Smart module for injection devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9775957-B2
Application number	US-201614996155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2016
Priority date	Jan 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Described herein is a smart module configured to work with injection devices. The smart module may include electronics such as sensors and indicators, and be programmed to detect environmental parameters. If the sensors detect that a parameter is outside of a predetermined boundary or range, then the indicators may be activated to notify the user that the injection device may not be safe for administering medicine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A module for detecting environmental parameters, comprising:
a carrier configured to mate with an injection device;
one or more environmental sensors mounted on the carrier;
at least one indicator; and
a processor configured to read parameters from the environmental sensors and activate the indicator if a predetermined event occurs;
wherein the module is configured to fit within the interior of the injection device.

2. The module of claim 1 , wherein the injection device is an autoinjector.

3. The module of claim 1 , wherein the presence of the module does not affect a pre-existing function of the injection device.

4. The module of claim 1 , wherein the injection device is a single dose medicament injection device and the processor is configured to activate the indicator when the environmental parameters are outside of the safe storage parameters for a drug.

5. The module of claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises an electronic switch configured to activate in response to an input that initiates an injection event.

6. The module of claim 1 , wherein the environmental sensors are selected from the group consisting of: sensors for temperature, pressure, motion, orientation, and electromagnetic radiation.

7. The module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator comprises an indicator selected from the group consisting of visible, audible, and haptic indicators.

8. The module of claim 1 , wherein the injection device is a patch injector.

9. The module of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit one or more of activation data and environmental sensor data to an external device.

10. A method of detecting activation of an injection device, comprising:
providing an injection device configured to administer a medicament;
providing a module comprising a processor, wherein the module attaches to the injection device and is configured to fit within the interior of the injection device, wherein the module is configured to detect environmental parameters using one or more sensors communicating with the processor; and
activating an indicator on the module if a predetermined event is detected.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the injection device is an autoinjector.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the presence of the module does not affect a pre-existing function of the injection device.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the injection device is a single dose medicament injection device and the processor is configured to activate the indicator when the environmental parameters are outside of the safe storage parameters for a drug.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the module carrier comprises an electronic switch configured to activate in response to an input that initiates an injection event.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the environmental sensors are selected from the group consisting of: sensors for temperature, pressure, motion, orientation, and electromagnetic radiation.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one indicator comprises an indicator selected from the group consisting of visible, audible, and haptic indicators.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the injection device is a patch injector.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting one or more of activation data and environmental sensor data to an external device.

19. A module for detecting environmental parameters, comprising:
a carrier configured to mate with an injection device, wherein the carrier comprises an electronic switch configured to activate in response to an input that initiates an injection event;
one or more environmental sensors mounted on the carrier;
at least one indicator; and
a processor configured to read parameters from the environmental sensors and activate the indicator if a predetermined event occurs.

20. The module of claim 19 , wherein the environmental sensors are selected from the group consisting of: sensors for temperature, pressure, motion, orientation, and electromagnetic radiation.

21. The module of claim 19 , wherein the at least one indicator comprises an indicator selected from the group consisting of visible, audible, and haptic indicators.

22. The module of claim 19 , further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit one or more of activation data and environmental sensor data to an external device.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Despa Mircea Stefan
• Yarger Michael
• Martin Adam
• Richards Andrew
• Kankanala Sundeep

Classifications

• A61M2205/581

  by audible feedback · CPC title

• A61M2205/3331

  Pressure; Flow · CPC title

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title

• A61M2205/583

  by visual feedback · CPC title

• A61M2205/3306

  Optical measuring means · CPC title