Method for monitoring the operation of a medication delivery device, an electronic module, and a medication delivery system

• US 20100145656A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International Ltd.
• Inventors: Guennewig, Bernhard, Siris, Genrikh, Cronrath, Christoph, Heiniger, Hanspeter, Deck, Frank, Blasberg, Peter, Kloos, Alfred, Aigner, Manfred, Koehler, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the operation of a medication delivery device, the method comprising the steps of: providing a medication delivery device, the medication delivery device comprises a medication delivery module, providing an electronic module coupled to the medication delivery device, the electronic module comprises a sensor element, a control element, and a storing element, detecting, using the sensor element, signals generated in response to a measurable operation of the medication delivery module, generating electronic data by processing, using the control element, electronic information derived from the detected signals, the electronic data comprises information about a medication delivery characteristic of at least one measurable operation of the medication delivery module, and storing the electronic data in the storing element.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the operation of a medication delivery device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a medication delivery device, the medication delivery device comprises a medication delivery module;

providing an electronic module coupled to the medication delivery device, the electronic module comprises a sensor element, a control element, and a storing element;

detecting, using the sensor element, signals generated in response to a measurable operation of the medication delivery module;

generating electronic data by processing, using the control element, electronic information derived from the detected signals, the electronic data comprises information about a medication delivery characteristic of at least one measurable operation of the medication delivery module; and

storing the electronic data in the storing element.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the signals comprises a step of using at least one of a piezoelectric sensor, a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, a touch contact sensor, a distance sensor, a flow sensor, and an optical sensor.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating electronic data comprises a step of generating information about a measurable priming operation of the medication delivery module.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating electronic data comprises a step of generating information about an event of expelling air caused by the at least one measurable operation of the medication delivery module.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating electronic data comprises a step of generating information about an expelling characteristic of an expelling event caused by the at least one measurable operation of the medication delivery module.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating electronic data by processing the electronic information derived from the detected signals comprises a step of analyzing a signal feature characteristic of the detected signals.

7. An electronic module adapted to be coupled on an associated medication delivery device, the electronic module, comprising:

coupling means configured to couple to an associated medication delivery device;

a sensor element configured to detect signals generated in response to a measurable operation of the medication delivery module provided within the associated medication delivery device;

a control element configured to generate electronic data by processing electronic information derived from the detected signals, the electronic data comprising information about a medication delivery characteristic of at least one measurable operation of the medication delivery module; and

a storing element configured to store the electronic data.

8. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the sensor element comprises at least one of a piezoelectric sensor element, a pressure sensor, a vibration sensor, a touch contact sensor, a distance sensor, a flow sensor, and an optical rotation sensor.

9. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the coupling means comprises a plurality of connectable housing elements is provided.

10. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the coupling means comprises a receptacle configured to receive a housing portion of the associated medication delivery device.

11. The electronic module according to claim 10, wherein the receptacle is configured to at least partially encompass a housing of the associated medication delivery device.

12. The electronic module according to claim 10, wherein the receptacle is provided with an opening.

13. The electronic module according to at least one of the claim 7, wherein the coupling means are configured to couple to an end portion of the housing of the associated medication delivery device.

14. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the control element is further configured to process electronic data that comprises information about a measurable priming operation of the medication delivery module.

15. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the control element is further configured to process electronic data that comprises information about an event of expelling air caused by the at least one measurable operation of the medication delivery module.

16. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the control element is further configured to process electronic data that comprises information about an expelling characteristic of an expelling event caused by the at least one measurable operation of the medication delivery module.

17. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the control element is further configured to analyze the electronic information derived from the detected signals, a signal feature characteristic of the detected signals.

18. The electronic module according to claim 7, wherein the electronic module is coupled to an associated medication delivery device.