Syringe dose and position measuring apparatus

• US 10,269,266 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Truinject Corp.
• Original Assignee: Truinject Corp.
• Inventors: Rios, Gabrielle A., Royston, Scott Cameron, Ryan, Matthew, Schulz, Cody Garrett, Foster, Clark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Watts, Tezita Z
• Application Number:
  US15/877,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20180211562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3139 Finger grips not integrally formed with the syringe barrel, e.g. using adapter with finger grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/609 Biometric patient identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1458 Means for capture of the plunger flange
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31535 Means improving security or handling thereof, e.g. blocking means, means preventing insufficient dosing, means allowing correction of overset dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31566 Means improving security or handling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31576 Constructional features or modes of drive mechanisms for piston rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/48 having means for varying, regulating, indicating or limiting injection pressure A61M5/142 takes precedence ; monitoring pressure in infusion systems A61M5/16854
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 : for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/30 : Anatomical models G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence

Abstract

An injection system can have a Syringe Dose and Position Apparatus (SDPA) mounted to a syringe. The SDPA can have one or more circuit boards. The SDPA can include one or more sensors for determining information about an injection procedure, such as the dose measurement, injection location, and the like. The SDPA can also include a power management board, which can be a separate board than a board mounted with the sensors. The syringe can also include a light source in the needle. Light emitted from the light source can be detected by light detectors inside a training apparatus configured to receive the injection. The syringe can have a power source for powering the sensors and the light source. The SDPA and the power source can be mounted to the syringe flange.

Claims

1. An injection system, the system comprising:

a syringe having a syringe body and a plunger, the syringe body configured to be coupled to a needle, the plunger configured to move relative to the syringe body, wherein the plunger comprises a plunger shaft having a helical groove along a longitudinal axis of the plunger shaft;

the syringe body comprising a body portion having a proximal end and a distal end, a flange disposed at or near the proximal end, and a needle coupling portion disposed at or near the distal end, wherein the flange comprises at least one circuit board; and

a plunger travel sensor disposed on the flange, wherein the plunger travel sensor comprises an opening sized and shaped to slidably engage the plunger shaft so that the plunger travel sensor rotates along the helical groove as the plunger shaft moves axially along the longitudinal axis of the plunger shaft, and wherein the plunger travel sensor is configured to measure an axial plunger travel distance based on an amount of rotation of the plunger travel sensor, the injection system configured to measure injection information based at least in part on the axial plunger travel distance during an injection procedure performed using the injection system.

2. The injection system of claim 1, wherein the plunger shaft comprises a generally D-shaped transverse cross-section.

3. The injection system of claim 1, wherein the plunger travel sensor comprises a bearing configured to rotate along the helical groove as the plunger shaft moves axially along the longitudinal axis of the plunger shaft.

4. The injection system of claim 3, wherein the plunger travel sensor is configured to measure the axial plunger travel distance based on an angular position of the bearing.

5. The injection system of claim 1, wherein the plunger shaft comprises a channel running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the plunger travel sensor comprises a radially inward protrusion configured to engage the channel when the plunger shaft moves axially, the protrusion remaining stationary when the plunger shaft moves axially.

6. The injection system of claim 1, wherein the injection information comprises a dose measurement calculated based at least in part on the axial plunger travel distance.

7. The injection system of claim 1, comprising the needle, the needle including an optic fiber disposed within a lumen of the needle, the optic fiber terminating distally at or near a tip of the needle, wherein the syringe body further comprises a light source disposed at or near the distal end, wherein when the needle is coupled to the needle coupling portion of the syringe body, the optic fiber directs light emitted by the light source out through the tip of the needle.

8. The injection system of claim 7, wherein the light source is powered by a power source mounted in the flange, the syringe body portion comprising a wire lumen and one or more lead wires extending from the power source to the light source through the wire lumen.

9. The injection system of claim 7, wherein the optic fiber is fused with the lumen of the needle.