Integration of an Ultrasound Sensor in a Plunger Stopper of an Injection Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022379039-A1
Application number	US-202217886551-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 12, 2022
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Dec 1, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to an injection device that includes a medicament reservoir, a stopper including a rigid core and an ultrasound probe disposed in a housing, the ultrasound probe configured to transmit an emitted ultrasound signal through the rigid core along a longitudinal direction of the rigid core into the medicament reservoir and to receive an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections including at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir, a control component configured to be electronically coupled with the ultrasound probe and to process the ultrasound signal to generate injection device data, and an antenna configured to be electronically coupled with the control component and to transmit the injection device data to an external computing device.

First claim

1 . An injection device comprising:
a medicament reservoir; a stopper comprising a rigid housing and an ultrasound probe embedded in the rigid housing, the ultrasound probe configured to transmit an emitted ultrasound signal through the rigid housing into the medicament reservoir and to receive an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections comprising at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir; and an antenna configured to transmit to an external computing device data related to the emitted ultrasound signal and the received ultrasound signal.

2 . The injection device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe is a first probe among multiple probes disposed in the stopper.

3 . The injection device of claim 1 , wherein the stopper includes multiple ultrasound probes, and each ultrasound probe is configured to operate on a respective frequency.

4 . The injection device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound signal is within a frequency range of about 2 MHz to about 12 MHz.

5 . The injection device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound probe is molded within an inner wall of a closed end of the stopper.

6 . The injection device of claim 1 , the injection device data comprises data associated with an amount of medicament within the medicament reservoir.

7 . The injection device of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the rigid housing between the ultrasound probe and the medicament reservoir has a thickness from about 0.1 mm to about 4 mm.

8 . A medicament injection system comprising:
an injection device; and an external computing device, wherein the injection device comprises:
a medicament reservoir,
a stopper comprising a rigid housing and an ultrasound probe embedded in the rigid housing, the ultrasound probe configured to transmit an emitted ultrasound signal through the rigid housing into the medicament reservoir and to receive an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections comprising at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir, and
an antenna configured to transmit to the external computing device data related to the emitted ultrasound signal and the received ultrasound signal, and
wherein the external computing device is configured to:
receive and process the data from the antenna; and
display information related to the processed data.

9 . The medicament injection system of claim 8 , wherein the external computing device comprises one of a mobile device, a smart watch, a tablet, and a laptop.

10 . The medicament injection system of claim 8 , wherein the ultrasound probe is embedded in an inner wall of a closed end of the stopper.

11 . The medicament injection system of claim 8 , wherein the ultrasound probe is a first probe among multiple probes disposed in the stopper.

12 . The medicament injection system of claim 8 , wherein the stopper includes multiple ultrasound probes, and each ultrasound probe is configured to operate on a respective frequency.

13 . The medicament injection system of claim 8 , comprising an energy source configured to provide energy to the ultrasound probe and the control component.

14 . The medicament injection system of claim 8 , wherein the injection device data comprises data associated with an amount of medicament within the medicament reservoir.

15 . A method for detecting an amount of medicament within an injection device, the method comprising:
generating a trigger associated with an operation of the injection device; in response to generating the trigger, transmitting, by an ultrasound probe, an emitted ultrasound signal that is directed towards a medicament reservoir included in the injection device, the medicament reservoir being separated by a rigid portion of a stopper from the ultrasound probe, the ultrasound probe being embedded in the rigid portion of the stopper; receiving, by the ultrasound probe, an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections comprising at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir; and transmitting to an external computing device data related to the emitted ultrasound signal and the received ultrasound signal, wherein the external computing device is configured to:
receive and process the data, and
display information related to the processed data.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasound signal is within a frequency range of about 2 MHz to about 12 MHz.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasound probe is molded within an inner wall of a closed end of the stopper.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein an energy source is configured to provide energy to the ultrasound probe.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasound probe is a first probe among multiple probes disposed in the stopper.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the stopper includes multiple ultrasound probes, and each ultrasound probe is configured to operate on a respective frequency.

Assignees

• Sanofi Sa

Inventors

• Kuehn Bernd
• Schabbach Michael
• Hammen Dietmar

Classifications

• A61M2205/3375

  Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means · CPC title

• G16H20/17

  delivered via infusion or injection · CPC title

• A61M2205/3389

  Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M2205/3327

  Measuring · CPC title

• A61B8/56

  Details of data transmission or power supply · CPC title