Ampoule recognition

• US 20040178255A1
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Jost, Stefan, Eich, Adrian, Ponzer, Rainer, Sebaste, Alessandro, Yeandel, Julian, Steffen, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/1R
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2477 comprising means to reduce play of ampoule within ampoule holder, e.g. springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2488 via rotation, e.g. threads or bayonet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06

Abstract

An ampoule for use with an administering device such as an injection or infusion apparatus, at least two recognition elements associated with the ampoule, each of which at least two recognition elements can be arranged in one of at least two predetermined positions relative to the ampoule, wherein the at least two predetermined positions are asymmetrically located relative to the ampoule, and an administering device such as an injection or infusion apparatus which can be coupled to the ampoule. In one embodiment, the administering device has at least two associated sensors at predetermined positions in order to recognize the arrangement of the at least two recognition elements associated with an ampoule and, in another embodiment, the administering device has at least one sensor which can be moved relative to an ampoule.

Claims

1. An ampoule for an injection or infusion apparatus, said ampoule comprising at least two recognition elements, each of which at least two recognition elements can be arranged in one of at least two predetermined positions on said ampoule, wherein said at least two predetermined positions are asymmetrical relative to the ampoule.

2. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least two predetermined positions and recognition elements are arranged at one end of the ampoule.

3. The ampoule as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ampoule has a generally central axis and the at least two predetermined positions and recognition elements are arranged on a circle concentric with respect to the axis.

4. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of predetermined positions are provided in which the at least two recognition elements can be arranged.

5. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of recognition elements are provided.

6. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two recognition elements is arranged at a particular predetermined position.

7. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one reference recognition element is provided on the ampoule.

8. The ampoule as set forth in claim 7, wherein a plurality of reference recognition elements are provided.

9. The ampoule as set forth in claim 7, wherein the ampoule has a generally central axis and said at least one reference recognition element is provided along a circle concentric with respect to the axis.

10. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least two recognition elements are based at least one principle of a group consisting of electrical, magnetic, inductive, capacitive and mechanical principles.

11. The ampoule as set forth in claim 10, wherein the at least two recognition elements are at least one of a group consisting of magnets, conductive structures, optical structures and surface structures.

12. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least two recognition elements generate one of electrical and magnetic fields of different strengths.

13. The ampoule as set forth in claim 1, wherein the recognition elements may be written on.

14. An administering device which may be coupled to an ampoule comprising at least two recognition elements, each of which at least two recognition elements can be arranged in one of at least two predetermined positions on said ampoule, wherein said at least two predetermined positions are asymmetrical relative to the ampoule, said administering device comprising at least two sensors at predetermined positions in order to recognize the arrangement of the at least two recognition elements at the predetermined positions.

17. The administering device as set forth in claim 14, comprising a thread aligned with one of the ampoule or an end stopper for defining a final coupled position of the ampoule relative to the administering device.

18. The administering device as set forth in claim 14, comprising at least one positioning element for positioning the sensors in the administering device.

19. The administering device as set forth in claim 14, comprising a device for transferring signals between the recognition elements and the sensors.

20. The administering device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the sensors are one of a group consisting of Hall sensors, optical sensors, electrical sensors and mechanical sensors.

21. The administering device as set forth in claim 20, wherein the sensors are contact switches.

22. The administering device as set forth in claim 14, comprising a motor for automatically inserting or turning in the ampoule.

23. The administering device as set forth in claim 14, comprising at least one multiplexer which is connected to the at least two sensors.

24. The administering device as set forth in claim 14, comprising a display device for displaying a type of ampoule detected by the sensors.

15. An administering device which can be coupled to an ampoule comprising at least two recognition elements, each of which at least two recognition elements can be arranged in one of at least two predetermined positions on said ampoule, wherein said at least two predetermined positions are asymmetrical relative to the ampoule, said administering device comprising at least one sensor which can be moved relative to the ampoule.

16. The administering device as set forth in claim 15, wherein said sensor can be moved around the ampoule.

25. An administering system comprising:

an ampoule comprising at least two recognition elements, each of which at least two recognition elements can be arranged in one of at least two predetermined positions on said ampoule, wherein said at least two predetermined positions are asymmetrical relative to the ampoule; and

an administering device which may be coupled to the ampoule, said administering device comprising at least two sensors at predetermined positions in order to recognize the arrangement of the at least two recognition elements at the predetermined positions.

26. An ampoule for use with an administering device such as an injection or infusion apparatus, at least two recognition elements associated with the ampoule, each of which at least two recognition elements can be arranged in one of at least two predetermined positions relative to the ampoule, wherein the at least two predetermined positions are asymmetrically located relative to the ampoule.

27. The ampoule in accordance with claim 26, wherein the administering comprises at least two associated sensors at predetermined positions in order to recognize the arrangement of the at least two recognition elements.

28. The ampoule in accordance with claim 26, wherein the administering device comprises at least one sensor which can be moved relative to the ampoule.

29. An administering device such as an injection or infusion apparatus and an ampoule for use with the administering device, wherein the ampoule comprises at least two associated recognition elements, each of which at least two recognition elements can be arranged in one of at least two predetermined positions relative to the ampoule, wherein the at least two predetermined positions are asymmetrically located relative to the ampoule.

30. The administering device according to claim 29, wherein the administering device comprises at least two associated sensors at predetermined positions in order to recognize the arrangement of the at least two recognition elements associated with an ampoule.

31. The administering device according to claim 29, wherein the administering device comprises at least one sensor which can be moved relative to an ampoule.