Medication delivery device with a microprocessor and characteristic monitor

• US 5,593,390 A
• Filed: 02/28/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Visionary Medical Systems Incorporated (CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Schumacher, Robert, Castellano, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US08/396,420
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 604/189, 604/156, 604/187, 604/131, 604/154, 604/232, 604/66, 604/207, 604/208, 604/218, 128/632, 128/639, 128/771, 128/DIG. 1, 128/670
• US Class Current: 604/187
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• 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 5/31566 Means improving security or handling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31571 Means preventing accidental administration for automatic syringes A61M5/20
• 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: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31593 Multi-dose, i.e. individually set dose repeatedly administered from the same medicament reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0035 Pen-like sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 : Motorized syringe

Abstract

A medication delivery device, such as a pen-type injector, jet injector, medication pump, inhaler, spray or the like has a microprocessor coupled to the device that records the date, the time, and the amount of each medication administration. The microprocessor may also be coupled to a display to indicate the amount of medication to be administered. The medication delivery device can also be coupled with a blood characteristic monitor to analyze characteristics of the blood. This provides a single, all-in-one device that performs a variety of functions, and requires only a minimum of space. The medication delivery device may also use a disposable needle that substantially eliminates or reduces bleeding from an opening in the skin at the injection site.

Claims

1. A portable, hand-held medical device for use by a patient, the medical device comprising:

an external hand-held medication delivery mechanism for manually administering a dosage of a medication, the medication delivery mechanism only contacting the patient'"'"'s body when a dosage of medication is administered;

a hand-held blood characteristic monitor for analyzing a blood sample removed from the patient'"'"'s body and the sample being placed into contact with the characteristic monitor for analysis external to the body of the patient;

a processor coupled to the hand-held medication delivery device and the hand-held characteristic monitor, wherein the processor determines a value equal to the dosage of the medication to be administered by the hand-held medication delivery device, and wherein the processor determines characteristics from the blood sample analyzed by the hand-held characteristic monitor; and

a single hand-held housing shaped and sized to fit in a shirt pocket, the housing holding the medication delivery mechanism, characteristic monitor and the processor.

2. A device according to claim 1, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer program instructions from an external programming device to the processor.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the blood sample is taken from the patient'"'"'s body at a location that is different from a location where the medication is administered.

4. A device according to claim 1, further including a memory device coupled to the processor to store the value equal to the dosage and the characteristics determined by the processor.

5. A device according to claim 4, further including a receptacle capable of holding the medication and a delivery mechanism having an actuator knob for setting the dosage of the medication to be administered by the hand-held medication delivery device and a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator knob and the receptacle to administer the set dosage of the medication, wherein the actuator knob of the delivery mechanism triggers the drive mechanism to administer the medication held in the receptacle.

6. A device according to claim 4, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer the value equal to the dosage stored in the memory device to an external data collection device.

7. A device according to claim 4, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the value equal to the dosage and the characteristics determined by the processor.

8. A device according to claim 7, further including a clock circuit coupled to the processor for determining a time, wherein the time is stored in the memory device with the value equal to the dosage and the characteristics determined by the processor, and wherein the time is displayed on the display device.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the blood sample is taken from the patient'"'"'s finger.

10. A portable medical device, comprising:

an external hand-held medication injector for manually injecting a dosage of a medication, the medication injector only contacting a patient'"'"'s body when a dosage of medication is injected;

a hand-held blood characteristic monitor for analyzing a blood sample removed from the patient'"'"'s body and the sample being placed into contact with the characteristic monitor for analysis external to the body of the patient, wherein the hand-held blood characteristic monitor is coupled to the hand-held medication injector;

a processor coupled to the hand-held medication injector and the hand-held blood characteristic monitor to form a single device, wherein the processor determines a value equal to the dosage of the medication to be injected by the hand-held medication injector, and wherein the processor determines blood characteristics from the blood sample analyzed by the hand-held blood characteristic monitor; and

a single pen-type housing holding the medication injector, the blood characteristic monitor and the processor.

11. A device according to claim 10, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer program instructions from an external programming device to the processor.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the blood sample is taken from the patient'"'"'s body at a location that is different from a location where the medication is administered.

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein the blood sample is taken from the patient'"'"'s finger.

14. A device according to claim 10, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer program instructions from an external programming device to the processor.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the data port uses infrared energy to transfer the program instructions.

16. A device according to claim 10, further including a memory device coupled to the processor to store the value equal to the dosage and the blood characteristics determined by the processor.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the medication injector includes a receptacle capable of holding the medication and an injection mechanism having an actuator knob for setting the dosage of the medication to be administered by the hand-held medication injector and a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator knob and the receptacle to inject the set dosage of the medication, wherein the actuator knob of the injection mechanism triggers the drive mechanism to administer the injection of the medication held in the receptacle.

18. A device according to claim 16, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer the value equal to the dosage stored in the memory device to an external data collection device.

19. A device according to claim 16, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the value equal to the dosage and the blood characteristics determined by the processor.

20. A device according to claim 19, further including a clock circuit coupled to the processor for determining a time, wherein the time is stored in the memory device with the value equal to the dosage and the blood characteristics determined by the processor, and wherein the time is displayed on the display device.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to determine the date.

22. A device according to claim 20, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to provide an alarm indication at a predetermined time.

23. A device according to claim 10, further including a clock and a memory storage device coupled to the processor for storing a measure of time from the clock and the blood characteristics determined by the processor.

24. A device according to claim 23, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the measure of the time from the clock and the blood characteristics determined by the processor.

25. A device according to claim 23, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer the measure of the time and the blood characteristics stored in the memory device to an external data collection device.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein the data port uses infrared energy to transfer the measure of the time and the blood characteristics stored in the memory storage device.

27. A portable medical device to maintain and monitor a condition of an individual'"'"'s body, the device comprising:

an external hand-held injector for manually injecting a dosage of an injectable substance into the individual'"'"'s body, the injector only contacting the individual'"'"'s body when a dosage of injectable substance is injected;

a hand-held characteristic monitor for analyzing a characteristic of the individual'"'"'s body, the characteristic monitor measuring and performing an analysis external to the individual'"'"'s body, wherein the hand-held characteristic monitor is coupled to the hand-held injector;

a processor coupled to the hand-held injector and the hand-held characteristic monitor to form a single all-in-one device, wherein the processor determines a value equal to the dosage of the injectable substance to be injected by the hand-held injector into the individual'"'"'s body, and wherein the processor determines sample characteristics from the sample analyzed by the hand-held characteristic monitor; and

a single housing shaded and sized to fit in a shirt pocket, the housing holding the injector, the characteristic monitor and the processor, wherein the characteristic monitor held by the housing is located away from the injector such that the characteristic of the individual'"'"'s body is obtained at a location different from a location where the injectable substance is injected into the individual'"'"'s body.

28. A device according to claim 27, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer program instructions from an external programming device to the processor.

29. A device according to claim 27, wherein the characteristic is obtained from the patient'"'"'s body at a location that is different from a location where the medication is administered.

30. A device according to claim 27, wherein the characteristic is obtained from the patient'"'"'s finger.

31. A device according to claim 27, wherein the single housing is adapted to be easily held and used in a hand or transported in a pocket.

32. A device according to claim 27, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer program instructions from an external programming device to the processor.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the data port uses infrared energy to transfer the program instructions.

34. A device according to claim 27, further including a clock and a memory storage device coupled to the processor for storing a measure of time from the clock and the sample characteristics determined by the processor.

35. A device according to claim 34, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the measure of the time from the clock and the sample characteristics determined by the processor.

36. A device according to claim 34, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer the measure of the time and the sample characteristics stored in the memory device to an external data collection device.

37. A device according to claim 36, wherein the data port uses infrared energy to transfer the measure of the time and the sample characteristics stored in the memory device.

38. A device according to claim 27, further including a memory device coupled to the processor to store the value equal to the dosage and the sample characteristics determined by the processor.

39. A device according to claim 38, wherein the hand-held injector includes a receptacle capable of holding the injectable substance and an injection mechanism having an actuator knob for setting the dosage of the injectable substance to be administered by the hand-held injector and a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator knob and the receptacle to inject the set dosage of the injectable substance, wherein the actuator knob of the injection mechanism triggers the drive mechanism to administer the injection of the injectable substance held in the receptacle.

40. A device according to claim 38, further including a data port coupled to the processor that is used to transfer the value equal to the dosage stored in the memory device to an external data collection device.

41. A device according to claim 38, further including a display device coupled to the processor to display the value equal to the dosage and the sample characteristics determined by the processor.

42. A device according to claim 41, further including a clock circuit coupled to the processor for determining a time, wherein the time is stored in the memory device with the value equal to the dosage and the sample characteristics determined by the processor, and wherein the time is displayed on the display device.

43. A device according to claim 42, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to determine the date.

44. A device according to claim 42, wherein the clock circuit further includes means to provide an alarm indication at a predetermined time.