Sensor device removably attachable to a drug delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11241542-B2
Application number	US-202016823694-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2020
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

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 attached to a drug delivery device, the sensor device comprising:
a sensor arrangement arranged within the sensor device, the sensor arrangement including one or more sensors; and
a circuitry configured to process signals provided by the sensor arrangement,
wherein the sensor arrangement is configured such that, when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device, the sensor arrangement 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 sleeve of the drug delivery device, and
wherein the circuitry is configured:
to determine, based on the encoded information, information relating to a set dose, and
to determine, based on sensing of the part of the drive sleeve, information relating to whether the drug delivery device is in a dose setting mode or whether the drug delivery device is in a dose delivery mode.

2. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to process signals provided by the sensor arrangement
to determine presence or absence of the drive sleeve in the window or aperture, and
to determine, based on the determined presence or absence of the drive sleeve in the window or aperture, whether the drug delivery device is in the dose setting mode or whether the drug delivery device is in the dose delivery mode.

3. The sensor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine that the drug delivery device is in the dose setting mode when the part of the drive sleeve is determined to be absent in the window or aperture.

4. The sensor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine that the drug delivery device is in the dose delivery mode when the part of the drive sleeve is determined to be present in the window or aperture.

5. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement is an optical sensor arrangement.

6. The sensor device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the sensor arrangement is a single camera.

7. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor arrangement 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.

8. The sensor device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor arrangement arranged within the sensor device and configured to detect an amount of axial movement of a gauge element of the drug delivery device,
wherein the circuitry is configured to calculate the set dose using the encoded information and using outputs from the second sensor arrangement.

9. The sensor device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second sensor arrangement comprises an array of optical sensors, each optical sensor being operable to detect light received at different locations along a linear path and to output a signal indicative of an amount of detected light.

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

11. The sensor device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second sensor arrangement 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 second sensor arrangement.

12. A drug delivery system comprising:
a sensor device configured to be removably attachable to a drug delivery device, the sensor device comprising:
a sensor arrangement arranged within the sensor device, the sensor arrangement including at least one sensor, and
a circuitry configured to process signals provided by the sensor arrangement,
wherein the sensor arrangement is configured such that, when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device, the sensor arrangement 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 sleeve of the drug delivery device, and
wherein the circuitry is configured:
to determine, based on the encoded information, information relating to a set dose, and
to determine, based on sensing of the part of the drive sleeve, information relating to whether the drug delivery device is in a dose setting mode or whether the drug delivery device is in a dose delivery mode; and

the 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 the dose setting mode,
a drive mechanism configured to cause expulsion of the set dose upon application of a driving force in the dose delivery mode, and
the window located at a fixed axial position on the main body and coincident with the markings on the number sleeve,
wherein the drive sleeve of the drive mechanism is arranged to move between a first position in which the drive sleeve is coincident with the window and is visible through the window and a second position in which the drive sleeve is not visible through the window.

13. The drug delivery system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the drive sleeve is of a contrasting colour to the rotatable component.

14. The drug delivery system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the drug delivery device further comprises a gauge element that is moveable axially along an underlying element and is configured such that a movement of the gauge element in a particular direction causes the underlying element to become visible at successive locations along an externally visible path,
wherein at least part of the gauge element has a first reflectance and the underlying element has a second reflectance different from the first reflectance.

15. The drug delivery system of claim 14 , wherein the gauge element is movable relative to the underlying element such that a 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.

16. The drug delivery system of claim 14 , wherein the gauge element has a plurality of marks formed thereon, wherein an angular position of each mark in the plurality of marks changes as an axial position of that mark changes.

17. The drug delivery system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the drive sleeve is coincident with the window and is visible through the window when the drug delivery device is in the dose delivery mode and is not visible through the window when the drug delivery device is in the dose setting mode.

18. 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 of the drug delivery device;
a drive mechanism configured to cause expulsion of a set dose upon application of a driving force in a dose delivery mode of the drug delivery device; and
a window located at a fixed axial position on the main body and coincident with

Assignees

• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61M2205/6063

  Optical identification systems · CPC title

• A61M2205/3306

  Optical measuring means · CPC title

• A61M2005/3126

  Specific display means related to dosing · CPC title

• A61M2005/3125

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

• A61M5/31525 Primary

  Dosing (burettes, pipettes B01L3/02) · CPC title