Needle cannula position as an input to operational control of an injection device

• US 10,617,819 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2017
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Pharma. Services IL, Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: West Pharma. Services IL, Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cabiri, Oz, Hezkiahu, Ran
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Quynh-Nhu H.
• Application Number:
  US15/672,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20170333625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1626 Needle protectors therefor in combination with syringes A61M5/3202; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• 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 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2046 Media being expelled from injector by gas generation, e.g. explosive charge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2053 Media being expelled from injector by pressurised fluid or vacuum for infusion A61M5/145, A61M5/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2066 comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3204 Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

A method is disclosed for state sensing and controlling of a multi-state drug delivery device. In some embodiments a power switch is reused as a state sensor. Optionally the state sensor may be toggled by user actions and/or the movements of parts of the device, for example needle and/or a protective element. Optionally, drug discharge and/or status indication is controlled in accordance with sensor output. In some embodiments control is by means of a processor. Alternatively or additionally, control is by means of simple physical circuits.

Claims

1. A method of reusing a power switch as a sensor to indicate multiple stages of operation of a drug delivery device, the method comprising:

providing a drug delivery device where a power switch interrupts a power supply circuit;

toggling of the switch to activate the drug delivery device;

engaging the drug delivery device to a subject, said engaging causing a re-toggling of the switch while the drug delivery device remains activated;

initiating discharge of a drug from the drug delivery device in response to said re-toggling of the switch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein during when said power supply is interrupted, substantially no power is consumed by the drug delivery device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by a sensor during discharge of the drug from the drug delivery device, whether a plunger movement occurs within a predetermined range in a predefined time period; and

entering, by the drug delivery device, an error state when said plunger movement occurs outside of said predetermined range in said predetermined time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiating discharge of the drug occurs in response to said re-toggling of the switch in a predefined time period after said toggling of the switch and wherein if said re-toggling does not occur within said time period, the drug device performs at least one of the following actions:

cease operation, lock in a neutralized state, warn a user of a fault in operation, or take a corrective action.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said toggling of the switch is performed by removing a protective element from the drug delivery device, said protective element being configured to inhibiting said engaging of the drug delivery device to the subject prior to removal of the protective element from the drug delivery device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disengaging of said drug delivery device from said subject causing a third toggling of said switch;

indicating to a user of a completion of delivery via a coded output in response to said third toggling of said switch.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disengaging of said drug delivery device from said subject causing a third toggling of said switch;

stopping discharge of the drug in response to said third toggling of said switch.