Optical determination of the position of the stopper in glass ampoules
First Claim
1. A method for determining a position of a stopper of a cartridge configured to be inserted in a pen medical apparatus along a travel distance, wherein the stopper comprises a front edge and a rear edge, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating light by a light source on a first side of the cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises a pierceable seal;
fixing the stopper movably along the travel distance towards the pierceable seal of the cartridge, the stopper movable along the travel distance by being functionally connected to a plunger stem;
providing a photosensitive sensor surface on a second side of the cartridge opposite the first side;
generating a silhouette of the stopper on the sensor surface by irradiating the stopper with light from the light source; and
converting the data relating to the silhouette by a data processing unit into the position of the stopper along the travel distance, wherein converting the data relating to the silhouette into the position of the stopper along the travel distance comprises;
determining which one of a first cartridge region, a second cartridge region, and a third cartridge region the stopper is located in, wherein the first cartridge region comprises a cartridge end region, wherein the third cartridge region comprises a cartridge shoulder region, and wherein the second cartridge region comprises a cartridge region residing between the first cartridge region and the third cartridge region;
using the determination as a basis to decide between different ways of determining the position of the stopper, anddetermining, in accordance with the decision, the position of the stopper,wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the front edge but not the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the first cartridge region,wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the front edge and the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the second cartridge region, andwherein the data processing unit uses the position of the rear edge and not the position of the front edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the third cartridge region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining a position of a component in a medical apparatus along a travel distance. The method comprising the steps of generating light by a light source; fixing the component movably along a travel distance; providing a photosensitive sensor surface, and generating a silhouette of the component on the sensor surface by irradiating the component with light from the light source. Data relating to the silhouette is converted by a data processing unit into the position of the component along the travel distance. The component whose position is determined may comprise a stopper of a cartridge.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining a position of a stopper of a cartridge configured to be inserted in a pen medical apparatus along a travel distance, wherein the stopper comprises a front edge and a rear edge, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating light by a light source on a first side of the cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises a pierceable seal; fixing the stopper movably along the travel distance towards the pierceable seal of the cartridge, the stopper movable along the travel distance by being functionally connected to a plunger stem; providing a photosensitive sensor surface on a second side of the cartridge opposite the first side; generating a silhouette of the stopper on the sensor surface by irradiating the stopper with light from the light source; and converting the data relating to the silhouette by a data processing unit into the position of the stopper along the travel distance, wherein converting the data relating to the silhouette into the position of the stopper along the travel distance comprises; determining which one of a first cartridge region, a second cartridge region, and a third cartridge region the stopper is located in, wherein the first cartridge region comprises a cartridge end region, wherein the third cartridge region comprises a cartridge shoulder region, and wherein the second cartridge region comprises a cartridge region residing between the first cartridge region and the third cartridge region; using the determination as a basis to decide between different ways of determining the position of the stopper, and determining, in accordance with the decision, the position of the stopper, wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the front edge but not the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the first cartridge region, wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the front edge and the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the second cartridge region, and wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the rear edge and not the position of the front edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the third cartridge region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for determining a position of a stopper of a cartridge configured to be inserted in a pen medical apparatus along a travel distance, wherein the stopper comprises a front edge and a rear edge, this device comprising at least:
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a light source provided on a first side of the cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises a pierceable seal; a plunger stem functionally connected to the stopper and configured to fix the stopper movably along the travel distance towards the pierceable seal of the cartridge; a photosensitive sensor surface provided on a second side of the cartridge, opposite the first side; and a data processing unit configured to convert data relating to a silhouette of the stopper into the position of the stopper along the travel distance, wherein converting the data relating to the silhouette into the position of the stopper comprises; determining which one of a first cartridge region, a second cartridge region, and a third cartridge region the stopper is located in, wherein the first cartridge region comprises a cartridge end region, wherein the third cartridge region comprises a cartridge shoulder region, and wherein the second cartridge region comprises a cartridge region residing between the first cartridge region and the third cartridge region; and using the determination as a basis to decide between different ways of determining the position of the stopper, wherein the data processing unit is configured to use the position of the front edge but not the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the first cartridge region, wherein the data processing unit is configured to use the position of the front edge and the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the second cartridge region, and wherein the data processing unit is configured to use the position of the rear edge and not the position of the front edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the third cartridge region. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification