Rotary Sensor Module with Axial Switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016015903-A1
Application number	US-201414767465-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2014
Priority date	Feb 19, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Sensor assembly comprising a first rotary sensor part with a plurality of individual electrically conducting sensor areas arranged in a pattern, a second rotary sensor part arranged rotationally relative to the first portion, the second part comprising a plurality of contact structures adapted to be in contact with conducting sensor areas on the first sensor rotary part. The contact structures are configured to engage and connect different sensor areas as the first and second part of the rotary sensor rotate relative to each, the created connections being indicative of a rotational position between the first and second portions. One of the contact structures is an actuatable contact structure being axially moveable relative to the first portion and having a connected position in which the actuatable contact structure is in contact with a sensor area and a disconnected position in which the actuatable contact structure is not in contact with a sensor area.

First claim

1 . A rotary sensor assembly defining an axis of rotation, comprising:
a first portion comprising a first rotary sensor part, the first rotary sensor part comprising a surface with a plurality of individual electrically conducting sensor areas arranged in a pattern, a second portion comprising a second rotary sensor part arranged rotationally relative to the first portion, the second rotary sensor part comprising a plurality of contact structures adapted to be in contact with conducting sensor areas on the first sensor rotary part,
wherein at least a portion of the contact structures are configured to engage and connect different sensor areas as the first and second part of the rotary sensor rotate relative to each, the created connections being indicative of a rotational position between the first and second portions,
wherein at least one of the contact structures is an actuatable contact structure being axially moveable relative to the first portion and having a connected position in which the actuatable contact structure is in contact with a sensor area and a dis-connected position in which the actuatable contact structure is not in contact with a sensor area,
actuator structure means for axially moving the at least one actuatable contact structure between the connected and the dis-connected position.

2 . A sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the second rotary sensor part is in the form of a metallic disc member comprising a plurality of integrally formed flexible arms forming the contact structures, at least one of the flexible arms being axially moveable to thereby form the actuatable contact structure.

3 . A sensor assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising:
electronic circuitry adapted to determine a rotational position between the first and second portions based on a given pattern of created connections.

4 . A sensor assembly as in claim 1 in combination with a housing, wherein:
the first portion is arranged rotationally relative to the housing,
the second portion is arranged non-rotationally relative to the housing, and
at least one of the first and second portions are arranged axially moveable relative to the housing, and
the actuator structure is arranged between the housing and the second portion.

5 . A combination as in claim 4 , wherein the actuator structure is in the form of a mechanical connection formed between the housing and the flexible switch arm, whereby relative axial movement between the housing and the flexible switch arm moves the switch contact between the connected and dis-connected positions.

6 . A drug delivery device comprising a sensor assembly as in claim 3 , further comprising:
a housing, a drug-filled cartridge or structure for receiving a drug-filled cartridge, the cartridge comprising an axially displaceable piston and a distal outlet portion, and drug expelling structure comprising:
dose setting structure allowing a user to set a dose of drug to be expelled,
an axially displaceable piston rod adapted to move the piston of a cartridge in a distal direction to thereby expel drug from the cartridge,
a rotational member adapted to rotate corresponding to a set and/or expelled dose, and
and an axially moveable actuation member adapted to actuate the drug expelling structure to thereby expel the set dose of drug,

wherein:
the first and second rotary sensor parts rotate relative to each other during setting and/or expelling of a dose of drug, and
the at least one actuatable contact structure is actuated between its two positions when the actuation member is moved axially.

7 . A drug delivery device as in claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the sensor assembly is mounted to and rotates with the rotational member, the first portion comprising electronic circuitry adapted to estimate an amount of expelled drug based on detection of rotational movement between the first and second portions corresponding to a set and/or expelled dose.

8 . A drug delivery device as in claim 6 , wherein the rotational member is adapted to move axially between an initial and an actuated position, the first portion of the sensor assembly being mounted to move axially with the rotational member.

9 . A drug delivery device as in claim 8 , wherein the second portion is mounted to move axially with the rotational member.

10 . A drug delivery device as in claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry comprises logging structure adapted to create a log for dose amounts of drug expelled from a cartridge by the drug expelling structure, wherein the dose amounts are calculated based on relative rotation between the first and second rotary sensor parts during setting and/or expelling of a dose of drug.

11 . A drug delivery device as in claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a display.

12 . A drug delivery device as in claim 11 , wherein the display is turned off during rotation of the first portion.

13 . A drug delivery device as in claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry comprises transmitter structure adapted to transmit stored data to an external receiver.

14 . A drug delivery device comprising:
a housing, a drug-filled cartridge or structure for receiving a drug-filled cartridge, the cartridge comprising an axially displaceable piston and a distal outlet portion, and drug expelling structure comprising:
dose setting structure allowing a user to set a dose of drug to be expelled,
an axially displaceable piston rod adapted to move the piston of a cartridge in a distal direction to thereby expel drug from the cartridge,
a rotational member adapted to rotate corresponding to a set and/or expelled dose, and
and an axially moveable actuation member adapted to actuate the drug expelling structure to thereby expel the set dose of drug,
sensor structure means adapted to detect a set and/or an expelled dose, comprising: a first portion comprising a first rotary sensor part, the first rotary sensor part comprising a surface with a plurality of individual electrically conducting sensor areas arranged in a pattern, a second portion comprising a second rotary sensor part arranged rotationally relative to the first portion thereby defining an axis of rotation, the second rotary sensor part comprising a plurality of contact structures adapted to be in contact with conducting sensor areas on the first sensor rotary part,
wherein:
at least a portion of the contact structures are configured to engage and connect different sensor areas as the first and second part of the rotary sensor rotate relative to each, the created connections being indicative of a rotational position between the first and second portions,
at least one of the contact structures is an actuatable contact structure being axially moveable relative to the first portion and having a connected position in which the actuatable contact structure is in contact with a sensor area and a dis-connected position in which the actuatable contact structure is not in contact with a sensor area,
the first and second rotary sensor parts rotate relative to each other during setting and/or expelling of a dose of drug, and
the at least one actuatable contact structure is actuated between its two positions when the actuation member is moved axially.

15 . A drug delivery device as in claim 14 , further comprising:
electronic circuitry adapted to determine a rotational position between the first and second portions based on a given pattern of created connections, the electronic circuitry comprising logging structure adapted to create a log for dose amounts of drug expelled from a cartridge by the dru

Assignees

• Novo Nordisk As

Inventors

• Madsen John Oestergaard
• Olesen Jan
• Windum Jesper Peter

Classifications

• A61M5/31551 Primary

  including axial movement of dose setting member · CPC title

• A61M2205/52

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

• A61M2205/103

  rotating · CPC title

• G01D5/252

  a combination of conductors or channels · CPC title

• A61M5/24 Primary

  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