Methods and apparatus for improved medication delivery devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11298470-B2
Application number	US-201716345706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2017
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

Embodiments provide systems, methods, and apparatus for a medication delivery device. The device includes a dose selector for selecting an amount of medication to deliver; a first capacitive sensor adjacent the dose selector and operative to detect linear displacement of the dose selector during medication delivery; a screw coupled to the dose selector; a second capacitive sensor adjacent the screw and operative to detect linear displacement of the screw during medication delivery; and a processor coupled to the first and second capacitive sensors and operative to determine an amount of medication actually delivered by the medication delivery device. Numerous other aspects are provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A medication delivery device comprising:
a dose selector for selecting an amount of medication to deliver;
a first capacitive sensor adjacent the dose selector and operative to detect linear displacement of the dose selector during medication delivery;
a screw coupled to the dose selector;
a second capacitive sensor adjacent the screw and operative to detect linear displacement of the screw during medication delivery;
a transceiver; and
a processor coupled to the first capacitive sensor, the second capacitive sensor, and the transceiver and operative to determine an amount of medication actually delivered by the medication delivery device based on a comparison of determined amounts of medication via the detected linear displacement of the dose selector and the detected linear displacement of the screw, wherein a variation in the determined amounts of medication greater than a predetermined limit sets off an alert to a user that the medication delivery device is no longer operating accurately, the processor further operative to communicate via the transceiver the determined amount of medication from the medication delivery device to a data management system or a blood glucose meter.

2. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the dose selector is rotatable for selecting an amount of medication to deliver.

3. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to record information related to the determined amount of medication.

4. The medication delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the information related to the determined amount of medication includes at least one of:
a time and date a dose was administered;
a rate at which the dose was administered;
a time and date a needle of the medication delivery device was installed or removed;
a time and date a medication cartridge of the medication delivery device was inserted or removed; and
a temperature reading.

5. The medication delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further operative via the transceiver to communicate the recorded information from the medication delivery device to the data management system or the blood glucose meter.

6. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator, wherein the processor is operative to activate the indicator in response to at least one of an improper amount of medication having been delivered by the medication delivery device or a needle of the medication delivery device requiring replacement.

7. The medication delivery device of claim 6 , wherein the indicator comprises a sound generation device or an LED.

8. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver comprises a radio frequency transceiver or a Bluetooth® transceiver.

9. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a clock coupled to the processor.

10. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a follower with a stator track mounted adjacent the dose selector, wherein the first capacitive sensor detects linear displacement of the dose selector during medication delivery via a stator plate on the follower moving past the first capacitive sensor.

11. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a device body and a medication cartridge holder, wherein the medication cartridge holder is reusable, detachably coupled to the device body, and comprises the second capacitive sensor.

12. The medication delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board housing having a circuit board therein and a thermal sensor mounted on the circuit board.

13. The medication delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further operative to record ambient temperatures that the medication delivery device is exposed to as detected by the thermal sensor.

14. The medication delivery device of claim 13 , further comprising an indicator, wherein the processor is further operative to activate the indicator in response to the medication delivery device being exposed to an extreme temperature as detected by the thermal sensor.

15. The medication delivery device of claim 14 , wherein the indicator comprises an LED.

16. A method of delivering a medication with a medication delivery device comprising:
selecting an amount of medication to deliver via a dose selector;
detecting linear displacement of the dose selector during medication delivery via a first capacitive sensor adjacent the dose selector;
detecting linear displacement of a screw coupled to the dose selector during medication delivery via a second capacitive sensor adjacent the screw; and
determining an amount of medication actually delivered by the medication delivery device via a processor coupled to the first and second capacitive sensors based on a comparison of determined amounts of medication via the detected linear displacement of the dose selector and the detected linear displacement of the screw, wherein a variation in the determined amounts of medication greater than a predetermined limit sets off an alert to a user that the medication delivery device is no longer operating accurately.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the selecting comprises rotating the dose selector to select an amount of medication to deliver.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising recording information from various sensors using the processor.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the recording of information comprises recording at least one of:
a time and date a dose was administered;
a rate at which the dose was administered;
a time and date a needle of the medication delivery device was installed or removed;
a time and date a medication cartridge of the medication delivery device was inserted or removed; and
a temperature reading.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising communicating the recorded information from the medication delivery device to a data management system or a blood glucose meter.

Assignees

• Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag

Inventors

• Shah Nikhil M
• Prais Eugene R
• Patel Nihir
• Gass Jennifer L
• Burkarski Megan M

Classifications

• A61M2205/584

  having a color code · CPC title

• A61M2205/3584

  using modem, internet or Bluetooth® · CPC title

• A61M2205/52

  with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient · CPC title

• A61M2205/35

  Communication · CPC title

• A61M2205/3368

  Temperature · CPC title