Methods and apparatus for enhancing a medication delivery device

• US 10,503,876 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Gofman, Igor Y., Chen, Jun, Johnson, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US15/125,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20160378951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31528 by means of rotational movements, e.g. screw-thread mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31546 Electrically operated dose setting, e.g. input via touch screen or plus/minus buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods, and apparatus for attaching an automated dose setting apparatus to a medication delivery device, receiving a first signal from an analyte monitoring system, the first signal indicating a dose of medication to be administered, and driving a dose knob of the medication delivery device with the automated dose setting apparatus to set a dose corresponding with the dose of medication to be administered. Numerous other aspects are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first portion coupleable onto a top of a manually-operated dose knob of a medication delivery device; and

a second portion coupled to the first portion and coupleable onto a top of a housing of the medication delivery device,

wherein the second portion is operable to receive dose information electronically from an external device and to drive the first portion to operate the dose knob to set a dosage of the medication delivery device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic circuit contained in the second portion and wherein the electronic circuit includes a controller, a driver assembly, and a transceiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the driver assembly includes two actuators operable to rotate the first portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electronic circuit further includes a sensor assembly operable to detect rotation of the first portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first portion includes a cylinder shaft having tooth fluting.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second portion includes a driver assembly operable to rotate the cylinder shaft using alternating linear actuators.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second portion includes a display operable to indicate a dosage setting of the medication delivery device.

8. A method, comprising:

attaching an automated dose setting apparatus onto a top of a medication delivery device;

receiving a first signal from an external analyte monitoring system, the first signal indicating a dose of medication to be administered; and

driving a manually-operated dose knob of the medication delivery device with the automated dose setting apparatus to set a dose corresponding with the dose of medication to be administered.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

monitoring movement of the medication delivery device while the dose knob is driven by the automated dose setting apparatus; and

verifying that the dose set by the automated dose setting apparatus corresponds with the dose of medication to be administered.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

monitoring movement of the medication delivery device while the medication is being administered; and

verifying that a dose of medication actually administered corresponds with the dose of medication to be administered.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing an indication if the dose of medication actually administered corresponds with the dose of medication to be administered; and

providing an alarm if the dose of medication actually administered does not correspond with the dose of medication to be administered.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting a second signal to the analyte monitoring system from the automated dose setting apparatus, the second signal indicating a dose of medication actually administered.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein attaching an automated dose setting apparatus to a medication delivery device includes coupling a first portion of the automated dose setting apparatus to the dose knob of the medication delivery device.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein attaching an automated dose setting apparatus to a medication delivery device includes coupling a second portion of the automated dose setting apparatus to a housing of the medication delivery device.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein driving a dose knob of the medication delivery device includes rotating a first portion of the automated dose setting apparatus coupled to the dose knob by driving the first portion using a driver assembly in a second portion of the automated dose setting apparatus that is coupled to a housing of the medication delivery device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein driving the first portion using a driver assembly in the second portion of the automated dose setting apparatus includes rotating the first portion using alternating linear actuators.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a first portion coupleable onto a top of a manually-operated dose knob of a medication delivery device, the first portion movable to operate the dose knob; and

a second portion coupled to the first portion and coupleable onto a top of a housing of the medication delivery device,

wherein the second portion is operable to monitor movement of the first portion and to transmit a signal electronically to an external device indicative of a dose of medication administered with the medication delivery device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first portion includes a transparent cylinder shaft operable to surround a dose stem of the medication delivery device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cylinder shaft includes at least one set of dosage indicator markings detectable by a sensor assembly within the second portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first portion is rotatably coupleable to the second portion.