Injection device with reporting ability

• US 7,871,393 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Directions Technology Consulting LLC
• Original Assignee: Henry Schein Incorporated
• Inventors: Monroe, O. Napoleon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/485,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An injector, when dispensing its dosage, determines its location, and sends a message to a central facility, such as a rescue center or product management system, giving its unique identification number and its location. The injector is a syringe or an auto-injector. The central facility uses the unique identification number to determine the contents of the injector and thus what sort of threat may have occurred so that suitable rescue personnel may be dispatched. The unique identification number may also be associated with a likely user of the device, and the user'"'"'s organization may be notified that a problem has occurred and help is on its way.

Claims

1. A central facility, comprising:

a communications interface for receiving a signal relating to an injector, the signal indicating that the injector is not being carried by a person associated with the injector, the signal resulting from a comparison at the injector of two location reports of the injector,

a database for storing a record relating to the injector, the record indicating the contents of the injector, an identity of the person associated with the injector, and a contact method for contacting the person to provide a reminder to carry the injector, and

means for generating a reminder to carry the injector, according to the contact method, in response to the signal indicating that the injector is not being carried by the person associated with the injector.

2. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the communications interface uses a wireless communications channel.

3. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the signal includes information obtained from a product tag associated with the injector, and the product tag information is used to identify the record relating to the injector.

4. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the injector includes a motion sensor that is responsive to movement of the injector.

5. The central facility of claim 4, wherein the motion sensor is responsive to the position of a drop of fluid in a chamber.

6. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the injector is a syringe.

7. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the injector is an auto-injector.

8. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the injector includes a sensor that detects usage of the injector, and in response to a usage detection, the injector notifies the central facility of the usage detection.

9. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the injector includes a communications interface for sending the signal to the central facility.

10. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the injector includes a location interface for providing the location of the injector.

11. The central facility of claim 10, wherein the location of the injector is expressed in global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinates.

12. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the contact method is by telephone.

13. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the contact method is by e-mail.

14. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the contact method is by telephone.

15. The central facility of claim 1, wherein the contact method is by e-mail.