EXPIRATION DATE INDICATOR FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLE DEVICES

• US 20190053985A1
• Filed: 08/16/2018
• Published: 02/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Capsule Technologies Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: NIZNIK, Brian, GANTON, Robert
• Application Number:
  US16/104,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20190053985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/72 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3372 Temperature compensation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• 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 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31568 Means keeping track of the total dose administered, e.g. since the cartridge was inserted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31571 Means preventing accidental administration for automatic syringes A61M5/20

Abstract

Disclosed are hypodermic needle devices having an easily-observed, visual indication that the drug contents of the device have expired. The visual indication may be triggered when a counter maintained by a processor of the hypodermic needle device has exceeded a time threshold. The time threshold may be configured based on the drug threshold, and the counter and time threshold may be manually or dynamically adjusted as real-world conditions change to alter the time to expiration. For instance, an prolonged increase in temperature detected by the temperature sensor may speed up the expiration rate of the drug and require a reduction in the time threshold.

Claims

1. A method of determining drug expiration with a hypodermic needle device, the method comprising:

initiating a counter, by a processor of the hypodermic needle device;

determining, by the processor, a time threshold stored in a memory of the hypodermic needle device;

comparing, by the processor, the counter to the time threshold at pre-programmed intervals; and

upon determining that the counter exceeds the time threshold, triggering, by the processor, an expiration visual element of the hypodermic needle device, wherein the expiration visual element is configured to provide an indication that a drug contained in the hypodermic needle device has expired.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expiration visual element is an electro-chromic element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the expiration visual element is a display screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expiration visual element is a light.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the counter; and

updating, by the processor, the counter based on the adjustment to the counter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, from a temperature sensor, a change in temperature condition surrounding the hypodermic needle device; and

adjusting, by the processor, the time threshold based on the change in temperature condition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the time threshold; and

updating, by the processor, the time threshold based on the adjustment to the time threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the processor, the counter in the memory of the hypodermic needle device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, from a temperature sensor, a change in temperature condition surrounding the hypodermic needle device;

sending, to a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, the change in temperature condition;

receiving, from the device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the time threshold; and

updating, by the processor, the time threshold based on the adjustment to the time threshold.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a communication to a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, wherein the communication indicates a value of the counter.

11. A hypodermic needle device comprising:

a processor;

a drug contained in a medicine cartridge;

an expiration visual element configured to indicate to a user of the hypodermic needle device that the drug has expired; and

a memory, wherein the memory stores a set of instructions, that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

initiate a counter;

determine a time threshold stored in the memory;

compare the counter to the time threshold at pre-programmed intervals; and

upon determining that the counter exceeds the time threshold, trigger the expiration visual element to provide an indication that the drug has expired.

12. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the expiration visual element is an electro-chromic element.

13. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the expiration visual element is a display screen.

14. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the expiration visual element is a light.

15. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

receive, from a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the counter; and

update the counter based on the adjustment to the counter.

16. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the hypodermic needle device further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

determine, from a temperature sensor, a change in temperature condition surrounding the hypodermic needle device; and

adjust the time threshold based on the change in temperature condition.

17. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

receive, from a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the time threshold; and

update the time threshold based on the adjustment to the time threshold.

18. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

store the counter in the memory of the hypodermic needle device.

19. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the hypodermic needle device further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

determine, from the temperature sensor, a change in temperature condition surrounding the hypodermic needle device;

send, to a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, the change in temperature condition;

receive, from the device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the time threshold; and

update the time threshold based on the adjustment to the time threshold.

20. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the hypodermic needle device further comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:

send a communication to a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, wherein the communication indicates a value of the counter.

24. The hypodermic needle device of claim 11, wherein the expiration visual element is a light.

21. A hypodermic needle device comprising:

means for initiating a counter;

means for determining a time threshold stored in a memory of the hypodermic needle device;

means for comparing the counter to the time threshold at pre-programmed intervals;

means for triggering, upon determining that the counter exceeds the time threshold, an expiration visual element of the hypodermic needle device, wherein the expiration visual element is configured to provide an indication that a drug contained in the hypodermic needle device has expired.

22. The hypodermic needle device of claim 21, wherein the expiration visual element is an electro-chromic element.

23. The hypodermic needle device of claim 21, wherein the expiration visual element is a display screen.

25. The hypodermic needle device of claim 21, further comprising:

means to receive, from a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the counter; and

means to update the counter based on the adjustment to the counter.

26. The hypodermic needle device of claim 21, further comprising:

means to determine a change in temperature condition surrounding the hypodermic needle device; and

means to adjust the time threshold based on the change in temperature condition.

27. The hypodermic needle device of claim 21, further comprising:

means to receive, from a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the time threshold; and

means to update the time threshold based on the adjustment to the time threshold.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embedded thereon comprising computer code for instructing a processor of a hypodermic needle device to:

initiate a counter;

determine a time threshold stored in a memory of the hypodermic needle device;

compare the counter to the time threshold at pre-programmed intervals; and

upon determining that the counter exceeds the time threshold, trigger an expiration visual element of the hypodermic needle device, wherein the expiration visual element is configured to provide an indication that a drug contained in the hypodermic needle device has expired.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the expiration visual element is an electro-chromic element, a display screen, or a light.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the computer code is further configured to instruct the processor to:

receive, from a device separate from the hypodermic needle device, an adjustment to the counter; and

update the counter based on the adjustment to the counter.