Pen-type injector with a microprocessor and blood characteristic monitor

• US 5,728,074 A
• Filed: 12/05/1994
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Visionary Medical Systems Incorporated (CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Schumacher, Robert, Castellano, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/350,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/67, 604/154, 604/189, 604/207, 604/208, 604/209, 604/211, 128/DIG. 1, 128/632-636, 128/760
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• 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 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31556 Accuracy improving means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3156 using volume steps only adjustable in discrete intervals, i.e. individually distinct intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31566 Means improving security or handling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31571 Means preventing accidental administration for automatic syringes A61M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31583 based on rotational translation, i.e. movement of piston rod is caused by relative rotation between the user activated actuator and the piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31593 Multi-dose, i.e. individually set dose repeatedly administered from the same medicament reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0035 Pen-like sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• 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: Y10S 128/01 : Motorized syringe

Abstract

A medical injection device, such as a pen-type injector has a microprocessor coupled to the injector that records the date, the time, and the amount of each injection. The microprocessor may also be coupled to a display to indicate the amount of medication to be injected. The medical injection device can also be coupled with a blood characteristic monitor to analyze characteristics of the blood. This provides a single, all-in-one device that performs a variety of functions, and requires only a minimum of space. The medical injection device may also use a disposable needle that substantially eliminates or reduces bleeding from an opening in the skin at the injection site.

Claims

1. A medical injection device, comprising:

an external non-motorized pen-type injection mechanism including an actuator for setting the dosage and manually administering an injection of a medication contained within the injection device, the injection mechanism only contacting and penetrating a patient'"'"'s body when a dosage of medication is administered by an injection;

a processor coupled to the actuator of the injection mechanism to determine a value equal to the dosage set by the actuator of the injection mechanism;

a memory system coupled to the processor programmed to operate the processor to store the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor when the dosage of medication is administered and to retain other separately and previously stored values corresponding to previously injected dosages for later recall of the stored value equal to the dosage and the other separately and previously stored values; and

a single hand-held pen-type housing holding the injection mechanism, the processor and the memory system.

2. A device according to claim 1, further including a receptacle capable of holding the medication, wherein the injection mechanism further includes a non-motorized drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the receptacle to inject the set dosage of the medication, and wherein the actuator of the injection mechanism triggers the drive mechanism to administer the injection of the medication held in the receptacle.

3. A device according to claim 1, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the stored value equal to the dosage determined by the processor and the previously stored values.

4. A device according to claim 1, further including a clock circuit coupled to the processor for determining a time when the dosage of medication is administered, wherein the time is stored in the memory system along with the stored value equal to the dosage determined by the processor, and wherein the corresponding time of administration is recalled with the stored value of the dosage and with each of the other separately and previously stored values.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to determine the date when the dosage of medication is administered, wherein the date is stored in the memory system along with the stored value equal to the dosage determined by the processor, and wherein the corresponding date of administration is recalled with the stored value of the dosage and with each of the other separately and previously stored values.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to provide an alarm indication at a predetermined time.

7. A medical injection device, comprising:

an external injection mechanism including an actuator for setting the dosage and manually administering an injection of a medication contained within the injection device, the injection mechanism only contacting a patient'"'"'s body when a dosage of medication is administered by an injection;

a processor coupled to the actuator of the injection mechanism to determine a value equal to the dosage set by the actuator of the injection mechanism;

a memory system coupled to the processor programmed to operate the processor to store the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor and to retain other separately stored values corresponding to previously injected dosages for later recall;

a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer the value equal to the dosage stored in the memory system to an external data collection device; and

a single hand-held housing holding the injection mechanism, the processor and the memory system.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the data port is used to transfer program instructions from an external programming device to the microprocessor.

9. A portable, hand-held medical injection device, comprising:

a receptacle capable of holding the medication;

an external non-motorized pen-type injection mechanism including an actuator for setting the dosage and manually administering an injection of a medication contained within the injection device, wherein the injection mechanism further includes a non-motorized drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the receptacle to inject the set dosage of the medication, and wherein the actuator of the injection mechanism triggers the drive mechanism to administer the injection of the medication held in the receptacle, the injector mechanism only contacting and penetrating a patient'"'"'s body when a dosage of medication is administered by an injection;

a processor coupled to the actuator of the injection mechanism to determine a value equal to the dosage set by the actuator of the injection mechanism;

a display device coupled to the processor to display the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor;

a memory system coupled to the processor programmed to operate the processor to independently store the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor when the dosage of medication is administered and to retain previously stored values corresponding to previously injected dosages for later recall of the stored value equal to the dosage and the other separately and previously stored values;

a clock circuit coupled to the processor for determining a time when the dosage of medication is administered, wherein the time is stored in the memory system along with the stored value equal to the dosage determined by the processor, and wherein the corresponding time of administration is displayed on the display device with the stored value of the dosage and with each of the other separately and previously stored values; and

a single hand-held housing holding the receptacle, the injection mechanism, the processor, the display, the memory system and the clock circuit.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to determine the date when the dosage of medication is administered, wherein the date is stored in the memory system along with the stored value equal to the dosage determined by the processor, and wherein the corresponding date of administration is recalled with the stored value of the dosage and with each of the other separately and previously stored values.

11. A portable, hand-held medical injection device, comprising:

a receptacle capable of holding the medication;

an external injection mechanism including an actuator for setting the dosage and manually administering an injection of a medication contained within the injection device, wherein the injection mechanism further includes a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the receptacle to inject the set dosage of the medication, and wherein the actuator of the injection mechanism triggers the drive mechanism to administer the injection of the medication held in the receptacle, the injector mechanism only contacting a patient'"'"'s body when a dosage of medication is administered by an injection;

a processor coupled to the actuator of the injection mechanism to determine a value equal to the dosage set by the actuator of the injection mechanism;

a display device coupled to the processor to display the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor;

a memory system coupled to the processor programmed to operate the processor to independently store the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor and to retain other independently stored values corresponding to previously injected dosages for later recall;

a clock circuit coupled to the processor for determining a time, wherein the time is stored in the memory system with the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor, and wherein the time is displayed on the display device, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to provide an alarm indication at a predetermined time; and

a single hand-held housing holding the receptacle, the injection mechanism, the processor, the display, the memory system and the clock circuit.

12. A portable, hand-held medical injection device, comprising:

a receptacle capable of holding the medication;

an external injection mechanism including an actuator for setting the dosage and manually administering an injection of a medication contained within the injection device, wherein the injection mechanism further includes a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the receptacle to inject the set dosage of the medication, and wherein the actuator of the injection mechanism triggers the drive mechanism to administer the injection of the medication held in the receptacle, the injector mechanism only contacting a patient'"'"'s body when a dosage of medication is administered by an injection;

a processor coupled to the actuator of the injection mechanism to determine a value equal to the dosage set by the actuator of the injection mechanism;

a display device coupled to the processor to display the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor;

a memory system coupled to the processor programmed to operate the processor to independently store the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor and to retain other independently stored values corresponding to previously injected dosages for later recall;

a clock circuit coupled to the processor for determining a time, wherein the time is stored in the memory system with the value equal to the dosage determined by the processor, and wherein the time is displayed on the display device;

a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer the value equal to the dosage stored in the memory device to an external data collection device; and

a single hand-held housing holding the receptacle, the injection mechanism, the processor, the display, the memory system and the clock circuit.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the data port is used to transfer program instructions from an external programming device to the microprocessor.