Packaging assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10869962-B2
Application number	US-201615779650-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Nov 30, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A packaging assembly comprises a case configured to contain a plurality of injection devices for delivering a medicament and a lid coupled to the case. The lid is movable between an open position and a closed position. The packaging assembly further includes a countdown timer configured to monitor a time remaining to a scheduled time and a sensor configured to output a signal representative of a change in position of the lid from the closed position to the open position. The packaging assembly also includes a reminder alert configured to activate once the scheduled time has been reached, and deactivate based on the signal received from the sensor. The packaging assembly further comprises a reset input device. The packaging assembly is configured to respond to operation of the reset input device by a user to set the scheduled time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging assembly comprising:
a case configured to at least partially contain a plurality of injection devices for delivering a medicament;
a lid coupled to the case and movable between an open position and a closed position;
a countdown timer configured to monitor a time remaining until a scheduled time is reached;
a sensor configured to output a signal representative of a change in position of the lid from the closed position to the open position;
a reset input device;
a light sensor configured to detect an amount of light incident on the packaging assembly; and
a door open timer configured to be started in response to detecting, by the light sensor, that an intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeds a threshold light intensity;
wherein the packaging assembly is configured to respond to operation of the reset input device by a user to reset the scheduled time,
wherein the packaging assembly is configured to:
generate a reminder alert when
(i) the scheduled time has been reached,
(ii) an intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly, detected by the light sensor, exceeds the threshold light intensity, and
(iii) the door open timer has not expired, and

deactivate the reminder alert based on the signal received from the sensor.

2. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a notification light; wherein the packaging assembly is configured to intermittently activate the notification light once the scheduled time has been reached to generate a visual reminder output, when the lid is in the closed position and when the lid is in the open position.

3. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a display;
wherein the display is configured to generate an output to show an amount of time remaining until the scheduled time is reached; and
wherein the display is configured to generate a visual reminder output once the scheduled time has been reached.

4. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , wherein the display is configured to generate an output to show a number of days remaining until the scheduled time is reached.

5. The packaging assembly of claim 4 , wherein the display is configured to continuously show the number of days remaining until the scheduled time is reached if the number of days remaining is greater than one day, and to intermittently show the number of days remaining until the scheduled time is reached if the number of days remaining is equal to or less than one day.

6. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , wherein the display is configured to generate an output which indicates that a state of charge of batteries included in the packaging assembly is below a threshold state of charge.

7. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lid is arranged to cover the display in the closed position.

8. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lid is translucent.

9. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the lid is transparent.

10. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the packaging assembly is configured to respond to operation of the reset input device by a user to reset the scheduled time to 14 days.

11. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an electromechanical switch arranged within the packaging assembly such that a state of the electromechanical switch changes between open and closed states as the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.

12. The packaging assembly of claim 11 , wherein the electromechanical switch is arranged within the packaging assembly such that contact between the switch and a component of a hinge assembly changes as the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.

13. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one injection device including a medicament.

14. A method of operating a packaging assembly configured to receive a plurality of injection devices, the method comprising:
determining a time remaining until a scheduled time to remove one of the plurality of injection devices from the packaging assembly is reached;
receiving a signal from a sensor representative of a change in position of a lid of the packaging assembly;
receiving a signal from a light sensor representative of an intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly;
starting a door open timer in response to detecting that the intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeds a certain threshold light intensity;
activating a reminder alert when
(i) the scheduled time has been reached,
(ii) an intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeds the threshold light intensity, and
(iii) the door open timer has not expired,

deactivating the reminder alert based on the signal received from the sensor;
receiving a signal from a reset input device; and
resetting the scheduled time in response to receiving the signal from the reset input device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising generating a visual output when the lid is in a closed position and when the lid is in an open position.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein generating the visual output further comprises generating an output to show a number of days remaining until the scheduled time is reached.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the door open timer is configured to expire after a predetermined time in a range of 1 minute to 10 minutes.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein resetting the scheduled time comprises resetting the scheduled time to 14 days.

Assignees

• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

• Kietzmann Hardy
• Luck Fred
• Riebel Stefan

Classifications

• A61M2209/06

  Packaging for specific medical equipment · CPC title

• A61M2205/18

  with alarm · CPC title

• A61M2005/3126

  Specific display means related to dosing · CPC title

• A61M2005/14208

  with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program · CPC title

• A61M5/3202

  Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title