Apparatus and methods for tracking administering of medication by syringe
First Claim
1. A plunger head for a syringe, comprising:
- an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the plunger head for sending and receiving ultrasonic signals from the plunger head;
an antenna;
a microcontroller that interfaces with the ultrasonic transducer and the antenna; and
a power source that powers the microcontroller and the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer, the antenna, the microcontroller, and the power source are at least partially encapsulated in an elastomer housing that fits within a barrel of the syringe, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned within the plunger head to propagate the ultrasonic signals from the plunger head along a length of the barrel extending towards a dispensing end of the barrel when the plunger head is inserted in the syringe; and
wherein the microcontroller includes instructions to calculate data representative of a quantity of medication dispensed from the barrel and transmit the data to a remote device via the antenna, wherein the instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to calculate the quantity of medication dispensed by;
measuring a time for the ultrasonic signals to travel from the ultrasonic transducer to the dispensing end of the barrel and return to the ultrasonic transducer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods for tracking administering of medication by syringes is provided. The apparatus may include a plunger head for a syringe. The plunger head may include a transducer that sends and receives ultrasonic signals. The plunger may also include an antenna and a microcontroller that interfaces with the transducer and the antenna. The plunger may also include a power source that powers the microcontroller and the transducer. The transducer, the antenna, the microcontroller, and the power source may be at least partially encapsulated in an elastomer housing that fits within a barrel of the syringe. The microcontroller may be programmed with instructions to calculate data representative of the quantity of medication dispensed from the barrel and transmit the data to a remote device via the antenna.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A plunger head for a syringe, comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the plunger head for sending and receiving ultrasonic signals from the plunger head; an antenna; a microcontroller that interfaces with the ultrasonic transducer and the antenna; and a power source that powers the microcontroller and the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer, the antenna, the microcontroller, and the power source are at least partially encapsulated in an elastomer housing that fits within a barrel of the syringe, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned within the plunger head to propagate the ultrasonic signals from the plunger head along a length of the barrel extending towards a dispensing end of the barrel when the plunger head is inserted in the syringe; and wherein the microcontroller includes instructions to calculate data representative of a quantity of medication dispensed from the barrel and transmit the data to a remote device via the antenna, wherein the instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to calculate the quantity of medication dispensed by; measuring a time for the ultrasonic signals to travel from the ultrasonic transducer to the dispensing end of the barrel and return to the ultrasonic transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A plunger head for a medication injection device, comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the plunger head for sending and receiving ultrasonic signals from the plunger head; an antenna; a microcontroller that interfaces with the ultrasonic transducer and the antenna; and a power source that powers the microcontroller and the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer, the antenna, the microcontroller, and the power source are at least partially encapsulated in an elastomer housing that fits within a barrel of the medication injection device, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is positioned within the plunger head to propagate the ultrasonic signals from the plunger head along a length of the barrel extending towards a dispensing end of the barrel when the plunger head is inserted in the medication injection device; and wherein the microcontroller includes instructions to calculate data representative of a quantity of medication dispensed from the barrel and transmit the data to a remote device via the antenna, wherein the instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to calculate the quantity of medication dispensed by; measuring a time for the ultrasonic signals to travel from the ultrasonic transducer to the dispensing end of the barrel and return to the ultrasonic transducer.
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Specification