Injection device with electronic detecting means

• US 8,052,655 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Kvolsbjerg, Bo, Møller, Claus Schmidt
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANDER, DIVA KAKAR
• Application Number:
  US12/442,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 604/121, 604/135, 604/246
• US Class Current: 604/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/202 cocking means, e.g. to bias the main drive spring of an injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• 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 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• 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 5/31563 interacting with a displaceable stop member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence
• 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: G01D 5/2412 by varying overlap

Abstract

An injection device (1) for injecting a dose of drug, e.g. insulin for diabetes treatment, in which energy is stored in a spring member (9, 24) during dose setting. The stored energy is released and used for driving an injection mechanism during injection of a previously set dose. The injection device (1) further comprises means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose and/or means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose. The electronic detecting means allows storage and/or logging of data relating to injections performed using the injection device (1).

Claims

1. An injection device for injecting a dose of drug, the injection device comprising:

a dose setting mechanism being operable to set a desired dose, operation of said dose setting mechanism causing energy to be stored in a spring member,

an injection mechanism comprising a piston rod adapted to cooperate with a piston positioned in a cartridge containing a drug to be delivered in order to cause a set dose to be delivered from the cartridge via the injection device, said injection mechanism being driven by releasing energy previously stored in said spring member during dose setting,

means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose and/or means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose, and

electronic display means for displaying a set dose and/or an injected dose to a user

wherein the amount of a set dose and/or the amount of an injected dose is/are detected by means of a relative displacement between two members, and that the means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose and/or the means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose is/are adapted to detect said relative movements of a movable member being mechanically biased along said relative displacement by a spring force.

2. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose and/or the means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose is/are adapted to detect an angular displacement between at least two members, said angular displacement being indicative of the amount of a set dose and/or the amount of an injected dose.

3. An injection device according to claim 2, wherein the means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose and/or the means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose comprise(s) at least two substantially disc shaped members being arranged with a substantially fixed mutual distance along a longitudinal direction of the injection device, said substantially disc shaped members being rotationally movable relatively to each other during dose setting and/or injection, and wherein an angular displacement between said substantially disc shaped members is indicative of the amount of a set dose and/or the amount of an injected dose.

4. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose and/or the means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose is/are adapted to detect the amount of a set dose and/or the amount of an injected dose by measuring a capacitance.

5. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the injection device comprises means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose, as well as means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose, and wherein the means for electronically detecting the amount of an injected dose forms part of the means for electronically detecting the amount of a set dose.

6. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is moveable along said relative displacement in at least two directions and wherein the spring force acts in one of these directions.

7. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is or comprises a torsion spring.

8. An injection device according to claim 7, further comprising a nut positioned in an interior part of the injection device, said nut being movable during dose setting and during injection between a first position along a longitudinal direction of the injection device, said first position corresponding to a maximum settable dose, and a second position along the longitudinal direction of the injection device, said second position corresponding to complete injection of a previously set dose.

9. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is or comprises a compressible spring.

10. An injection device according to claim 9, wherein the compressible spring extends essentially along the length of the injection device.

11. An injection device according to claim 9, further comprising a spring compressing member being movable along a longitudinal direction of the injection device during dose setting and during injection, said spring compressing member being positioned in abutment with the compressible spring, wherein the spring compressing member is operatively connected to the dose setting mechanism in such a manner that when the dose setting mechanism is operated the spring compressing member is caused to perform a movement along the longitudinal direction of the injection device, thereby compressing the compressible spring.

12. An injection device according to claim 11, wherein the spring compressing member is adapted to rotationally abut an abutment member when a previously set dose has been injected, said rotational abutment preventing further injection of medication, wherein the rotational abutment is obtained by means of a rotational movement of the spring compressing member and/or the abutment member.

13. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the dose setting mechanism comprises a dose knob which is rotationally operable, and wherein rotational movement of said dose knob causes energy to be stored in the spring member.

14. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the spring force is provided by the spring member, the movable member being connected to the spring member in such a manner that the movable member is caused to move in response to energy being stored in the spring member and/or in response to energy being released from the spring member.

15. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the dose setting mechanism comprises a click mechanism providing positioning of a dose setting member in discrete steps during dose setting.