Device and method for dosing substances

• US 7,201,741 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Maire, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan; Vijay B.
• Application Number:
  US10/360,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 704270-278, 704/258, 604/208, 604/154, 454/157, 368/10, 222/1, 700/242
• US Class Current: 604/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31535 Means improving security or handling thereof, e.g. blocking means, means preventing insufficient dosing, means allowing correction of overset dose
• 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: G01D 7/12 Audible indication of meter readings, e.g. for the blind

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dosing substances to be dispensed, in particular medicinal liquids, in particular for an injection, the device including a setting device for setting the amount of the substance to be dispensed, a signal receiving device for detecting setting signals of the setting device, an evaluation unit for receiving and evaluating the setting signals detected by the signal receiving device, a device for generating speech signals in accordance with the evaluation signals of the evaluation unit, and a device for outputting speech signals. The invention encompasses a method for dosing substances to be dispensed including the steps of detecting a setting signal of a setting device and outputting a speech signal in accordance with the setting signal detected.

Claims

1. A method for dosing medicinal substances to be dispensed, comprising the steps of:

a) detecting a setting signal of a setting device capable of altering and confirming a pre-set offset dosage;

b) outputting a speech signal in accordance with the setting signal detected wherein the output speech signal is a specific dosage number;

c) detecting a confirmation signal of the setting device corresponding to user confirmation that the speech signal was understood.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substances to be dispensed are liquids.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a speech signal is output one of continuously or at particular time intervals during a process of setting.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein an information or warning signal is output when an operational state occurs.

5. A device for delivering a medicinal substance, comprising:

means for setting the amount of the substance to be delivered and producing setting signals, wherein the means for setting is capable of altering and confirming a pre-set offset dosage;

means for detecting the setting signals;

means for receiving and evaluating the setting signals and producing evaluation signals;

means for generating speech signals in accordance with the evaluation signals wherein the generated speech signals are a specific dosage number; and

means for detecting a confirmation signal corresponding to user confirmation that the generated speech signals were understood.

6. A device for dosing medicinal substances to be dispensed, comprising:

a) a setting device for setting the amount of the substance to be dispensed and producing setting signals, wherein the setting device is capable of altering and confirming a pre-set offset dosage;

b) a signal receiving device for detecting the setting signals of said setting device; and

c) a device for outputting speech signals comprising;

an evaluation unit for receiving and evaluating said setting signals detected by said signal receiving device; and

a device for generating speech signals in accordance with the evaluation signals of said evaluation unit, the device being configured to recite a specific dosage number in speech form;

wherein the signal receiving device detects confirmation signals confirming the speech signals were understood.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said substances to be dispensed are liquids.

8. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said substances to be dispensed are dosed for an injection.

9. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the setting device is a rotating knob.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said rotating knob is a locking rotating knob.

11. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said rotating knob can be adjusted axially with respect to its rotational direction.

12. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the rotating knob substantially cannot be altered in the axial direction.

13. The device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising an input device for inputting user signals.

14. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said input device comprises a switch and a microphone.

15. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the setting device comprises said input device.

16. The device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a warning device for outputting a warning signal.

17. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said speech output device is one of a loudspeaker, an electrical plug connection for connecting a loudspeaker, or a transmitting device.

18. The device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a device for modifying the speech signals generated.

19. The device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising an output device which produces optical or tactile signals.

20. The device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a PC interface for inputting and/or outputting data to or from said dosing device.

21. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the offset dosage is set by a user of the device.

22. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the offset dosage is pre-set by a manufacturer of the device.

23. The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the offset dosage is set from a PC via an interface.

24. A device for dosing substances to be dispensed, comprising:

a) a rotating knob for setting the amount of the substance to be dispensed, said rotating knob comprising one or more elements on an outer circumference of said rotating knob for producing setting signals;

b) a signal receiving device for detecting the setting signals produced by said rotating knob, said signals produced upon said one of said one or more elements passing a portion of said signal receiving device;

c) a device for outputting speech signals comprising;

an integrated circuit for receiving and evaluating said setting signals detected by said signal receiving device; and

a device for generating speech signals in accordance with the evaluation signals of said evaluation unit, the device being configured to recite a specific dosage number in speech form; and

d) wherein said integrated circuit is further configured to receive input signals corresponding to user confirmation that the speech signals generated were understood.

25. The device as set forth in claim 24, wherein the input signals comprise signals corresponding to a movement that depresses said rotating knob.

26. The device as set forth in claim 24, wherein the input signals comprise speech signals, said speech signals corresponding to speech of the user of the device.

27. The device as set forth in claim 24, wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to operate said device for outputting speech signals in a plurality of operating modes, each of said plurality of operating modes relating to a parameter of interest of said device, said operating modes selectable by a user.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the operating mode is selectable via one or more operating keys arranged on said device.

29. The device according to claim 27, wherein the operating mode is selectable via speech input received from a microphone communicatively coupled to said device.