Configurable device and method for dispensing a substance

• US 20020177923A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Steffen, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 6,859,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6027 Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a substance, in particular for self-administering a product fluid, wherein the device includes an operating system for controlling basic functions of the device and a memory unit for storing application-specific data, and encompasses a method for configuring the device.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a substance, in particular for self-administering a product fluid, comprising:

a) an operating system for controlling basic functions of said device; and

b) a memory unit operable coupled to the operating system for storing and reading in application-specific data.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said memory unit is a writable.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an interface operably coupled to the operating system and the to the memory unit for communicating with said memory unit.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said memory unit comprises an external memory medium.

5. The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said memory unit comprises a chip card.

6. The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said memory unit comprises a memory stick.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a reading device operably coupled to the operating system.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said reading device can read an external memory medium.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an error identifying and correcting device operably coupled to the operating system.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said error identifying and correcting device is adapted to identify and correct at least one of input errors and transmission errors.

11. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a data input device operably coupled to the operating system.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said data input device comprises a keyboard.

13. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said data input device comprises a touch screen.

14. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said data input device is provided on said device.

15. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a reading device operably coupled to the operating system.

16. The device as set forth in claim 15, wherein said reading device is adapted to identify an ampoule.

17. The device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said reading device comprises a barcode reading device.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said substance is contained in a container adapted for connection to the device and wherein said substance related data comprises container data.

20. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the step of identifying data errors as said substance related data is input.

21. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein said substance is contained in a container adapted for connection to the device and wherein said substance related data comprises at least one of container data, substance dispensing data and device operating data.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the step of identifying data errors as said substance related data is input.

23. The method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the steps of identifying and correcting data errors as said substance related data is input.

25. The method as set forth in claim 24, wherein said product fluid is contained in an ampoule adapted for connection to the device and wherein said use-specific data comprises at least one of ampoule data, product fluid administering data and device operating data.

26. The method as set forth in claim 25, further comprising identifying and correcting data errors in said use-specific data.

18. A method for configuring a device for dispensing substances, comprising the steps of:

a) inputting substance related data into said device; and

b) dispensing said substance according to said substance related data.

24. A method for configuring a device for use in self-administering a product fluid, comprising the steps of:

a) inputting use-specific data into said device; and

b) administering said product fluid according to said use-specific data.