Pen-type injector having an electronic control unit

• US 8,469,922 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Dca Design International Ltd.
• Inventors: Langley, Christopher Nigel, Day, Shane Alistair, Veasey, Robert Frederick, Woolston, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, PHILLIP A
• Application Number:
  US10/433,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20040054319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,204 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 68, 604/131
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31588 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/215 Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• 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 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31546 Electrically operated dose setting, e.g. input via touch screen or plus/minus buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe

Abstract

An injection device for injection of a dose of a medicament from a medicament cartridge is disclosed. The injection device of the present invention comprises a main housing 4 having an electronic control unit, a cover detection switch 28, and a display panel 10 operative selectively to indicate to the user information relevant to the user. The display panel 10 has an active state in which information is provided to the user and an inactive state in which no information is provided. A cap or cover 6 adapted to cover one end of the main housing 4 of the injection device is provided. When the presence of the cap 6 is detected, the electronic control unit switches the display panel 10 to an active state for a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. An injection device for injection of a dose of a medicament from a medicament cartridge, the injection device comprising:

a main housing having an electronic control unit;

a cover detection switch;

a display panel operative selectively to indicate to a user information relevant to the user, the display panel having an active state in which information is provided to the user and an inactive state in which no information is provided; and

a cap or cover adapted to cover one end of the main housing of the injection device, the cover detection switch being adapted to detect the presence of the cap or cover, the electronic control unit being adapted to control whether the display panel is in the active state or the inactive state, in which when the cover detection switch is actuated and the presence of the cap is detected, the electronic control unit switches, upon depression of a button, the display panel to an active state for a predetermined period of time.

2. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is 4 seconds.

3. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the information provided to the user comprises one or more of the following:

quantity of a preceding dose;

a time elapsed since the preceding dose; and

an amount of medicament remaining in the cartridge.

4. The injection device according to claim 2, wherein the information provided to the user comprises one or more of the following:

quantity of a preceding dose;

a time elapsed since the preceding dose; and

an amount of medicament remaining in the cartridge.

5. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is provided with means to power the display panel down.

6. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein when the cover detection switch is actuated and the presence of the cap is detected, the cap covers a needle to protect the user from a tip of the needle.