Injection device and case with reporting ability

• US 20090128330A1
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Directions Technology Consulting LLC
• Original Assignee: Henry Schein Incorporated
• Inventors: Monroe, O. Napoleon
• Granted Patent: US 8,044,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/002 having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0056 about a lateral axis in the lid plane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0065 Peelable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0067 Types of closures or fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

A container for a product uses a location circuit for determining the location of the container, a storage element for storing a container identification code, a plurality of data acquisition components for acquiring status of at least two characteristics of at least one of the container, the product and a user of the product, and a communication interface for generating and sending a communication signal including (a) the container identification code from the storage element, (b) the location of the container from the location circuit, and (c) the status of the at least two characteristics from the data acquisition components. The container may be an auto-injector for containing a medicament, or a case for containing an item such as an auto-injector. Generally, the location circuit uses the global positioning system (GPS). The data acquisition components are chosen from a camera, and at least one sensor for sensing at least one of a thermal image, vibration, temperature, humidity, a chemical and an audio signal. The characteristic may be use of the product, or lack of use of at least one of the container and the product.

Claims

1. A container for a product, comprising:

a location circuit for determining the location of the container,

a storage element for storing an access code for a central facility, and a container identification code,

a plurality of data acquisition components for acquiring status of at least two characteristics of at least one of the container, the product and a user of the product, and

a communication interface for generating and sending an event communication signal including

(a) the access code for the central facility,

(b) the container identification code from the storage element,

(c) the location of the container from the location circuit, and

(d) the status of the at least two characteristics from the data acquisition components.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is an auto-injector for containing a medicament.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is a case.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the location circuit uses the global positioning system (GPS).

5. The container of claim 1, wherein one of the data acquisition components is a camera.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition components include at least one sensor for sensing at least one of a thermal image, vibration, temperature, humidity, a chemical and an audio signal.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein one of the data acquisition components is for sensing multiple events.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the data acquisition component for sensing multiple events is a sound sensor.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the characteristic indicates use of the product.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the characteristic indicates lack of use of at least one of the container and the product.

11. The container of claim 1 for use with an external device having long-range communication capability and short-range communication capability, wherein the communication interface sends the event signal to the external device via a short-range communication channel, and the external device contacts the central facility using the access code and provides elements (b)-(d) of the event signal to the central facility.

27. The container of claim 1, further comprising a status indicator for indicating whether the product has been used.

28. The container of claim 1, further comprising a primary compartment for storing a first medication, and a second compartment for storing a second medication.

29. The container of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is also for generating and sending an exception signal indicating that a user of the container requests communication.

30. The container of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is also for generating and sending an exception signal indicating that the product has been removed from the container a predetermined number of times.

31. The container of claim 1, further comprising a control switch, and wherein wherein the communication interface is also for generating and sending an exception signal indicating that the control switch has been activated.

32. The container of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, and wherein the communication interface is also for generating and sending an exception signal indicating that the sensor has sensed a specified condition.

12. A container for a product, the container for use with an external device having long-range communication capability and short-range communication capability and location sensing capability, comprising:

a storage element for storing an access code for a central facility and a container identification code,

a plurality of data acquisition components for acquiring status of at least two characteristics of at least one of the container, the product and a user of the product,

a local communication interface for communicating with the external device using the short-range communication capability of the external device, and

a processor for producing information and directing the local communication interface to send the information to the external device, the information including;

(a) the access code for the central facility,

(b) the container identification code,

(c) the status of at least two characteristics from the data acquisition components,

(d) instructions for the external device to use its location sensing capability to sense its location and to report its sensed location to the central facility along with (b) and (c), using its long-range communication capability and (a).

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the container is an auto-injector for containing a medicament.

14. The container of claim 12, wherein the container is a case.

15. The container of claim 12, wherein the external device includes a camera, and the information produced by the processor includes an instruction to a user of the external device to use the camera to capture at least one image, and includes an instruction for the external device to report the at least one captured image to the central facility.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the at least one captured image is a video sequence.

17. The container of claim 12, wherein the data acquisition components include at least one sensor for sensing at least one of a thermal image, vibration, temperature, humidity and an audio signal.

18. The container of claim 12, wherein the external device is a handheld portable communications device.

19. The container of claim 12, wherein the external device is a practice management system for at least one of dentistry and medicine.

20. The container of claim 12, further comprising a speaker, and wherein the local communication interface is also for receiving a poll signal from the external device and the processor is also for instructing the speaker to generate an audible noise in response to the poll signal.

21. The container of claim 12, further comprising a status indicator for indicating whether the product has been used.

22. The container of claim 12, further comprising a primary compartment for storing a first medication, and a second compartment for storing a second medication.

23. The container of claim 12, wherein the processor is also for directing the local communication device to send a signal to the external device to activate its long-range communication capability, the signal indicating that a user of the container requests communication.

24. The container of claim 12, wherein the processor is also for directing the local communication device to send a signal to the external device to activate its long-range communication capability, the signal indicating that the product has been removed from the container a predetermined number of times.

25. The container of claim 12, further comprising a control switch, and wherein the processor is also for directing the local communication device to send a signal to the external device to activate its long-range communication capability, the signal indicating that the control switch has been activated.

26. The container of claim 12, further comprising a sensor, and wherein the processor is also for directing the local communication device to send a signal to the external device to activate its long-range communication capability, the signal indicating that the sensor has sensed a specified condition.