Injection device with reporting ability

• US 20080125724A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Directions Technology Consulting LLC
• Original Assignee: Henry Schein Incorporated
• Inventors: Monroe, O. Napoleon
• Granted Patent: US 7,871,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An injector, when dispensing its dosage, determines its location, and sends a message to a central facility, such as a rescue center or product management system, giving its unique identification number and its location. The injector is a syringe or an auto-injector. The central facility uses the unique identification number to determine the contents of the injector and thus what sort of threat may have occurred so that suitable rescue personnel may be dispatched. The unique identification number may also be associated with a likely user of the device, and the user'"'"'s organization may be notified that a problem has occurred and help is on its way.

Claims

1. An injector, comprising:

a sensor for sensing when the injector is in use, and

a communications interface for communicating to a central facility that the sensor has detected usage of the injector.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the communications interface uses a wireless communications channel.

3. The injector of claim 1, further comprising a product tag for providing stored information, and wherein the communications interface is for communicating the stored information from the product tag in association with the detected usage of the injector.

4. The injector of claim 1, further comprising a location interface for obtaining the location of the injector, and wherein the communications interface is for communicating the injector location in association with the detected usage of the injector.

5. The injector of claim 4, further comprising a product tag for providing stored information, and wherein the communications interface is for communicating the stored information from the product tag in association with the injector location and the detected usage of the injector.

6. The injector of claim 1, wherein the injection has a fluid, a needle, and a mechanism for forcing the fluid through the needle, and the sensor is for sensing when the fluid is being forced through the needle.

7. The injector of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses the location of the injector.

8. The injector of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses whether the injector is moving.

9. The injector of claim 1, wherein the injector is a syringe.

10. The injector of claim 1, wherein the injector is an auto-injector.

11. A central facility, comprising:

a communications interface for receiving a signal from an injector that the injector has been used,

a database for storing a record relating to the injector, the record indicating the contents of the injector and an identity of a person having the injector, and

means for generating an alert identifying the person and the injector.

12. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the communications interface uses a wireless communications channel.

13. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the signal includes information obtained from a product tag associated with the injector, and the product tag information is used to identify the record relating to the injector.

14. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the signal includes the injector location in association with the detected usage of the injector.

15. The central facility of claim 14, wherein the signal includes information obtained from a product tag associated with the injector, and the product tag information is used to identify the record relating to the injector.

16. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the injection has a fluid, a needle, and a mechanism for forcing the fluid through the needle, and the usage signal relates to whether the fluid is being forced through the needle.

17. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the usage signal relates to the location of the injector.

18. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the usage signal relates to whether the injector is moving.

19. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the injector is a syringe.

20. The central facility of claim 11, wherein the injector is an auto-injector.