Dosage tracking apparatus, dosage tracking system, and related methods of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11007325-B2
Application number	US-201916298597-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2019
Priority date	Apr 24, 2018
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for tracking an amount of dispensed fluid, a system for fluid injection including the apparatus, and related methods of use are described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a dosage meter shaped to couple with a leadscrew and a cartridge containing a fluid for injection, and configured to track fluid injection. In an embodiment, the dosage meter includes an index wheel including a plurality of teeth, wherein the index wheel is shaped to position coaxially with a major axis of the leadscrew and to receive rotational motion from the leadscrew; and a cantilevered protrusion positioned to deflect due to contact with the plurality of teeth as the index wheel rotates coaxially with the leadscrew inducing a strain in the cantilevered protrusion, wherein the dosage meter outputs a signal indicative of the strain.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for measuring an amount of a dispensed fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a dosage meter shaped to couple with a leadscrew and a cartridge containing a fluid for injection, the dosage meter comprising:
an index wheel including a plurality of teeth, wherein the index wheel is shaped to position coaxially with a major axis of the leadscrew and to receive rotational motion from the leadscrew; and
a cantilevered protrusion positioned to deflect due to contact with the plurality of teeth as the index wheel rotates coaxially with the leadscrew inducing a strain in the cantilevered protrusion, wherein the dosage meter outputs a signal indicative of the strain;

a leadscrew extender positioned to be in contact at a first end of the leadscrew extender with a portion of the cartridge and at a second end of the leadscrew extender with an end of the leadscrew; and
a fluid injector comprising:
a fluid delivery control wheel configured to select an amount of fluid dispensed; and
the leadscrew that produces rotational motion about the leadscrew major axis when the apparatus dispenses the fluid from the cartridge, wherein the leadscrew is configured to rotate during an injection event and not in selecting the amount of fluid dispensed with the fluid delivery control wheel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the leadscrew extender is shaped to receive motion of the leadscrew along the major axis of the leadscrew.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the leadscrew extender is shaped to transfer the rotational motion of the leadscrew to the index wheel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth extend radially from a major axis of the index wheel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cantilevered protrusion is positioned to deflect radially from the major axis of the index wheel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dosage meter includes a strain sensor disposed on the cantilevered protrusion to generate the signal indicative of the strain.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the strain sensor is positioned on a circuit board.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dosage meter includes a bracket shaped and positioned to place the cantilevered protrusion in contact with one of the plurality of teeth.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the bracket includes a columnar portion shaped to receive a portion of the leadscrew and shaped to position the index wheel coaxially with the major axis of the leadscrew.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the bracket does not receive the rotational motion, and wherein the cantilevered protrusion remains static relative to the rotational motion.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing shaped to accept the cartridge containing the fluid.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the dosage meter and including logic that when executed by the controller causes the apparatus to perform operations including:
tracking the signal output from the dosage meter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller further includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the apparatus to perform operations including:
registering the signal as an injection event of the dispensed fluid; and
calculating a number of injection events of the fluid.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller further includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the apparatus to perform operations including:
calculating a quantity of the fluid dispensed based on the signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a power source coupled to the controller; and
a transceiver coupled to the controller to send and receive data, wherein the controller further includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the apparatus to perform operations including:
instructing the transceiver to send the data to an external device, wherein the data includes information indicative of the number of injection events.

16. A method of measuring a quantity of fluid dispensed from an apparatus comprising:
rotating an index wheel of the apparatus about a major axis of a leadscrew coaxially received by the index wheel as fluid is dispensed;
inducing a strain in a cantilevered protrusion disposed to engage the index wheel as the index wheel rotates;
generating a signal indicative of the strain in the cantilevered protrusion;
tracking the signal indicative of the strain to determine the quantity of the fluid dispensed; and
registering the signal as an injection event of the fluid and calculating a quantity of the fluid dispensed based on the signal.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein generating the signal indicative of the strain in the cantilevered protrusion includes:
deflecting the cantilevered protrusion with a tooth extending radially from a major axis of the index wheel, wherein the cantilevered protrusion deflects radially from the major axis of the index wheel in response to the tooth pressing against the cantilevered protrusion; and
generating with a strain sensor disposed on the cantilevered protrusion and coupled to a controller the signal.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein tracking the signal indicative of the strain includes storing the signal in memory disposed in the apparatus using a controller coupled to receive the signal.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting data, representative of the signal, to a processing device that is distinct from the apparatus, wherein the processing device calculates the quantity of fluid dispensed.

20. An apparatus for measuring an amount of a dispensed fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a dosage meter shaped to couple with a leadscrew and a cartridge containing a fluid for injection, the dosage meter comprising:
an index wheel including a plurality of teeth extending radially from a major axis of the index wheel, wherein the index wheel is shaped to position coaxially with a major axis of the leadscrew and to receive rotational motion from the leadscrew; and
a cantilevered protrusion positioned to deflect radially from the major axis of the index wheel due to contact with the plurality of teeth as the index wheel rotates coaxially with the leadscrew inducing a strain in the cantilevered protrusion, wherein the dosage meter outputs a signal indicative of the strain; and

a leadscrew extender positioned to be in contact at a first end of the leadscrew extender with a portion of the cartridge and at a second end of the leadscrew extender with an end of the leadscrew.

Assignees

• Verily Life Sciences Llc
• Veriliy Life Sciences LLC

Inventors

• Sheridan Martin
• Krasnow Benjamin

Classifications

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title

• A61M5/31528

  by means of rotational movements, e.g. screw-thread mechanisms · CPC title

• G01F11/027 Primary

  of the syringe type · CPC title

• A61M2205/332

  Force measuring means · CPC title

• A61M5/31568 Primary

  Means keeping track of the total dose administered, e.g. since the cartridge was inserted · CPC title