DEVICE FOR DETECTING MUSCLE DEPTH AND METHOD

• US 20160157816A1
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mylan Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mylan Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Denny, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,993,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/01 Emergency care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/085 for locating body or organic structures, e.g. tumours, calculi, blood vessels, nodules
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4427 Device being portable or laptop-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 : Force measuring means
• 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 5/32 : Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub infusion needles A61M5/158; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body A61M5/42, A61M5/46 take precedence; guide needles for catheters A61M25/065; Devices for protection of needles apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising needles A61M5/001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 : Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 : having means for controlling depth of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

The hand-held device detects the distance between a muscle and an outer skin layer in a body by impacting the outer surface of the skin and detecting the distance to the muscle from that point of engagement. The device includes a first end including a force sensor configured to detect the force of an impact of the first end to an associated body part. The device further includes a distance sensor provided at the first end configured to detect the distance between a skin outer layer and a muscle; and a main body configured to receive a hand. The detection device includes a controller and processor to detect the impact force and distance between the skin outer layer and muscle at engagement. The device may be used in a method of determine muscle depth and/or location in connection with the prescription and/or administration of anaphylaxis medications by auto injector.

Claims

1. A hand-held detection device for detecting distance between a muscle and an outer skin layer in a body, the hand-held detection device comprising:

a first end including a force sensor configured to detect force of engagement when the first end of the hand-held detection device is placed in an engaging position with a selected body part at a selected engaging location;

an internal body depth sensor provided at the first end configured to detect a distance between an outer skin layer and a muscle at the engaging location; and

a main body configured to be received by a user.

2. The hand-held detection device of claim 1, wherein the depth sensor includes a probe configured to detect the distance from the epidermis to the muscle at the engaging location on the body.

3. The hand-held detection device of claim 2, wherein the probe is an ultrasonic transducer configured to detect the distance between the outer skin layer and the muscle.

4. The hand-held detection device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor includes a load cell configured to measure the force of engagement with the outer skin layer.

5. The hand-held detection device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor includes a resilient member configured to detect the engagement force of the detection device to the outer skin layer to the muscle.

6. The hand-held detection device of claim 5, wherein the resilient member is a spring.

7. The hand-held detection device of claim 5, wherein the resilient member is a resilient spacer deformable when force is applied at the first end of the detection device, thus providing a distance of deformation of the resilient member.

8. The hand-held detection device of claim 5, wherein the detection device includes a slideable member positioned at the first end of the detection device and in operative engagement with the resilient member such that force applied to the slideable member is transmitted to the resilient member.

9. The hand-held detection device of claim 1, further including a transmitter configured to transmit information remotely to a connected system.

10. A method for measuring muscle depth in a body, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a force measuring device, the force measuring device comprising;

a force sensor for detecting force of engagement;

a load cell operatively connected to the force sensor such that forces on the sensor are transmitted to the load cell;

a relatively rigid portion joined to the force sensor by a relatively flexible portion such that the force sensor is flexibly joined to the relatively rigid portion and can move laterally with respect to a longitudinal center line of the relatively rigid portion; and

a calculation means for quantifying displacement of internal tissues in the body;

applying a force with the force sensor against an external body tissue;

detecting a distance between an outer skin layer and muscle layer;

measuring the force applied to the external body tissue;

calculating a displacement of the external body tissue;

calculating depth to muscle (d_m); and

transmitting the depth to muscle to a user.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prescribing needle length of an injection device, comprising the steps of;

comparing the calculated depth to muscle (d_m) to a distance (d_s) corresponding to a value for a pre-selected needle length, and

selecting a needle length or injection device.

12. A method for locating an injection location by emergency personnel, including the steps of:

measuring a muscle depth (d_m) on the body using a muscle detection device;

comparing the measured muscle depth (d_m) to a selected distance or range (d_s) related to an auto-injection device or needle length; and

indicating when (d_m) is equal to, or within the range of, the selected distance or range (d_s).