Elastomer articles having embedded electronics and methods of manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724037-B2
Application number	US-201816618990-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2018
Priority date	Jun 6, 2017
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

An assembly for a container to be filled with a pharmaceutical drug is provided. The assembly includes a first component and a second component. The first component has at least one electronic device fully embedded therein, a first end provided with a first engagement feature and an opposing second end. The second component has a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature of the first component.

First claim

We claim:

1. An assembly for a container configured to be filled with a pharmaceutical drug, the assembly comprising:
a piston comprising:
an electronic device embedded in the piston, the electronic device comprising a power supply;
a first end comprising a first engagement feature; and
a second end that opposes the first end, the second end bonded to a protective film, the protective film comprising a first surface that covers an exposed surface of the electronic device, the protective film comprising a second surface that opposes the first surface, and the second surface being configured to contact the pharmaceutical drug when the container is filled; and

a piston rod comprising a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature of the piston.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery arranged proximate the second end of the piston and a plurality of wires extending from the first end to the second end of the piston.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature comprises a first thread and the second engagement feature comprises a second thread that corresponds to the first thread, wherein the first thread and the second thread are configured to be interlocked together.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature comprises an annular recess and the second engagement feature comprises an annular protrusion configured to be received in the annular recess.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature comprises a plurality of spaced-apart recesses and the second engagement feature comprises a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions, and each of the plurality of spaced-apart protrusions are configured to be received in a corresponding one of the plurality of spaced-apart recesses.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piston comprises a first electrical contact and the piston rod comprises a second electrical contact configured to engage the first electrical contact, and wherein an electrical connection is formed when the first engagement feature is engaged with the second engagement feature.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a cartridge, a vial, or a syringe.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a battery, a processor, and a transmitter, wherein the assembly is configured to sense a first signal from the electronic device and at least one of process the first signal from the electronic device as feedback to control an actuator of the container, or send a second signal from the assembly to an external device configured to at least one of monitor the second signal from the assembly or receive the second signal from the assembly and adjust movement of the actuator of the container.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piston comprises at least one of a thermoset elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the piston comprises at least one of a butyl elastomer or a halobutyl elastomer.

11. An assembly for a container, the container being configured to be filled with a pharmaceutical drug, the assembly comprising:
a piston comprising:
a first end comprising a first engagement feature;
an electronic device embedded in the piston;
an electrical contact that is exposed, the electrical contact being connected to the electronic device; and
a second end bonded to a protective film, the protective film comprising a first surface that covers an exposed surface of the electronic device, the protective film comprising a second surface that opposes the first surface, and the second surface being configured to contact the pharmaceutical drug when the container is filled; and

a piston rod comprising:
a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature; and
an electrical contact that is exposed,

wherein the electrical contact of the piston rod is configured to engage with the electrical contact of the piston, such that in an assembled position, the electrical contact of the piston is in electrical communication with the electrical contact of the piston rod, and
wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of an integrated circuit, a sensor, or a power supply.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a battery arranged proximate the second end of the piston and a plurality of wires extending from the first end to the second end of the piston.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first engagement feature comprises a first thread and the second engagement feature comprises a second thread that corresponds to the first thread, wherein the first thread and the second thread are configured to be interlocked together.

14. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first engagement feature comprises an annular recess and the second engagement feature comprises an annular protrusion configured to be received in the annular recess.

15. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first engagement feature comprises a plurality of spaced-apart recesses and the second engagement feature comprises a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions, and each of the plurality of spaced-apart protrusions are configured to be received in a corresponding one of the plurality of spaced-apart recesses.

16. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a cartridge, a vial, or a syringe.

17. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a battery, a processor, and a transmitter, wherein the assembly is configured to sense a first signal from the electronic device and at least one of:
process the first signal from the electronic device as a feedback to control a cartridge, or
send a second signal from the assembly to an external device that is configured to at least one of monitor the second signal from the assembly or receive the second signal from the assembly, process the second signal from the assembly, and adjust movement of an actuator of the cartridge.

18. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the piston comprises at least one of a thermoset elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the piston comprises at least one of a butyl elastomer or a halobutyl elastomer.

20. An assembly for a container, the container is configured to be filled with a pharmaceutical drug, the assembly comprising:
a piston comprising:
an elastomeric material;
a magnetic material embedded in and fully encapsulated by the elastomeric material;
a first end comprising a first engagement feature; and
a second end that opposes the first end, the second end bonded to a protective film, the protective film comprising a first surface that covers an exposed surface of the magnetic material, the protective film comprising a second surface that opposes the first surface, and the second surface being configured to contact the pharmaceutical drug when the container is filled; and

a piston rod comprising a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature of the piston.

21. A system for adjusting a dose of a pharmaceutical drug, the system comprising:
an assembly for a container configured to be filled with the pharmaceutical drug, the assembly comprising:
a piston comprising:
an electronic device embedded in the piston, the electronic device comprising a sensor;
a first end comprising a first engagement feature;
a second end that opposes the first end, the second end bonded to a protective film, the protective film comprising a first surface that co

Assignees

• West Pharmaceutical Services Inc

Inventors

• Drake Kerry
• Dowling Patrick
• Sullivan Michael
• Krizan Jason

Classifications

• A61M5/31511 Primary

  Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod (A61M5/5066 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M5/24

  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

• A61M5/31515

  Connection of piston with piston rod · CPC title

• A61M5/31568

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

• G16H20/17

  delivered via infusion or injection · CPC title