Timer based on chemical sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9529335-B2
Application number	US-201414473302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2014
Priority date	Aug 29, 2014
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

An elapsed timer device includes a timer element comprising a timer chamber, a timer chamber conditioning material disposed within the timer chamber, and a sensor arranged to sense a timer chemical within the timer chamber. The sensor indicates elapsed time in response to a threshold level of the chemical being present within the timer chamber. The timer chamber, timer chemical adsorption/desorption characteristics of the timer chamber conditioning material, and the sensor are configured so that an amount of the timer chemical within the timer chamber reaches the threshold level within a predetermined time after initialization of the timer element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An elapsed timer device, comprising:
at least one timer element, comprising:
a timer chamber comprising an open volume;
a timer chamber conditioning material configured and arranged to one or both absorb and desorb a timer chemical from the open volume of the timer chamber to decrease or increase an amount of the timer chemical present within the open volume of the timer chamber toward a threshold level; and
a sensor spaced apart from the timer chamber conditioning material, the sensor arranged to sense the timer chemical within the open volume of the timer chamber and to indicate elapsed time in response to the threshold level of the timer chemical being present within the open volume of the timer chamber, wherein the timer chamber, timer chamber conditioning material, and the sensor are configured so that the amount of the timer chemical within the open volume of the timer chamber reaches the threshold level within a predetermined time after initialization of the timer element.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one timer element comprises multiple timer elements.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein:
each timer chamber of the multiple timer elements is configured to time a different elapsed time; and
the sensors of the timer elements are configured to sequentially indicate the different elapsed times.

4. The device of claim 1 , comprising:
a first layer having the timer chamber conditioning material arranged on or embedded at least partially within the first layer;
a second layer that includes the sensor; and
spacers arranged between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the timer chamber is disposed between the first and second layers.

5. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a third layer, wherein an initialization chamber is formed between the third and first layers and the third layer has a timer chamber conditioning material arranged on or embedded at least partially within the third layer.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elapsed timer device is flexible.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elapsed timer device comprises a flexible polymer.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a label, wherein the elapsed timer device forms at least a portion of the label.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a product dispenser, and wherein the elapsed timer device is configured to measure elapsed time from a use of the dispenser.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the product dispenser is configured to dispense a drug.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the product dispenser is an insulin pen.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the product dispenser is pill bottle.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the product dispenser is a blister pack comprising a plurality of cells containing a product to be dispensed, and the elapsed timer device is configured to measure an elapsed time from a dispensing of the product from any of the plurality of cells.

14. An elapsed timer device, comprising:
at least one timer element, comprising:
a timer chamber comprising an open volume;
a humidity conditioning material configured and arranged to one or both absorb and desorb humidity from the timer chamber so as to decrease or increase an amount of humidity present within the open volume of the timer chamber toward a threshold humidity level;
a humidity sensor spaced apart from the humidity conditioning material, the humidity sensor arranged to sense humidity within the open volume of the timer chamber and to indicate elapsed time in response to the threshold humidity level being present within the open volume of the timer chamber, wherein the timer chamber, the humidity conditioning material, and the humidity sensor are configured so that the amount of humidity within the open volume of the timer chamber reaches the threshold humidity level within a predetermined time after initialization of the timer element.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the timer chamber includes a timer chamber initialization structure, and wherein the initialization of the timer element comprises operation of the timer chamber initialization structure.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the initialization structure comprises at least one of a hole, a porous material, a gas exchange membrane, and a valve.

17. The device of claim 15 , further comprising:
an initialization chamber, wherein the timer chamber initialization structure is arranged so that when the timer chamber initialization structure is open, the timer chamber is fluidically coupled to the initialization chamber; and
a humidity conditioning material disposed within the initialization chamber, wherein at steady-state the humidity conditioning material within the initialization chamber maintains a predetermined humidity within the initialization chamber.

18. The device of claim 17 , further comprising:
an initialization chamber initialization structure arranged so that when the initialization chamber initialization structure is open, the initialization chamber is fluidically coupled to an environment external to the elapsed timer device.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one timer element comprises multiple timer elements.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein, when open, at least one valve fluidically connects the multiple timer chambers to the initialization chamber.

21. The device of claim 19 , wherein each timer chamber of the multiple timer elements includes a vent.

22. The device of claim 19 , wherein:
timer chambers of the multiple timer elements are configured to time different elapsed times; and
the humidity sensors of the timer elements are configured to sequentially indicate the different elapsed times.

23. The device of claim 14 , wherein the humidity sensor comprises a moisture-sensitive chemical that changes color at a predetermined humidity.

24. A method, comprising:
initializing at least one timer element;
decreasing or increasing moisture present within an open volume of the at least one timer chamber toward a threshold humidity level by adsorbing or desorbing moisture from the open volume of a timer chamber of the timer element using a humidity conditioning material;
sensing humidity in the timer chamber using a humidity sensor that is spaced apart from the humidity conditioning material toward the threshold humidity level; and
indicating an elapsed time in response to the threshold humidity level being present within the open volume of the timer chamber, wherein the timer chamber, the humidity conditioning material, and the humidity sensor are configured so that the humidity within the open volume of the timer chamber reaches the threshold humidity level within a predetermined time after initialization of the timer element.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein initializing the timer element comprises opening a timer chamber initialization structure, the opening of the timer chamber initialization structure allowing air having a predetermined humidity from an initialization chamber into the timer chamber.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein;
the at least one timer element comprises multiple timer elements; and
indicating the elapsed time comprises indicating a different elapsed time for each of the multiple timer elements.

27. The method of claim 24 , indicating the elapsed time comprises visually indicating the e

Assignees

• Palo Alto Res Ct Inc

Inventors

• Abhishek Ramkumar
• Raychaudhuri Sourobh
• Pattekar Ashish

Classifications

• B65D75/367

  and forming several compartments · CPC title

• A61J7/0427

  with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system · CPC title

• A61J2200/70

  Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means · CPC title

• B65D25/205

  Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; (cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D75/54

  Cards, coupons or other inserts or accessories · CPC title