Medication delivery device

• US 20020133113A1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Munk, Jens, Madsen, Mads Koerstz
• Granted Patent: US 6,893,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• 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

Abstract

A medication delivery device comprising a system that is able to sense if the delivery device is in actual physical contact with a human being or if the delivery device has been abandoned. The system comprises an electronic control and a touch sensitive switch preferably formed as a part of the housing of the medication delivery device. The housing can be divided into two parts each constituting separate electrical conductors being spaced apart from each other by an insulating material. When the two parts a temporarily bridged e.g. by the skin of a human being a direct current path between the parts are created, which can provide an electrical signal at the electronic control. When a dose has been set, absence of the signal will cause the electronic control to cancel the set dose and to sound an alarm.

Claims

1. A medication delivery device comprising;

a housing accommodating a cartridge from which medicine can be pressed out through a needle or the like mounted at the distal end of said cartridge when an injection button is operated, which medicine is pressed out by driving a piston forward inside said cartridge, and

an electronic control unit into which the size of a set dose can be read by operation of a dose setting button located on said housing, said set dose being displayed in a display provided in said housing, and which electronic control unit is communicating with drive means located inside said housing, said drive means driving forward a piston rod abutting said piston inside said cartridge in accordance with said set dose when said injection button is operated,

Characterized in that

A sensor is located on said housing, which sensor provides a signal to said electronic control unit when said sensor is activated by physical contact with a human being.

2. A medication delivery device according to claim 1, characterized in that said sensor is a touch sensitive switch sensitive to the touch of a human being.

3. A medication delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said sensor is a part of said housing.

4. A medication delivery device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said sensor comprises two parts or contacts each constituting separate electrical conductors being spaced apart from another by an insulating material, and that said two parts when temporarily bridged e.g. by the skin of human being, allows a direct current path between said two parts.

5. A medication delivery device according to claim 4, characterized in that said two parts and said insulating material together define said housing.

6. A drug delivery device according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absence of said signal over a period of time causes said electronic control unit to immobilize said injection button.

7. A drug delivery device according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absence of said signal over a period of time causes said electronic control unit to output an error message e.g. as an audible or a visual message.

8. A drug delivery device according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the absence of said signal over a period of time causes said electronic control unit to cancel said set up dose to be injected.

9. A drug delivery device according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drive means comprises an electrical motor, which is activated by said injection button.