Sensor, cartridge and drug delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10898647-B2
Application number	US-201615748217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2016
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sensor for measuring at least one physical or chemical parameter of a cartridge or syringe filled with a liquid substance. In further aspects, the disclosure relates to a cartridge equipped with such a sensor as well as to a drug delivery device equipped with such a cartridge, wherein the sensor comprises: a planar flexible foil arrangeable to an outer circumference of a barrel of the cartridge or syringe, at least a first and a second measuring electrode arranged on said foil, at least a first and a second contact electrode arranged on said foil, and a processor arranged on said foil and connected to the first and to the second measuring electrodes, wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are connected to the processor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensor for measuring at least one physical or chemical parameter of a liquid substance, the sensor comprising:
a planar flexible foil arrangeable to an outer circumference of a barrel of a cartridge or syringe in which the liquid substance resides;
at least a first measuring electrode and a second measuring electrode each arranged and fixed on the planar flexible foil, the first measuring electrode and the second measuring electrode configured to measure electrical capacity or temperature;
at least a first contact electrode and a second contact electrode each arranged and fixed on the planar flexible foil, the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode configured to provide an electrical contact to an external electric energy supply; and
a processor arranged on the planar flexible foil and connected to the first measuring electrode and the second measuring electrode,
wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are each connected to the processor, and
wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are configured to provide electric energy to the processor when the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are in electrical contact with the external electric energy supply.

2. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are each arranged at a longitudinal end section of the planar flexible foil.

3. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are separated from one another in a longitudinal direction and extend substantially parallel to one another in a lateral or circumferential direction.

4. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode extend across almost an entire lateral dimension of the planar flexible foil.

5. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the planar flexible foil is substantially transparent and wherein at least one of the first measuring electrode or the second measuring electrode or at least one of the first contact electrode or the second contact electrode comprise a printed or coated conductive structure on or in the planar flexible foil.

6. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first measuring electrode, the second measuring electrode, the first contact electrode, and the second contact electrode are each located on a common side of the planar flexible foil or on opposite sides of the planar flexible foil.

7. A cartridge comprising a tubular shaped barrel filled with the liquid substance and comprising the sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is wrapped around the outer circumference of a sidewall of the barrel.

8. The cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor is adhesively attached to the barrel of the cartridge.

9. The cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode are located on an outward facing side of the planar flexible foil.

10. A drug delivery device for administering a dose of a liquid medicament, comprising:
a housing to accommodate the cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the cartridge is filled with the liquid medicament and comprises a piston slidably received in the barrel;
a drive mechanism to exert a distally directed driving force on the piston for expelling a dose of the liquid medicament;
an electrical energy supply electrically connectable to the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode; and
a transceiver connected to the electrical energy supply.

11. The drug delivery device according to claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a cartridge holder in which the cartridge is assembled.

12. The drug delivery device according to claim 11 , wherein the cartridge holder comprises a window configured to allow a user to view the liquid medicament inside the cartridge.

13. The drug delivery device according to claim 10 , wherein the transceiver is operable or configured to withdraw and to obtain electrical energy from an external RF field and to provide electrical energy to at least the processor.

14. The drug delivery device according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one operating element electrically connected to the electrical energy supply to initiate a sensor-based measurement or to initiate a communication with an external electronic device using the transceiver.

15. The drug delivery device according to claim 10 , wherein the electrical energy supply comprises a compartment housing a battery, and a first contact element and a second contact element electrically connected to the battery, wherein the first contact element and the second contact element extend through a through opening of the housing to electrically connect, respectively, with the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode.

16. The drug delivery device according to claim 15 , wherein the compartment is integrated into a cartridge holder, in a protective cap detachably covering at least a distal end of a cartridge holder, or in an accessory device detachably connectable to the housing.

17. The drug delivery device according to claim 15 , wherein the first contact element or the second contact element is configured as a contact spring.

18. The cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode provide a rotationally invariant electrical connection to an electrical energy supply, the rotationally invariant electrical connection being rotationally invariant along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

19. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact electrode is electrically isolated from the second contact electrode.

20. The sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first measuring electrode is electrically isolated from the second measuring electrode.

Assignees

• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

• Schabbach Michael
• Nessel Christian
• Auernhammer Daniel
• Franke Beate
• Soares Francisco

Classifications

• A61M2205/8243

  by induction · 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

• A61M5/20

  Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically (A61M5/142 {, A61M5/46} take precedence; {hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54}) · CPC title

• A61M2205/3368

  Temperature · CPC title

• A61M5/1452

  pressurised by means of pistons · CPC title