WEARABLE MEDICATION DELIVERY DEVICE

• US 20170143900A1
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insulet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Insulet Corporation
• Inventors: Rioux, Robert, Nazzaro, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,413,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14272 for emergency, field or home use, e.g. self-contained kits to be carried by the doctor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1586 Holding accessories for holding infusion needles on the body holding devices for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0272 Electro-active or magneto-active materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• 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 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/20 : Blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 : Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 : Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 : Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 : Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 : of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 : pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 : the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 : Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering a medication to a person experiencing an emergency medical event without requiring intervention or action on the part of the person. A device encases a reservoir of medication and a delivery mechanism. Sensors in the housing sense a physical attribute of the person and circuitry monitors information collected by the sensors to determine if the person is experiencing a severe medical condition or event based on the information. An input device on or in the housing, such as a button, may be used or activated by the person if the detected condition or event is a false positive to cancel further action. If the system does not include the button or if the user does not press it in time, the system activates the delivery device and injects the medication into the person.

Claims

1. A wearable medication delivery device, comprising:

a sensor for detecting one of a physical attribute of a user or a condition of an environment occupied by the user;

a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller to determine that the user is experiencing a medical event based on information provided by the sensor;

a reservoir of medication; and

a needle actuator coupled to the reservoir and coupled to the controller, the needle actuator to inject a needle into the user in response to the controller determining the user is experiencing a medical event, wherein the medication is subsequently dispensed from the reservoir to the user through the needle.

2. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a housing having an outer surface in direct physical contact with the user.

3. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 2, wherein the outer surface further comprises an adhesive for attaching the wearable medication delivery device to the user.

4. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor.

5. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 4, wherein the information provided by the sensor comprises motion of the user.

6. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an environmental sensor.

7. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a medical condition sensor.

8. There wearable medication delivery device of claim 1, wherein the medical event is one of an exposure to a chemical warfare weapon, a seizure, an allergic reaction, and an epileptic attack.

9. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 1, wherein the controller provides an alarm to the user prior to causing the needle actuator to inject the needle into the user.

10. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 9, wherein the alarm is a visual alarm.

11. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 9, wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

12. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 9, wherein the alarm comprises vibrating a portion of the wearable medication delivery device.

13. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 9, further comprising an override button, wherein the user presses the override button in response to the alarm to prevent the needle actuator from injecting the needle into the user.

14. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 1, wherein the needle actuator further comprises:

a spring;

a needle driver coupled to the spring and the needle;

a key having a protrusion positioned in a notch of the needle driver, wherein the key restricts movement of the needle driver when the protrusion is positioned in the notch of the needle driver; and

an electrically deformable material attached to the key.

15. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 14, wherein when the controller determines the user is experiencing a medical event, the controller causes the electrically deformable material to change shape.

16. The wearable medication delivery device of claim 15, wherein in response to the electrically deformable material changing shape, the protrusions of the key are released from the notch of the needle driver, thereby causing the spring to move the needle driver.

17. A method of delivering a medication to a user from a wearable medication device directly attached to the user, comprising:

receiving information from a sensor;

determining the user is experiencing a medical event based on the received information from the sensor;

providing an alarm to the user indicating that the user is experiencing a medical event; and

if the user fails to press an override button within a predetermined amount time from when the alarm is provided, then injecting a needle into the user and dispensing the medication from a reservoir to the user through the needle, otherwise if the user presses the override button within the predetermined amount of time, then preventing injection of the needle into the user.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving environmental information of the user from the sensor.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving medical condition information of the user from the sensor.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising receiving motion information of the user from the sensor.