Adjustable injection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11458254-B2
Application number	US-202016807475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2020
Priority date	May 13, 2015
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus and method for adjusting an injection device for administering a substance that includes a device housing with an array of fastening points. The apparatus has at least two housing-like shells, each having at least one holding device and at least one blocking device for attaching to the housing. The holding device of a first shell can be attached to a fastening point, and the holding device of a second shell can be attached to a further fastening point. Upon attaching all of the plurality of housing-like shells to the housing, the blocking devices of the plurality of housing-like shells prevent the disengagement of the plurality of housing-like shells from the housing by blocking detachment of the holding devices from the fastening points. At least one of the housing-like shells comprises an electronic assembly and shell attachment to the housing activates the electronic assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus with an injection device for administering a fluid substance allowing for adjusting the injection device, the injection device comprising a device housing which, on an external side thereof, has a plurality of fastening points, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of housing-like shells, comprising at least a first housing-like shell and a second housing-like shell, each of the plurality of housing-like shells having at least one holding device through which the plurality of housing-like shells may be attached to the fastening points of the housing and at least one blocking device arranged thereon, whereby upon attaching all of the plurality of housing-like shells to the housing, the blocking devices of the plurality of housing-like shells prevent the disengagement of the plurality of housing-like shells from the housing by blocking detachment of the holding devices from the fastening points;
at least one of the housing-like shells comprises an electronic assembly comprising: an electronic control unit; and
an energy storage to supply energy to the electronic assembly for activation;
whereby attachment of the plurality of housing-like shells to the housing activates the electronic assembly.

2. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 1 , wherein conductive areas on fastening points of two housing-like shells are electrically connected when the shells are applied to the housing causing the energy storage to power the electronic assembly.

3. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic assembly comprises a timer which is started upon the electronic assembly being activated.

4. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 3 , wherein the timer is set to a time limit corresponding to an expected service lifetime of the injection device.

5. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 4 , further comprising one or both of a display or a communication module operatively connected to the electronic assembly, wherein upon reaching the time limit of the timer one or both of the display or the communication module may be activated for status signaling of the injection device.

6. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a sensor module and a communication circuit or a communication module for communicating with external devices.

7. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 6 , wherein the communication module is a wireless communication module, selected from the group consisting of a WLAN or Bluetooth module or GSM.

8. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 6 , wherein the communication circuit is a RFID or NFC circuit.

9. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing-like shells comprises an acoustic pattern sensor operatively connected to the electronic assembly.

10. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 9 , wherein the acoustic pattern sensor is a microphone configured to recognize at least one acoustic pattern associated with a discharging mechanism state of an injection device.

11. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the housing-like shells comprises a display for signaling at least one discharging mechanism state.

12. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 9 , wherein the acoustic pattern sensor is configured to recognize when the injection device is used for an injection, that the injection device is triggered or that the injection process is completed.

13. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 9 wherein the acoustic sensor is arranged in a hollow space between the housing and the housing-like shells.

14. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 1 , wherein once the electronic assembly is activated the electronic control unit can use a voice output to provide user instructions.

15. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one housing-like shell comprises an electronic circuit for unlocking of the injection device.

16. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 15 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises communication means for receiving an unlocking command and an electromechanical actuator movably arranged on the shell and acting through an opening in the housing for unlocking of the injection device.

17. The apparatus with the injection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor, by which the temperature within the injection device can be monitored by the electronic assembly to determine when the drug could be damaged by thermal impact.

18. A method of adjusting the haptic, ergonomic or other characteristics of an injection device for administering a fluid substance, said device comprising a housing which, on an external side thereof, has a plurality of fastening points, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of housing-like shells including at least a first housing-like shell and a second housing like shell, each of the plurality of housing-like shells having at least one holding device through which the plurality of housing-like shells may be attached to the fastening points of the housing and at least one blocking device arranged thereon;
attaching all of the plurality of housing-like shells to the housing such that the blocking devices of the plurality of housing-like shells prevent the disengagement of the plurality of housing-like shells from the housing by blocking detachment of the holding devices from the fastening points;
in at least one of the housing-like shells providing an electronic assembly comprising: an electronic control unit comprising at least one of a sensor module and a communications module;
an energy storage to supply power to the electronic assembly,
whereby attachment of the plurality of housing-like shells to the housing activates the electronic assembly, where the electronic control unit is powered by the energy storage.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein conductive areas on fastening points of two housing-like shells and in the step of attaching the plurality of housing-like shells to the housing the conductive areas are electrically connected to activate the electronic assembly.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising providing the electronic control unit with an acoustic pattern sensor configured to recognize at least one acoustic pattern associated with a discharging mechanism state of the injection device.

Assignees

• Ypsomed Ag

Inventors

• Schmid Lorenz
• Stettler Peter
• Klötzli Urs
• Eich Adrian
• Frauchiger Vinzenz

Classifications

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title

• A61M5/2033

  Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion (multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287) · CPC title

• A61M5/3129 Primary

  Syringe barrels (A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61M2005/208

  Release is possible only when device is pushed against the skin, e.g. using a trigger which is blocked or inactive when the device is not pushed against the skin · CPC title