Device and Method for Determining Information Related to a Medical Device

• US 20130197445A1
• Filed: 03/20/2011
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Schabbach, Michael, Kohli, Amit
• Granted Patent: US 9,125,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• 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 2205/43 making noise when used correctly
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour 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 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• 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 5/31 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 : Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31533 : Dosing mechanisms, i.e. setting a dose administrating mechanisms A61M5/31565
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 : for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (2, 3), comprising a mating unit (20-1, 20-2) for releasably attaching the apparatus (2) to a medical device (1) or for releasably receiving at least a part of the medical device (1). The apparatus (2, 3) further comprises one or more optical sensors (25, 26) and/or one or more acoustical sensors (27) for determining information related to a condition and/or use of the medical device (1). The invention further relates to a system comprising such an apparatus (2, 3) and such a medical device (1), to a method (500, 600, 700) and a computer program (61) for determining information related to a condition and/or use of such a medical device (1), and to a computer-readable medium (60) storing such a computer program (61).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising a mating unit for releasably attaching the apparatus to a medical device for ejecting a medicament or for releasably receiving at least a part of said medical device, wherein said medical device is one of an injection device and an infusion device, and one or more optical sensors for determining information related to a condition and/or use of said medical device, said determining comprising recognizing characters.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information related to a condition and/or use of said medical device comprises at least information on a selected dose of the medicament that is to be ejected by said medical device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said medical device is one of an injection pen and an infusion pump.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more optical sensors comprise at least one optical sensor configured to capture an image of an information-bearing or information-displaying part of said medical device, and wherein said apparatus is configured to recognize characters from said captured image.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus is further configured to capture at least two images of said information-bearing or information-displaying part of said medical device and to only recognize characters from at least one of said at least two captured images if no change between said at least two captured images is detected.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus is further configured to capture at least two images of said information-bearing or information-displaying part of said medical device and to only recognize characters from at least one of said at least two captured images if no change between at least two of said at least two captured images is detected within a specified period of time.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining further comprises at least partially monitoring a timing of an application sequence of said medical device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus is configured to only determine and/or further process said information if said monitored timing at least partially corresponds to a specified timing of an application sequence of said medical device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more optical sensors comprise at least one optical sensor configured to capture information representative of a colour of at least a part of said medical device or to determine a colour of at least a part of said medical device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said apparatus is configured to recognize a colour of said part of said medical device from said captured information.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising one or more acoustical sensors, wherein said one or more acoustical sensors comprise at least one acoustical sensor configured to capture a sound produced when said medical device is used.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus is configured to only capture an image of said information-bearing or information-displaying part of said medical device and/or to perform said recognizing characters if said captured sound corresponds to a sound produced when a dose for a medicament to be ejected by said medical device is dialed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying information representative of at least a part of said determined information.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to provide said determined information to another device via a wired or wireless connection.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to receive information indicative of a type and/or dose of medicament to be ejected.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a processor for determining a proposal of a type and/or dose of a medicament to be ejected by said medical device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement unit for measuring at least one parameter that is representative of a condition of a creature that is to receive a medicament ejectable by said medical device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a user of said medical device is required to confirm said determined information.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to determine said information at least partially from recognized characters.

20. A system, comprising a medical device and an apparatus according claim 1.

21. A method, comprising

determining, based on information captured by one or more optical sensors, information related to a condition and/or use of a medical device for ejecting a medicament, wherein said medical device is one of an injection device and an infusion device, said determining comprising recognizing characters, wherein said sensors are comprised in an apparatus that further comprises a mating unit for releasably attaching the apparatus to said medical device or for releasably receiving at least a part of said medical device.

22. A computer program, comprising instructions operable to cause a processor to perform the method of claim 21 when said computer program is executed on said processor.