OPTICAL DETERMINATION OF THE POSITION OF THE STOPPER IN GLASS AMPOULES

• US 20160363438A1
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Richter, Rene
• Granted Patent: US 10,712,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• 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: G01B 11/024 by means of diode-array scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/342 the sensed object being the obturating part
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/029 provided with electric controlling means G01F11/022 and G01F11/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/292 Light , e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2927 for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for determining the stopper position of a medicament cartridge in a medical apparatus by means of a light source and photosensitive sensor surface.

Claims

1. A method for determining the position of a component in a medical apparatus along a travel distance by means of

a) a light source and

b) a holder which fixes the component movably along a travel distance and

c) a photosensitive sensor surface,

which comprises initially generating a silhouette of the component on the sensor surface by irradiating the component with light from a), then the data relating to the silhouette being converted by a data processing unit into the position of the component along the travel distance.

2. The method as claimed in as claimed in claim 1, in which the component whose position is determined is the stopper of a cartridge for a pharmaceutical.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pharmaceutical is insulin.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1;

wherein the component whose position is to be determined relates to an adjusting device by means of which the amount of a pharmaceutical to be delivered is preset.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the component whose position is determined relates to a feed unit for removing a pharmaceutical from a cartridge.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a data processing unit is integrated in the medical apparatus.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a separate data processing unit is operated together with the medical apparatus.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aperture is attached between a) and b), and b) and c).

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aperture is attached between a) and b), or b) and c).

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source consists of an LED row.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the LED row gives a diffuse beam.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the individual LEDs of the LED row have a small aperture angle.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a converging lens is inserted between the LED row and the component.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, where the converging lens is a cylindrical lens.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source generates red light.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein laser light is generated by at least two light sources aligned side by side.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein red laser light is generated.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor surface consists of a row of arranged sensor elements.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sensor elements consist of a CCD line-scan camera.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sensitivity is greatest with red light.

21-37. -37. (canceled)