to act as an antenna for wireless communications. Since the one or more batteries are already present in the on-body medical device, no additional real estate on a printed circuit board is required for the antenna. In some exemplary embodiments, a single button type battery is used as an antenna, and in other embodiments, multiple button type batteries are used as the antenna. For example, a single button type battery may be used as part of a monopole antenna. Multiple button type batteries may be used as part of a dipole antenna.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1B

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 2020 / 63127323, filed December 18, 2020, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Some conventional body-worn medical devices have a wireless communication function. For example, some glucose monitors have a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication function. To provide such wireless communication function, these body-worn medical devices include an antenna. A typical method for providing such a conventional body-worn medical device is to provide the antenna on a printed circuit board within the housing of the body-worn medical device. For example, a strip antenna may be formed on the printed circuit board, or the antenna may be surface-mounted on the printed circuit board.

[0003] These conventional methods of mounting an antenna on a printed circuit board have several drawbacks. First, the antenna can occupy a large amount of space on the printed circuit board. Given that the printed circuit boards for such medical devices are typically small and space on a printed circuit board is a precious resource, using that space for an antenna is a waste of valuable resources. In some cases, the size of the printed circuit board may need to be increased to accommodate the antenna. Second, such strip antennas and surface-mounted antennas mounted on printed circuit boards are known to be inefficient when the printed circuit board is mounted very close to the user's body. This inefficiency can result in intermittent loss of communication capability and an unsatisfactory user experience. Third, because the antenna is formed directly on or surface-mounted on the printed circuit board, other components on the printed circuit board must be positioned so as not to obstruct or interfere with the antenna's ability to transmit and receive communications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, a drug delivery device includes one or more button batteries for powering at least a portion of the drug delivery device. Each of the one or more button batteries is cylindrical and has a longitudinal axis. The drug delivery device also includes a wireless communication transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications. In addition, the drug delivery device includes an electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button batteries, such that the one or more button batteries function as antennas for transmitting wireless communications from the wireless communication transceiver and receiving wireless communications directed to the wireless communication transceiver. The drug delivery device also includes a housing configured to be secured to a user's body, such that the longitudinal axis of the one or more button batteries is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the user's body to which the housing is secured.

[0005] According to some embodiments, there may be a single button battery, while according to other embodiments, there may be multiple button batteries. The drug delivery device may be configured to emit surface waves from one or more button batteries to travel along the user's body surface. The drug delivery device may include a printed circuit board on which one or more button batteries are disposed and on which a ground plane is formed. The wireless communication transceiver may be, for example, a Bluetooth® transceiver, a Bluetooth® Low Energy transceiver, a Body Area Network (BAN) transceiver, or a WiFi transceiver. The drug delivery device may further include at least one battery holder for holding the one or more button batteries. An electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button batteries may be made by the at least one battery holder in electrical contact with the one or more button batteries.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a drug pump includes one or more button-type batteries for powering at least a portion of the drug pump. The drug pump can be used to deliver insulin, glucagon, or other types of medication to a user's body. Each of the one or more button-type batteries is cylindrical and has a longitudinal axis. The insulin pump also includes a wireless communication transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications. The insulin pump additionally includes an electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button-type batteries, such that the one or more button-type batteries function as antennas for transmitting wireless communications from the wireless communication transceiver and receiving wireless communications directed to the wireless communication transceiver. The drug pump further includes a housing configured to be secured to a user's body, with the longitudinal axis of the one or more button-type batteries being substantially perpendicular to a surface of the user's body to which the housing is secured.

[0007] According to some embodiments, there may be a single button battery, while according to other embodiments, there may be multiple button batteries. The drug pump may be configured to emit surface waves from one or more button batteries to travel along the user's body surface. The drug pump may include a printed circuit board on which one or more button batteries are disposed and on which a ground plane is formed. The transceiver may be a Bluetooth transceiver, a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver, a Body Area Network (BAN) transceiver, or a WiFi transceiver. The insulin pump may further include at least one battery holder for holding the one or more button batteries. An electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button batteries may be made by the at least one battery holder in electrical contact with the one or more button batteries.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is performed in which at least one button battery is disposed on a printed circuit board of a drug delivery device, the at least one button battery is electrically connected to the printed circuit board to power the drug delivery device, and a wireless communication transceiver is electrically and mechanically connected to the printed circuit board, a power supply path is connected between the at least one button battery and the wireless communication transceiver, and an antenna is formed for transmitting wireless communication from the wireless communication transceiver and receiving wireless communication to the wireless communication transceiver.

[0009] The method may further include electrically and mechanically connecting at least one battery holder for the at least one button battery to the printed circuit board. The at least one button battery may be held by the at least one battery holder so as to be electrically connected to the at least one battery holder, and a power supply line may be connected to the at least one battery holder to electrically connect the power supply line to the at least one button battery. The wireless communication transceiver may be a Bluetooth® transceiver, a Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) transceiver, a Body Area Network (BAN) transceiver, or a WiFi transceiver. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of a drug delivery device and a user's drug delivery device according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B shows a more detailed block diagram of the printed circuit board of FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1C illustrates a partially exploded side view of a drug delivery device according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a printed circuit board layer of an exemplary embodiment of a drug delivery device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows an arrangement in which a single button cell battery is used as an antenna for a drug delivery device in an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows an example of a gain plot of a monopole antenna using a single button cell battery in a drug delivery device of an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of example steps that may be performed to form an antenna in an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an example drug delivery system including an insulin pump as a drug delivery device, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a drug delivery system, according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, one or more batteries of the body-worn medical device can be used to function as an antenna for wireless communication. Because one or more batteries are already present on the printed circuit board of the body-worn medical device for powering, no additional space on the printed circuit board is required for the antenna. Using a battery to form the antenna can also allow the printed circuit board of the body-worn medical device to be smaller, and therefore the body-worn medical device to be smaller. In some exemplary embodiments, a single button battery is used as the antenna, while in other embodiments, multiple button batteries are used as the antenna. For example, a single button battery can be used as part of a monopole antenna. Multiple button batteries can also be used as part of a dipole antenna. When a single button battery is used as part of a monopole antenna, it is possible to use a single button battery or multiple button batteries to power the internal medical device while simultaneously using one of them as a monopole antenna. According to alternative embodiments, the battery need not be a button battery; other types of batteries can be used. More generally, flat batteries having a thin structure such as a disk or coin may be suitable.

[0012] Additionally, the antenna of the exemplary embodiment may be configured to avoid the low efficiency of conventional surface-mounted antennas mounted on a printed circuit board or trace antennas formed on a printed circuit board. Some of this low efficiency may be due to the conventional trace or surface-mounted antenna being oriented parallel to the user's body, which can result in much of the transmit energy from such conventional antennas being absorbed by the user's body. The human body is a lossy medium for electromagnetic waves, and losses resulting from body absorption can significantly affect antenna performance. The antenna of the exemplary embodiment may be configured to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the user's body surface, such that less transmit signal energy is absorbed by the body. Antennas positioned perpendicular to the body experience less body absorption. Some of the low efficiency of conventional surface-mounted antennas and trace antennas formed on a printed circuit board is also related to the minimal separation of the antenna from the user's body surface. This can be addressed, for example, by positioning the antenna of the exemplary embodiment to provide greater separation between the button cell battery and the user's body surface through the design of the housing of the body-worn medical device.

[0013] The exemplary embodiments described above may include an antenna that is equally well suited for wireless communication between multiple body-worn devices, as well as between body-worn device(s) and non-body-worn device(s). The antenna of the exemplary embodiments can transmit surface waves that travel along the user's outer body surface, making it well suited for high-quality communication with other body-worn devices. In addition, the antenna of the exemplary embodiments can transmit electromagnetic waves with sufficient energy in a direction away from the body to facilitate high-quality communication with non-body-worn devices.

[0014] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an example of a drug delivery device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the drug delivery device 100 delivers insulin to a user 102. The drug delivery device 100 is worn on the body of the user 102. The drug delivery device 100 may be secured to the user 102 using, for example, a strap, an adhesive, a body-conforming housing, or a similar securing mechanism. A pump 104 may be provided to pump a drug stored in a drug reservoir 106 into the user 102. The pump 104 may be, for example, a reciprocating pump or a positive pressure pump. A cannula / needle and delivery interface 108 may also be provided. The cannula / needle may pierce the skin of the user 102 and, with a fluid conduit (such as a tube), provide a pathway for delivery of the drug to the user 102. The drug delivery device 100 delivers the drug to the user 102 under program control. The drug delivery device 100 includes at least one printed circuit board (PCB) 110 on which various electronic components can be disposed.

[0015] FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing the PCB 110 in more detail. The PCB 110 includes a processor 112 disposed thereon. The processor 112 controls the operation of the drug delivery device. For example, the processor 112 can control when and how much drug is delivered to the user 102. The processor 112 can take many different forms, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a special-purpose controller chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC). The processor 112 can execute programming instructions stored in storage 114. The storage 114 can include one or more types of storage, including, but not limited to, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), computer-readable storage devices, and the like. The storage 114 can also hold data and other useful information for the operation of the drug delivery device 100.

[0016] The PCB 110 may include a battery set 116 that includes one or more batteries. The one or more batteries 116 may include button-type batteries. The batteries in the battery set 116 may be silver oxide batteries, alkaline batteries, zinc-air batteries, lithium batteries, or the like. The batteries in the battery set 116 may be cylindrical, as is typical of button-type batteries. The batteries in the battery set 116 may be any of various diameters, as found in commercially available button-type batteries. The batteries in the battery set 116 may be held by one or more battery holders 122. The battery holder(s) 122 may be in electrical contact with the positive and negative terminals of the batteries in the battery set 116. Furthermore, the battery holder(s) may be mechanically or electrically connected to the PCB 110.

[0017] In the exemplary embodiment described above, the battery set 116 powers the components of the drug delivery device 100. Additionally, the battery set 116 is used as a wireless antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless communications with other devices, both on-body and off-body, as described in more detail below. A wireless communication transceiver 118 is provided for both transmitting and receiving wireless communications. The wireless communication transceiver 118 may transmit and receive communications in a wireless format, such as Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), WiFi, IEEE 802.15.6, Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN), etc. A power supply 124 is electrically connected to the wireless communication transceiver 118 using the battery set 116. In this case, the battery set 116 functions as a wireless antenna, transmitting wireless communications from the wireless communication transceiver 118 and receiving wireless communications sent to the wireless communication transceiver 118. In some embodiments, the power supply 124 may be electrically connected to the battery holder 122, and in other embodiments, the power supply 124 may be electrically connected to the battery set 116. An electrical circuit element 120, such as a capacitor, may be provided to adjust impedance, provide filtering, etc. The electrical circuit element 120 may also include other electrical components.

[0018] FIG. 1C is a partially exploded side view of the drug delivery device 100. The drug delivery device 100 may have a protective housing formed by a top housing 130 and a bottom housing 132. The top housing 130 and the bottom housing 132 may be secured together, for example, via a snap-fit ​​feature, adhesive, or fastener such as a fastener or the like. The PCB 134 is disposed inside an internal space formed between the top housing 130 and the bottom housing 132 when the two housing components 130 and 132 are secured together. Features for supporting and holding the PCB 134 in a fixed orientation may be provided on the top housing 130 and the bottom housing 132. Preferably, the PCB 134 is oriented parallel to the surface of the user's skin, while the longitudinal axes of the batteries in the battery set 116 are oriented perpendicular to the PCB 134 and the surface of the user's skin. The top housing 130 and the bottom housing 134 may be formed from polycarbonate, plastic, or a similar material. An adhesive pad 136 may be secured to the outer surface of the bottom housing 132. The adhesive pad 136 has a base material to which an adhesive is applied. The adhesive is used to secure the drug delivery device 100 to the skin surface of the user 102. The adhesive pad 136 may also have an adhesive applied to the side opposite the outer surface of the bottom housing 132 to secure the adhesive pad 136 to the bottom housing 132. Alternatively, the base material may be heat-welded to the outer surface of the bottom housing 132 or may be integrally formed as part of the bottom housing 132.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, a ground plane for the antenna may be formed within PCB 200. PCB 200 may be formed with multiple layers. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the top layer of PCB 200 is signal layer 202, on which signal tracks are formed over a dielectric. The next layer is ground plane 204. Ground plane 204 may include a large metallized surface (such as a copper surface) tied to ground. Other layers 206 may also be present within PCB 200. To improve the signal integrity of the antenna, it is desirable for the antenna to have a large ground plane. The example shown in FIG. 2 is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Other PCB configurations with different layers and layer orders may be used.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a button battery 300 connected to a ground plane 302 in one antenna arrangement. The button battery is positioned so that its flat surface is parallel to the surface of the PCB (i.e., the XY plane) and its longitudinal axis is perpendicular (along the Z axis) to the outer surface of the PCB and the user's skin surface. The ground plane 302 can be connected to the center of the bottom surface of the button battery 300, which is parallel to the ground plane 302. The antenna has the battery, which acts as a radiating patch, on one side of a dielectric within the PCB, and the ground plane on the other side. This arrangement causes the antenna to function as a monopole antenna. FIG. 3 also shows three axes, X, Y, and Z. When the antenna is placed on the skin surface of the user 102, the Z axis extends away from the user's skin surface. The Y axis is the user's longitudinal axis, extending from head to toe along the user's skin surface. The X-axis extends horizontally from one side of the body to the other side of the body, for example, from the right side of the user to the left side of the user's body, extending horizontally across the surface of the user's skin.

[0021] The antenna attempts to provide sufficient energy for transmission along the Z-axis to facilitate communication with non-body-worn devices, and sufficient energy for transmission along the Y-axis to facilitate transmission along the user's skin surface for communication with body-worn devices. Transmission along the Y-axis is configured to result in a surface wave. Surface waves tend to travel along surfaces where a boundary condition exists between two media with different dielectric constants (i.e., different magnetic permeabilities). The magnetic permeability of air is much higher than that of the human body. Therefore, electrical signals travel faster in air than in the human body. As a result, the base of the propagating waveform tends to bend toward the user's skin surface at the air-skin interface. This bending causes the waveform to travel along the user's skin surface. This is desirable because the surface wave has a better chance of reaching the body-worn device than a radio signal radiated through the air or the user's body.

[0022] As described above, conventional trace antennas formed on PCBs are not sufficiently isolated from the user's skin surface. Furthermore, conventional trace antennas tend to direct much of the energy they transmit toward the inside of the user's body. In contrast, the antenna described herein has a greater separation from the user's skin surface (e.g., from 2 mm to up to 60 mm) because the battery set is located farther from the PCB surface. In addition, because the antenna is oriented perpendicular to the user's skin surface (see FIG. 3) and has a monopole distribution pattern, the directionality of the antenna results in less energy being transmitted toward the user's skin surface.

[0023] The single-button arrangement of Figure 3 functions similarly to a monopole circular patch antenna. Figure 4 shows a planar plot of the radiation pattern 400 of this antenna. Plot 400 shows the planar distribution of transmitted energy, expressed in dB, by the radiation angle relative to the antenna in polar coordinates. Specifically, curve 402 is the antenna's total gain pattern in dBi; curve 404 is the antenna's gain pattern for a polarization perpendicular to the body, which is perpendicular to the PCB board surface and the user's skin surface; and curve 406 is the antenna's gain pattern for a polarization parallel to the PCB board surface and the user's skin surface. These plots show a larger, more uniform energy distribution in the direction parallel to the user's skin, and a smaller, more non-uniform energy distribution in the direction perpendicular to the user's skin. This distribution is the desired distribution described above.

[0024] 5 illustrates a flowchart 500 of steps that may be performed in creating an antenna according to an exemplary embodiment. A battery set 116 is placed on a PCB (502). The battery set 116 may be held by one or more battery holders 122 electrically and mechanically connected to the PCB 110. The battery set 116 is electrically connected to the PCB 110 to power the drug delivery device (504). A wireless communication transceiver 118 is electrically and mechanically connected to the PCB 110 (506). The wireless communication transceiver 118 may be an integrated circuit connected to the PCB 110 via pins or other connection methods. A power supply 124 electrically connects the wireless communication transceiver 118 to the battery set 116 (508). As described above, the power supply 124 may be connected directly to the battery set 116 or alternatively to the battery holder 122.

[0025] In one exemplary embodiment, the drug delivery device is an insulin pump. FIG. 6 shows an example of a drug delivery system 600 including such an insulin pump 602. The drug delivery system 600 includes different devices with which the insulin pump 602 can communicate wirelessly. These devices include an analyte monitor, such as a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) 604, which provides continuous glucose level readings. These measurements are sent wirelessly to the insulin pump 602 and can be used by the insulin pump's 602 control algorithm to determine the amount and duration of insulin to deliver to the user 102. The insulin pump 602 can also communicate with a remote device, such as a smartphone or personal diabetes manager (PDM) 606. The PDM 606 may be implemented as a dedicated wireless device or as an application or other software running on a portable computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet. The PDM 606 may serve as an interface between the user 102 and the insulin pump 602. The PDM 606 may provide the user 102 with not only current analyte or blood glucose levels, but also analyte (e.g., blood glucose) and drug (e.g., insulin) delivery history information, and / or other useful information. The PDM 606 may also enable the user to control the insulin pump 602. The user 102 can change certain settings by wirelessly communicating with the insulin pump 602 using the PDM 606. The insulin pump 602 may also wirelessly communicate with a wearable device 608, such as a smartwatch. The wearable device 608 may, for example, receive and display information from the insulin pump. Furthermore, the wearable device may also be able to wirelessly issue commands for certain functions to the insulin pump 602. The insulin pump 602 may also communicate with a non-worn device 610, such as an external device that speaks a wireless protocol such as those listed above.All such wireless communication can be achieved through the antenna described above formed using the battery set.

[0026] In FIG. 6, only the communication paths between components are shown. To understand why the wireless communication antenna described above is useful, it is helpful to understand the key components in more detail and discuss their functions more fully. To that end, FIG. 7 shows additional details of certain key components of an example drug delivery system 700 in one illustrative embodiment. The drug delivery system 700 includes an insulin pump 702. As noted above, the insulin pump 702 may be a wearable device worn on the body of a user 708. The insulin pump 702 may be directly coupled to the user (e.g., attached directly to a body portion and / or skin of the user 708 via adhesive, etc.). In one example, the surface of the insulin pump 702 may include adhesive to facilitate attachment to the user 708.

[0027] The insulin pump 702 may include a controller 710. The controller 710 may be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof, such as the processor 112 of FIG. 1B. The controller 710 may be, for example, a microprocessor, logic circuitry, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a microcontroller coupled to a memory. The controller 710 may have other functions (e.g., calculations, etc.) in addition to date and time functions. The controller 710 may be operable to execute a control application 716 stored in storage 714 (see 114 of FIG. 1B), which enables the controller 710 to direct the operation of the insulin pump 702. The storage 714 may maintain history 713 for the user, such as automatic insulin delivery history, bolus insulin delivery history, meal event history, exercise event history, and the like. Additionally, the controller 710 may be operable to receive data or information. The storage 714 may include both primary and secondary memory. The storage may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), optical storage, magnetic storage, removable storage media, solid-state storage, or the like.

[0028] The insulin pump 702 may include an insulin reservoir 712 (see drug reservoir 106 in FIG. 1A) for storing insulin for delivery to a user 708 when needed. A fluid path to the user 708 may be provided, whereby the insulin pump 702 can drain insulin from the insulin reservoir 712 and deliver it to the user 708 via the fluid path. The fluid path may include, for example, a cannula / needle and delivery interface 733 (see 108 in FIG. 1A) and tubing connecting the drug pump 702 to the user 708 (e.g., tubing connecting a cannula to the insulin reservoir 712).

[0029] A communication link may exist between one or more devices that are physically separate from the insulin pump 702, which may include, for example, a PDM 704 of the user and / or the user's caregiver, and / or a glucose monitor 706. The communication link may include any wired communication link or any wireless communication link operating according to any known communication protocol or standard, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a near field communication standard, a cellular standard, or other wireless protocol. The insulin pump 702 may also include a user interface 717. The user interface 717 may be, for example, an integrated display device that displays information to, and in some embodiments receives information from, the user 708. The user interface 717 may include, for example, a touch screen and / or one or more input devices, such as buttons, knobs, or a keyboard.

[0030] The insulin pump 702 includes a battery set / antenna arrangement 730 as described above in connection with Figure 1B. The insulin pump 702 also includes a wireless transceiver 732 as described above.

[0031] The insulin pump 702 may interface with a network 722. The network 722 may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or a combination thereof. A computing device 726 may interface with the network, where the computing device may communicate with the insulin pump 702.

[0032] The drug delivery system 700 may include a glucose monitor 706 for sensing the blood glucose concentration level of the user 708. The glucose monitor 706 may perform periodic blood glucose concentration measurements, where the glucose monitor 706 may be a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or other type of device or sensor that measures blood glucose or other analytes. The glucose monitor 706 may be physically separate from the insulin pump 702 or may be an integrated component of the insulin pump 702. The glucose monitor 706 may provide data to the controller 710 indicative of the measured or detected blood glucose level of the user 708. The glucose monitor 706 may be coupled to the user 708, for example, by adhesive or the like, where the glucose monitor 706 may provide information or data regarding one or more medical conditions and / or physical characteristics of the user 708. The information or data provided by the glucose monitor 706 may be used to adjust the drug delivery operation of the insulin pump 702.

[0033] The drug delivery system 700 may also include a PDM 704. The PDM 704 may be a special-purpose device, such as a dedicated personal diabetes manager (PDM) device. The PDM 704 may also be a programmed general-purpose device, such as any portable electronic device with a dedicated controller such as a processor, a smartphone, or a tablet. The PDM 704 may be used to program or coordinate the operation of the drug pump 702 and / or the glucose monitor 706. The PDM 704 may be any portable electronic device, including a dedicated controller, a smartphone, or a tablet. According to the illustrated example, the PDM 704 may include a processor 719 and storage 718. The processor 719 may perform processes for managing the user's blood glucose level and for controlling the delivery of medications or therapeutic agents to the user 708. The processor 719 may also be operable to execute programming code stored in the storage 718. For example, the storage may be operable to store one or more control applications 720 for execution by the processor 719. Storage 718 may also store control application 720, history 721, and other data and / or programs for insulin pump 702 as described above.

[0034] The PDM 704 may include a user interface 723 for communicating with a user 708. The user interface may include a display for displaying information, such as a touchscreen. The touchscreen may also be used to receive input. The user interface 723 may also include input elements such as a keyboard, buttons, knobs, etc.

[0035] The PDM 704 may interface with a network 724, such as a LAN, a WAN, or a combination of such networks. The PDM 704 may communicate with one or more servers or cloud services 728 via the network 724. The roles that the one or more servers or cloud services 728 may play in the above exemplary embodiments are described below.

[0036] 6, the insulin pump 702 can wirelessly communicate with additional components via the battery set antenna. These additional components can include a non-body-worn device 734. These additional components can also include a wearable device 736.

[0037] The use of a battery antenna in the system of FIG. 7 provides the benefits described above, including the avoidance of occupying the extra surface area on the PCB that would be required by a conventional trace or surface-mounted antenna. As a result, the PCB can be smaller than if a trace or surface-mounted antenna were used, and thus the drug delivery device can be smaller. The antenna of the exemplary embodiment can be configured to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the user's body surface to reduce the amount of transmitted signal energy absorbed by the body. Antennas positioned perpendicular to the user's skin surface, such as the antenna of the exemplary embodiment, suffer less absorption by the body than conventional trace or surface-mounted antennas that are not positioned perpendicular to the user's skin surface. Some of the low efficiency of surface-mounted and trace antennas formed on conventional PCBs is related to the minimal separation of the antenna from the user's skin surface. This can be addressed, for example, by positioning the antenna of the exemplary embodiment to increase the separation between the button-type battery and the user's skin surface through the design of the housing of the body-worn medical device.

[0038] Although the present application discloses exemplary embodiments herein, it should be understood that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the intended scope, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A drug delivery device comprising: one or more button batteries for powering at least a portion of the drug delivery device, each button battery of the one or more button batteries being cylindrical and having a longitudinal axis; a wireless communication transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications; an electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button type batteries, such that the one or more button type batteries function as an antenna for transmitting wireless communications from the wireless communication transceiver and for receiving wireless communications directed to the wireless communication transceiver; a housing configured to be secured to a user's body such that the longitudinal axes of the one or more button batteries are substantially perpendicular to a surface of the user's body to which the housing is secured; 10. A drug delivery device comprising:

2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more button batteries is a single button battery.

3. The drug delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more button batteries are multiple button batteries.

4. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the drug delivery device is configured to emit surface waves from the one or more button-type batteries for traveling along a body surface of the user.

5. 10. The drug delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board on which the one or more button batteries are disposed and on which a ground plane is formed.

6. 10. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver, a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver, a Body Area Network (BAN) transceiver, or a WiFi transceiver.

7. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one battery holder for holding the one or more button batteries.

8. The drug delivery device of claim 7 , wherein the electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button batteries is connected to the at least one battery holder that is in electrical contact with the one or more button batteries.

9. 1. An insulin pump comprising: one or more button batteries for powering at least a portion of the insulin pump, each of the one or more button batteries being cylindrical and having a longitudinal axis; a wireless communication transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications; an electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button type batteries, such that the one or more button type batteries function as an antenna for transmitting wireless communications from the wireless communication transceiver and for receiving wireless communications directed to the wireless communication transceiver; a housing configured to be secured to a user's body, such that the longitudinal axes of the one or more button batteries are substantially perpendicular to a surface of the user's body to which the housing is secured; , including insulin pumps.

10. 10. The insulin pump of claim 9, wherein the one or more button cell batteries is a single button cell battery.

11. 11. The insulin pump of claim 10, wherein the one or more button batteries are multiple button batteries.

12. 10. The insulin pump of claim 9, wherein the insulin pump is configured to emit surface waves from the one or more button-type batteries for traveling along a body surface of the user.

13. 10. The insulin pump of claim 9, further comprising a printed circuit board on which the one or more button cell batteries are disposed and on which a ground plane is formed.

14. 10. The insulin pump of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver, a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver, a Body Area Network (BAN) transceiver, or a WiFi transceiver.

15. 10. The insulin pump of claim 9, wherein the insulin pump further includes at least one battery holder for holding the one or more button batteries.

16. 15. The insulin pump of claim 14, wherein the electrical connection between the wireless communication transceiver and the one or more button batteries is connected to the at least one battery holder that is in electrical contact with the one or more button batteries.

17. 1. A method comprising: disposing at least one button battery on a printed circuit board within the drug delivery device; electrically connecting the at least one button cell battery to the printed circuit board for powering the drug delivery device; electrically and mechanically connecting a wireless communication transceiver to said printed circuit board; connecting a power supply path between the at least one button cell battery and the wireless communication transceiver to form an antenna for transmitting wireless communication signals from the wireless communication transceiver and receiving wireless communication signals to the wireless communication transceiver; A method comprising:

18. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising electrically and mechanically connecting at least one battery holder for the at least one button cell battery to the printed circuit board.

19. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one button battery is held by the at least one battery holder so as to be electrically connected to the at least one battery holder, and the power supply path is connected to the at least one battery holder so as to be electrically connected to the at least one button battery.

20. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless communication transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver, a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver, a Body Area Network (BAN) transceiver, or a WiFi transceiver.

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