Sensor device removably attachable to a drug delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10625022-B2
Application number	US-201616060859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

A sensor device removably attachable to a drug delivery device includes a sensing arrangement arranged within the sensor device and
circuitry configured to process signals provided by the sensing arrangement. The sensing arrangement is configured such that, when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device, the sensing arrangement is operable to read encoded information present on a rotatable component internal to the drug delivery device and that is able to be sensed through a window or aperture of the drug delivery device, and is operable to sense through the window or aperture at least a part of a drive mechanism of the drug delivery device. The circuitry is configured to determine information relating to a set dose, and to determine information relating to whether the drug delivery device is in a dose setting mode or whether the device is in a dose delivery mode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor device configured to be removably attachable to a drug delivery device, the sensor device comprising:
a first sensor;
a second sensor, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged within the sensor device; and
circuitry configured to process signals provided by the first sensor and the second sensor,
wherein the first sensor is configured such that, when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device, the first sensor is operable to read encoded information present on a rotatable component that is internal to the drug delivery device and that is able to be sensed through a window or aperture of the drug delivery device, and is operable to sense through the window or aperture at least a part of a drive mechanism of the drug delivery device,
wherein the second sensor is configured to detect an amount of axial translation of a gauge element of the drug delivery device, and
wherein the circuitry is configured:
to determine, based on the encoded information, a rotational orientation of the rotatable component,
to determine, based on an amount of axial translation of the gauge element, a number of complete rotations of the rotatable component,
to determine, based on the determined rotational orientation of the rotatable component and the determined number of complete rotations of the rotatable component, a set dose, and
to determine, based on sensing of the part of the drive mechanism, information relating to whether the drug delivery device is in a dose setting mode or whether the device is in a dose delivery mode.

2. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor.

3. A sensor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first sensor is a single camera.

4. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises:
a light source arrangement configured to project light towards the aperture or window in the drug delivery device when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device.

5. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises an array of optical sensors, each optical sensor being operable to detect light received at different locations along the linear path and to output a signal indicative of an amount of detected light.

6. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is configured to determine an angular position of a mark on the gauge element.

7. A sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine a drug for which the drug delivery device is being used to dispense using the encoded information or using outputs from the arrangement sensor.

8. A drug delivery system comprising:
a drug delivery device having a window or aperture, and a gauge element that is moveable axially along an underlying element and is configured such that movement of the gauge element in a particular direction causes the underlying element to become visible at successive locations along the externally visible path, wherein at least part of the gauge element has a first reflectance and the underlying element has a second, different reflectance; and
a sensor device comprising:
a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor and the second sensor being arranged within the sensor device, and
circuitry configured to process signals provided by the first sensor and the second sensor,
wherein the first sensor is configured such that, when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device, the first sensor is operable to read encoded information present on a rotatable component that is internal to the drug delivery device and that is able to be sensed through a window or aperture of the drug delivery device, and is operable to sense through the window or aperture at least a part of a drive mechanism of the drug delivery device,
wherein the second sensor is configured to detect an amount of axial movement of the gauge element of the drug delivery device,
wherein the circuitry is configured to determine, based on sensing of the part of the drive mechanism, information relating to whether the drug delivery device is in a dose setting mode or whether the device is in a dose delivery mode, and
wherein the circuitry is configured to determine a set dose using the encoded information and using outputs from the second sensor.

9. The drug delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the part of the drive mechanism is of a contrasting colour to the rotatable component.

10. The drug delivery device of claim 8 , wherein the second sensor is configured to determine an angular position of a mark on the gauge element.

11. The drug delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the gauge element is movable relative to the underlying element such that movement in a first direction along the externally visible path causes an increasing length of the underlying element to become visible in the externally visible path.

12. The drug delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the gauge element has formed thereon marks that are at different angular positions at different axial positions.

13. A drug delivery device comprising:
a main body;
a number sleeve having markings thereon;
a dose setting mechanism configured to rotate the number sleeve without axially moving the number sleeve as a dose set is increased or decreased in a dose setting mode;
a drive mechanism configured to cause expulsion of a set dose upon application of a driving force in a dose delivery mode; and
a window located at a fixed axial position on the main body and coincident with the markings on the number sleeve,
wherein a drive sleeve of the drive mechanism is coincident with the window and is visible through the window when the injection device is in the dose delivery mode and is not visible through the window when the injection device is in the dose setting mode.

Assignees

• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

• Rehbein Christian
• Steel Samuel
• Morris Anthony Paul
• Jones Matthew Meredith
• Veasey Robert
• Avery Richard James Vincent
• Marsh William

Classifications

• A61M2005/3125

  specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting · CPC title

• A61M2205/6063

  Optical identification systems · CPC title

• A61M2005/3126

  Specific display means related to dosing · CPC title

• A61M2205/3306

  Optical measuring means · CPC title

• A61M5/24 Primary

  Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic {(ampoules or carpules A61J1/06)} · CPC title