Packaging assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12115336-B2
Application number	US-202017082093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2020
Priority date	Nov 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

Abstract

A packaging assembly comprises a case configured to contain a plurality of injection devices for delivering a medicament and a lid coupled to the case. The lid is movable between an open position and a closed position. The packaging assembly further includes a countdown timer configured to monitor a time remaining to a scheduled time 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. The packaging assembly also includes a reminder alert configured to activate once the scheduled time has been reached, and deactivate based on the signal received from the sensor. The packaging assembly further comprises a reset input device. The packaging assembly is configured to respond to operation of the reset input device by a user to set the scheduled time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A packaging assembly comprising:
a case configured to at least partially contain a plurality of injection devices for delivering a medicament;
a lid coupled to the case and movable between an open position and a closed position, the lid comprising a transparent portion;
a countdown timer configured to monitor a time remaining to a scheduled time;
a first sensor configured to output a signal representative of a change in position of the lid from the closed position to the open position;
a reminder alert configured to activate once the scheduled time has been reached and deactivate based on the signal received from the first sensor;
an optical transducer configured to generate a visual reminder output at the scheduled time; and
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, and
wherein the optical transducer is configured to generate the visual reminder output when (i) the lid is in the closed position and (ii) an intensity of light sensed by a light sensor exceeds a threshold light intensity, the visual reminder output being viewable through the transparent portion of the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

2. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical transducer is a notification light and wherein the packaging assembly is configured to intermittently activate the notification light once the scheduled time has been reached to generate the visual reminder output.

3. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical transducer is a display.

4. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , wherein the display is configured to generate an output to show an amount of time remaining until the scheduled time.

5. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , wherein the display is configured to (i) show a number of days remaining until the scheduled time continuously when the number of days remaining is greater than one day and (ii) show the number of days remaining until the scheduled time intermittently when the number of days remaining is equal to or less than one day.

6. The packaging assembly of claim 3 , wherein the display is configured to generate an output which indicates that a state of charge of batteries included in the packaging assembly is below a threshold state of charge.

7. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light sensor is configured to detect an amount of light incident on the packaging assembly, and the packaging assembly further comprises a door open timer configured to be started in response to detecting that the intensity of light sensed by the light sensor exceeds the threshold light intensity.

8. The packaging assembly of claim 7 , wherein the packaging assembly is configured to generate the visual reminder output when the door open timer has not expired, wherein the lid is arranged to cover a display in the closed position.

9. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the packaging assembly is configured to respond to operation of the reset input device by the user to set the scheduled time to 14 days.

10. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first 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.

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

12. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one injection device including the medicament.

13. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical transducer is disposed on a panel of the case, the panel defining one or more openings for the plurality of injection devices.

14. The packaging assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of injection devices extend through the panel when the plurality of injection devices are in the case.

15. The packaging assembly of claim 13 , wherein the panel is spaced apart from the transparent portion of the lid when the lid is in the closed position such that the optical transducer is recessed into the case when viewed through the transparent portion of the lid.

16. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lid is configured to cover the optical transducer and the plurality of injection devices when the lid is in the closed position and configured to uncover the optical transducer and the plurality of injection devices when the lid is in the closed position.

17. The packaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivotally attached to the case about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to respective longitudinal axes of the plurality of injection devices when the plurality of injection devices are in the case.

18. A method of operating a packaging assembly configured to receive a plurality of injection devices, the method comprising:
determining a time remaining to a scheduled time to remove one of the plurality of injection devices from the packaging assembly;
receiving a signal from a first sensor representative of a change in position of a lid of the packaging assembly, the lid comprising a transparent portion;
activating a reminder alert once the scheduled time has been reached;
deactivating the reminder alert based on the signal received from the first sensor;
receiving a signal from a reset input device;
setting the scheduled time in response to receiving the signal from the reset input device;
determining that an intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeds a threshold light intensity; and
generating a visual reminder output when (i) the lid is in a closed position and (ii) the intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly is determined to exceed the threshold light intensity, the visual reminder output being viewable through the transparent portion of the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein generating the visual reminder output further comprises generating an output to show a number of days remaining until the scheduled time, and the method further comprises:
receiving a signal from a light sensor representative of the intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly;
starting a door open timer in response to detecting that the intensity of light incident on the packaging assembly exceeds the threshold light intensity; and
generating the visual reminder output when the door open timer has not expired.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the door open timer is configured to expire after a predetermined time in a range of 1 minute to 10 minutes.

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

22. A packaging assembly comprising:
a case configured to at least partially contain a plurality of injection devices for delivering a medicament;
a lid coupled to the case and movable between an open position and a closed position;
a countdown timer configured to monitor a time remaining to a scheduled time;
a sensor configured to output a signal representative of a change in position of the lid from the closed position to the open position;
a reminder alert configured to activate once the scheduled tim

Assignees

• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

• Kietzmann Hardy
• Luck Fred
• Riebel Stefan

Classifications

• 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

• A61M5/008

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

• A61M2205/18

  with alarm · CPC title