Medication delivery device with a microprocessor and characteristic monitor

• US 5,925,021 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• 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: Castellano, Thomas P., Schumacher, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Stright, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US08/899,764
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/308, 600/310, 600/309, 600/322, 600/345, 600/367, 600/368, 600/583, 600/301, 604/65-67, 604/31, 604/246, 604/260, 604/207, 128/DIG. 1
• 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 medication delivery device, such as a pen-type injector, jet injector, medication pump, inhaler, spray or the like has a microprocessor coupled to the device that records the date, the time, and the amount of each medication administration. The microprocessor may also be coupled to a display to indicate the amount of medication to be administered. The medication delivery 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 medication delivery 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 monitor, comprising:

a portable housing;

a characteristic monitor contained in the portable housing for analyzing a characteristic sample;

a processor coupled to the characteristic monitor, wherein the processor includes determining means for determining characteristics based on the analyzed characteristic sample from the characteristic monitor; and

a data port coupled to the processor, wherein the data port includes transferring means for transferring data and program instructions from a medication delivery device to the processor,

wherein the processor includes means for using the characteristics and the data from the medication delivery device to compare the characteristics and data to determine if the medical regimen is correct and whether modifications to the medical regimen are required.

2. A medical monitor according to claim 1, wherein transferring means of the data port coupled to the processor is used to transfer data from the processor to the medication delivery device.

3. A medical monitor according to claim 2, wherein the transferring means of the data port uses infrared energy to transfer data from the processor to the medication delivery device.

4. A medical monitor according to claim 1, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the characteristics determined by the processor.

5. A medical monitor according to claim 1, further including a clock circuit to determine a time and date.

6. A medical monitor according to claim 5, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to provide an alarm indication at a predetermined time.

7. A medical monitor according to claim 1, wherein the transferring means of the data port uses infrared energy to transfer information from the medication delivery device to the processor.

8. A medical monitor according to claim 1, further including a memory storage device coupled to the processor for storing the characteristics determined by the processor.

9. A medical monitor according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic monitor measures blood characteristics.

10. A medical monitor according to claim 1, wherein the medication delivery device is selected from a group consisting of pen-type injectors, infusion pumps and inhalers.

11. A medical monitor, comprising:

a portable housing;

a characteristic monitor contained in the portable housing for analyzing a characteristic sample;

a processor coupled to the characteristic monitor, wherein the processor includes determining means for determining characteristics based on the analyzed characteristic sample from the characteristic monitor; and

a data port coupled to the processor, wherein the data port includes transferring means for transferring the characteristics from the processor to a medication delivery device and to receive data from the medication delivery device,

wherein the processor include means for using the characteristics and the data from the medication delivery device to compare the characteristics and data to determine if the medical regimen is correct and whether modifications to the medical regimen are required.

12. A medical monitor according to claim 11, wherein the transferring means of the data port coupled to the processor is used to transfer data from the medication delivery device to the processor.

13. A medical monitor according to claim 12, wherein the transferring means of the data port uses infrared energy to transfer data to the processor from the medication delivery device.

14. A medical monitor according to claim 11, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the characteristics determined by the processor.

15. A medical monitor according to claim 11, further including a clock circuit to determine a time and date.

16. A medical monitor according to claim 15, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to provide an alarm indication at a predetermined time.

17. A medical monitor according to claim 11, wherein the transferring means of the data port uses infrared energy to transfer characteristics to the medication delivery device from the processor.

18. A medical monitor according to claim 11, further including a memory storage device coupled to the processor for storing the characteristics determined by the processor.

19. A medical monitor according to claim 11, wherein the characteristic monitor measures blood characteristics.

20. A medical monitor according to claim 11, wherein the medication delivery device is selected from the group consisting of pen-type injectors, infusion pumps and inhalers.

21. A medical monitor to monitor a medical regimen, the medical monitor comprising:

a characteristic monitor for analyzing a characteristic sample;

a processor coupled to the characteristic monitor, wherein the processor includes determining means for determining characteristics based on the analyzed characteristic sample from the characteristic monitor; and

a data port coupled to the processor, wherein the data port includes transferring means for transferring the characteristics from the processor to medication delivery device and to receive data or program instructions from the medication delivery device,

wherein the processor includes means for using the characteristics and the data from the medication delivery device to compare the characteristics and data to determine if the medical regimen is correct and whether modifications to the medical regimen are required.

22. A medical monitor according to claim 21, further including a memory storage device coupled to the processor for storing the characteristics determined by the processor and the data or program instructions from the medication delivery device.

23. A medical monitor according to claim 21, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the characteristics determined by the processor and the data from the medication delivery device.

24. A medical monitor according to claim 21, further including a clock circuit to determine a time and date.

25. A medical monitor according to claim 21, further including means to provide an alarm indication at a predetermined time or when a change to a medical regimen is determined.

26. A medical monitor according to claim 21, wherein the transferring means of the data port uses infrared energy to transfer characteristics to the medication delivery device from the processor and to transfer data or program instructions to the processor from the medication delivery device.

27. A medical monitor according to claim 21, wherein the characteristic monitor measures blood characteristics.

28. A medical monitor according to claim 21, wherein the medication delivery device is selected from a group consisting of pen-type injectors, infusion pumps and inhalers.