Dose measurement systems and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring liquid volume in a container, the apparatus comprising:
- a light source disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation;
a light guide disposed and configured to receive at least a portion of the emitted electromagnetic radiation, the light guide including a plurality of openings to distribute at least a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation and to direct the distributed electromagnetic radiation toward the container;
a plurality of sensors optically coupleable to the plurality of openings, each sensor of the plurality of sensors disposed and configured to detect at least a portion of the distributed electromagnetic radiation; and
a processing unit configured to receive data representative of at least the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors, the processing unit operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices, systems and methods for measuring a volume or number of doses remaining in a drug delivery device that is used for delivering a dose to a patient. In some embodiments, a dose measurement system for measuring the liquid volume in a container includes a light guide disposed and configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation toward the container. The dose measurement system also includes a light guide disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the light guide. A plurality of sensors are located in the apparatus that are optically coupleable to the light guide and are disposed and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least a portion of the light guide. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to receive data representing the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors. The processing unit is further operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors.
62 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring liquid volume in a container, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; a light guide disposed and configured to receive at least a portion of the emitted electromagnetic radiation, the light guide including a plurality of openings to distribute at least a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation and to direct the distributed electromagnetic radiation toward the container; a plurality of sensors optically coupleable to the plurality of openings, each sensor of the plurality of sensors disposed and configured to detect at least a portion of the distributed electromagnetic radiation; and a processing unit configured to receive data representative of at least the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors, the processing unit operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of estimating a volume of liquid in a drug container, the method comprising:
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causing a light source to emit electromagnetic radiation into a light guide, the light guide including a plurality of openings to distribute at least a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation and to direct the distributed electromagnetic radiation toward the drug container; detecting a signature of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the drug container with a plurality of sensors optically coupleable to the plurality of openings; and comparing the signature to a plurality of reference signatures to determine the volume of liquid in the drug container. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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causing a light source to emit electromagnetic radiation into a light guide, the light guide including a plurality of openings to distribute at least a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation and to direct the distributed electromagnetic radiation toward the injection pen a first time; detecting a first signature of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the injection pen with a plurality of sensors optically coupleable to the plurality of openings; comparing the first signature to a plurality of reference signatures to determine a first volume of liquid in the injection pen; causing the light source to emit electromagnetic radiation into the light guide such that the plurality of openings distribute at least a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation toward the injection pen a second time after the first time; detecting a second signature of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the injection pen with the plurality of sensors; comparing the second signature to the plurality of reference signatures to determine a second volume of liquid in the injection pen; and estimating a dose delivered from the injection pen based on the first volume and the second volume. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification