Apparatus and methods for tracking administering of medication by medication injection devices
First Claim
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1. A plunger head for a medication injection device, comprising:
- a first component having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being configured for insertion into a barrel of the medication injection device before the proximal end, the first component housing electronic components, wherein the electronic components include;
a transducer positioned proximate to a bottom side of the distal end of the first component, the transducer being configured to emit ultrasonic signals into the barrel of the medication injection device so that the ultrasonic signals travel along the barrel to an end of the barrel and return to the transducer when the plunger head is placed within the medication injection device; and
a microcontroller coupled to the transducer and located between the transducer and the proximal end of the first component, the microcontroller being programmed with instructions to calculate data representative of a quantity of a medication dispensed from the barrel of the medication injection device in response to the ultrasonic signals returning to the transducer; and
a second component at least partially surrounding the first component and separating the first component from the medication contained within the barrel of the medication injection device.
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Abstract
Various apparatuses and methods for tracking the administration of medication by medication injection devices are provided. A plunger head for a medication injection device may include a first component that houses electronic components and a second component that couples to the first component to form the plunger head. When the plunger head is installed within a barrel of the medication injection device the second component may separate the first component from medication contained within the barrel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A plunger head for a medication injection device, comprising:
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a first component having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being configured for insertion into a barrel of the medication injection device before the proximal end, the first component housing electronic components, wherein the electronic components include; a transducer positioned proximate to a bottom side of the distal end of the first component, the transducer being configured to emit ultrasonic signals into the barrel of the medication injection device so that the ultrasonic signals travel along the barrel to an end of the barrel and return to the transducer when the plunger head is placed within the medication injection device; and a microcontroller coupled to the transducer and located between the transducer and the proximal end of the first component, the microcontroller being programmed with instructions to calculate data representative of a quantity of a medication dispensed from the barrel of the medication injection device in response to the ultrasonic signals returning to the transducer; and a second component at least partially surrounding the first component and separating the first component from the medication contained within the barrel of the medication injection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A medical injection device, comprising:
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a barrel having a reflective surface at a barrel distal end thereof, the reflective surface being configured to reflect ultrasonic signals and to permit a medication to pass through; and a plunger head, comprising; a first component having a plunger distal end and a proximal end, the plunger distal end being configured for insertion into the barrel of the medication injection device before the proximal end, the first component housing electronic components, including; a transducer positioned proximate to a bottom side of the plunger distal end of the first component, the transducer being configured to emit ultrasonic signals into the barrel of the medication injection device so that the ultrasonic signals travel along the barrel, reflect off the reflective surface, and return to the transducer; and a microcontroller coupled to the transducer and located between the transducer and the proximal end of the first component, the microcontroller being programmed with instructions to calculate data representative of a quantity of medication dispensed from the barrel in response to the ultrasonic signals returning to the transducer; and a second component at least partially surrounding the first component and abutting the bottom side of the plunger distal end of the first component, the second component being configured to separate the first component from a medication contained within the barrel.
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20. A medical injection system, comprising:
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a remote device configured for use by a medical caregiver; and a medication injection device, comprising; a barrel having a reflective surface at a barrel distal end thereof, the reflective surface being configured to reflect ultrasonic signals and to permit a medication to pass through; and a plunger head configured for insertion into the barrel, the plunger head comprising; a first component having a plunger distal end and a proximal end, the plunger distal end being configured for insertion into the barrel of the medication injection device before the proximal end, the first component housing electronic components, comprising; a transducer positioned proximate to a bottom side of the plunger distal end of the first component, the transducer being configured to emit ultrasonic signals into the barrel of the medication injection device so that the ultrasonic signals travel along the barrel to the barrel distal end, reflect off the reflective surface, and return to the transducer; a microcontroller coupled to the transducer and to the remote device, the microcontroller being located between the transducer and the proximal end of the first component, the microcontroller being programmed with instructions to calculate data representative of a quantity of the medication dispensed from the barrel in response to the ultrasonic signals returning to the transducer and to transmit the data to the remote device; and a transceiver coupled to the microcontroller; and a second component at least partially surrounding the first component and abutting the bottom side of the plunger distal end of the first component, the second component being configured to separate the first component from a medication contained within the barrel, wherein the microcontroller is programmed with instructions to transmit data representative of the quantity of the medication dispensed to the remote device via the transceiver.
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Specification