Packaging assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11951274-B2
Application number	US-202117386746-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2015
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A packaging assembly includes a case configured to at least partially contain injection devices for delivering a medicament; a light sensor configured to detect light incident on the packaging assembly; and a status indicator configured to generate an output which indicates a status of the packaging assembly conditional on an intensity of light detected by the light sensor exceeding a threshold light intensity.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging assembly comprising:
a case at least partially containing a plurality of injection devices each containing a medicament;
a light sensor configured to detect light incident on the packaging assembly;
a status indicator configured to generate an output which indicates a status of the packaging assembly conditional on an intensity of light detected by the light sensor exceeding a threshold light intensity; and
a door open timer configured to be started in response to detecting that an intensity of light detected by the light sensor exceeds a threshold light intensity, wherein the status indicator is configured to generate the output only if the door open timer has not expired.

2. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a countdown timer configured to monitor a time remaining to a scheduled time,
wherein the status indicator is configured to generate the output which indicates a status of the countdown timer.

3. The packaging assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a reset input device,
wherein the packaging assembly is configured to respond to operation of the reset input device by a user to set the scheduled time.

4. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , wherein the packaging assembly is configured to respond to the operation of the reset input device by the user to set the scheduled time to 14 or 28 days.

5. The packaging assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the status indicator comprises an audio output transducer; and
the audio output transducer is configured to generate an audio reminder output to indicate that the scheduled time has been reached conditional on the intensity of light detected by the light sensor exceeding the threshold light intensity.

6. The packaging assembly claim 2 , wherein:
the status indicator comprises an optical transducer; and
the optical transducer is configured to generate a visual output to indicate the status of the countdown timer.

7. The packaging assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the optical transducer comprises a notification light; and
the notification light is activated at the scheduled time to generate a visual reminder output conditional on the intensity of light detected by the light sensor exceeding the threshold light intensity.

8. The packaging assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the optical transducer comprises a display; and
the display is configured to generate an output to show a number of days remaining until the scheduled time.

9. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the door open timer is configured to expire after a predetermined time in the range of 1 minute to 10 minutes.

10. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lid coupled to the case and movable between an open position and a closed position; and
a sensor configured to output a signal representative of a change in position of the lid from the closed position to the open position,
wherein the output generated by the status indicator is configured to deactivate based on the signal received from the sensor.

11. The packaging assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is an electromechanical switch arranged within the packaging assembly such that a state of the electromechanical switch changes between open and closed states as the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.

12. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of injection devices comprise a plurality of auto-injectors.

13. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of injection devices comprise a plurality of safety syringes.

14. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one battery arranged to provide power to components of a user interface.

15. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the packaging assembly is configured to be stored in a fridge; and
the status indicator is configured to generate the output conditional on a door of the fridge being open.

16. A method of operating a packaging assembly, comprising:
receiving a signal from a light sensor representative of an intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly;
generating an output which indicates a status of the packaging assembly conditional on the intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeding a threshold light intensity; and
starting a door open timer in response to detecting that the intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeds the threshold light intensity,
wherein generating the output comprises generating the output only if the door open timer has not expired.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining a time remaining on a countdown timer to a scheduled time,
wherein generating the output comprises generating the output to indicate a status of the countdown timer.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving a signal from a reset input device; and
setting the scheduled time in response to receiving the signal from the reset input device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein setting the scheduled time comprises setting the scheduled time to 14 days or to 28 days.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the output comprises generating an audio reminder output to indicate that the scheduled time has been reached conditional on the intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeding the threshold light intensity.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving a signal from a sensor representative of a change in position of a lid of the packaging assembly from a closed position to an open position; and
deactivating at least a part of the generated output based on the signal received from the sensor.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein generating the output comprises generating a further output based on the signal received from the sensor, the further output providing information relating to the status of the packaging assembly.

Assignees

• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

• Kietzmann Hardy
• Luck Fred
• Riebel Stefan

Classifications

• A61M5/002 Primary

  Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics (needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61M5/008

  Racks for supporting syringes or needles (A61M5/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M5/3202

  Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61J7/0076

  Medicament distribution means (with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00) · CPC title

• A61M2209/06

  Packaging for specific medical equipment · CPC title