Additional device for injection device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an add-on device (30) for attachment to an injection device (1) wherein the injection device (1) comprises a machine readable identification (28), the add-on device (30) comprising:-a device body (60) capable of being fastened to a portion of the injection device (1),-a reconfigurable and user perceptible device identification (50),-an electronic module (34) comprising a processor (44), the processor is coupled to the device identification (50) and is operable to reconfigure the device identification (50) in accordance with a machine-readable identification (28) of the injection device (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of attachments for injection devices, in particular to attachments that can be attached to a pen-type injector. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an injection system comprising an injection device and an attachment. In a further aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of configuring an attachment during assembly to an injection device. Background Art

[0002] Drug delivery devices for setting and dispensing single or multiple doses of liquid medicaments are well known in the art per se. Typically, such devices have substantially similar uses to ordinary syringes.

[0003] Drug delivery devices such as pen-type injectors must meet many user-specific requirements. For example, in the case of patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, the patient may be physically weak and may also be visually impaired. Therefore, suitable drug delivery devices specifically intended for home medication need to be robust and should be easy to use. In addition, the manipulation and general handling of the device and its components should be clear and easy to understand. Such injection devices should provide for the setting and subsequent distribution of doses of equal or variable sizes. In addition, the dose setting and dose distribution procedures must be easy to operate and must be clear and unambiguous.

[0004] Patients with certain diseases may require a certain amount of medication to be injected via a pen-type syringe.

[0005] Some drug delivery devices or injection devices are capable of selecting variable-sized doses of medication and injecting a previously set dose. Other injection devices provide fixed dose setting and dispensing. In this case, the amount of medication that should be injected according to a given prescription schedule is always the same and does not change over time or cannot be changed.

[0006] Some injection devices are implemented as reusable injection devices, allowing users to replace medication containers (such as cartridges). Other injection devices are implemented as disposable injection devices. For disposable injection devices, it is intended that the entire injection device be discarded when the contents (i.e., medication) have been used up.

[0007] In order to control and supervise the administration of medication by the user or the patient himself, it is beneficial to assist the user by utilizing an external electronic device, such as a mobile electronic device, for example implemented as a smartphone, tablet computer or smart watch. A software application provided on such an external electronic device can interact with the user and can provide the user with instructions or suggestions on how to correctly use the injection device.

[0008] In order to control and monitor the administration of medicaments by users or patients themselves, it is desirable to provide automatic detection and recording of repeated and regular use of drug delivery devices. A fairly automated recording of doses injected by a user has significant advantages over manual dose recording in terms of safety and convenience.

[0009] There are many attachments configured for use with injection devices that provide electronic detection and monitoring of repeat dose injection procedures.

[0010] Typically, such an attachment or auxiliary device may be detachably connected to the injection device. The attachment typically includes a detector or detector arrangement that is operable to detect the date and / or time when a user sets or injects a dose of a medicament. Some attachments also provide a quantitative measurement of the size of the dose currently set or dispensed. Some attachments are intended to be used with a range of injection devices. This may be particularly useful for disposable injection devices that are intended to be discarded after use or after the medicament therein has run out.

[0011] Typically, there are a variety of different injection devices that may be equipped with different drugs or medicaments, but are generally operable for use with the same type of attachment device. Although it is common practice to characterize or label different types and / or different concentrations of injection devices and / or medicaments by clear and distinct labels or logos, a detachable connection to an attachment device may present disadvantages, particularly when the label or feature of the injection device is covered by the attachment device when attached to the injection device.

[0012] Thus, when an injection device is equipped with an additional device, a label of the injection device, which specifies, for example, the type of concentration of a medicament contained therein, may no longer be visible, or the visibility of such a label or marking may be impaired.

[0013] It would therefore be desirable to set aside this disadvantage and improve clear and obvious identification or characterization of injection devices even when equipped with additional devices. Summary of the invention

[0014] In one aspect, an attachment for attachment to an injection device is provided. The injection device includes a machine-readable identification. The attachment includes a device body that can be fastened to a portion of the injection device. The attachment further includes a reconfigurable and user-perceivable device identification. The attachment further includes an electronic module, the electronic module including a processor, the processor coupled to the device identification and operable to reconfigure the device identification according to the machine-readable identification of the injection device.

[0015] The additional device is particularly suitable for simulating or adapting to a distinction or characterization of an injection device, which characterization is defined or reflected by its machine-readable identification. The machine-readable identification of an injection device is typically implemented to distinguish the injection device and / or a medicament contained inside the injection device or dispensable by the injection device from another injection device and / or from another medicament. Thus, a plurality of injection devices can be provided, each of which comprises the same or similar shape, purpose and / or mode of operation, wherein each injection device is equipped with a different medicament, for example equipped with a different concentration of medicament and / or equipped with a different pharmaceutically active compound.

[0016] The machine-readable indicia indicates such device characteristics and / or medicament characteristics. For some examples, a first injection device is provided with a device portion of a first color. A second injection device may be provided with a comparable device portion, but with a second color that is distinguishable from the first color. Thus, the first injection device may be provided with a first machine-readable indicia indicating the first color. The second injection device may be provided with a second machine-readable indicia indicating the second color.

[0017] The reconfigurable and user-perceivable device identification is in particular reconfigurable before or during attachment of the additional device to the injection device. The user-perceivable device identification may be configured, reconfigured or deployed at least once so as to adapt the user-perceivable device identification to the machine-readable identification of the injection device. In this way, the user-perceivable device identification of the additional device may be adapted to the machine-readable identification of the injection device to which the additional device is attached or to be attached. This is particularly useful when the additional device, when attached to the injection device, covers a portion of the injection device, which portion is typically characteristic of the injection device and / or the medicament located therein.

[0018] A portion of the injection device covered by the additional device and / or provided with a user-perceptible identification of the injection device may be effectively transferred to the additional device, such that after the additional device is attached to the injection device, the corresponding user-perceptible device identification (e.g. indicating characteristics of the injection device and / or properties of a medicament located therein) is perceptible to a user of the injection device equipped with the additional device and remains perceptible to the user.

[0019] According to another example, the attachment device includes at least one of a reader and a transceiver, which are coupled to the processor and are operable to read or obtain a machine-readable identification of the injection device. The transceiver may be operable to read or obtain the machine-readable identification directly when or before the attachment device is attached to the injection device. The reader may be implemented as an optical reader. The machine-readable identification may be physically disposed on a portion of the housing of the injection device. The machine-readable identification may include a machine-readable code, such as an optical code, such as a barcode or a data matrix code. Here, the reader of the attachment device may include an imaging system, such as a camera operable to read, for example, an optical code of the machine-readable identification.

[0020] For further example, the machine-readable identification may include a wireless communication device, such as a wireless communication chip.The machine-readable identification may include at least one of an active or passive RFID or NFC chip or tag operable to communicate with a transceiver of an attached device.

[0021] In this way, the electronic module can be configured to automatically establish or build a communication link between the transceiver and a machine-readable identification disposed on or in the injection device, thereby identifying the injection device and / or its characteristics. Based on the machine-readable identification read or obtained from the injection device and transmitted by the transceiver of the additional device to the processor of the electronic module of the additional device, the processor can appropriately process the obtained information and can further be operable to configure or reconfigure the device identification.

[0022] The device identifier is operable to generate a user-perceivable identifier indicative of a machine-readable identifier of the injection device. For another example, the reader or transceiver of the additional device is operable to indirectly obtain the machine-readable identifier of the injection device. Here, the reader or transceiver of the additional device may be operable to communicate with an external electronic device (such as a portable electronic device). The external electronic device may be operable to read or obtain the machine-readable identifier of the injection device, and may further be operable to forward or exchange the information to the additional device. Therefore, the additional device may indirectly obtain the machine-readable identifier of the injection device via a communication link (e.g., a wireless communication link with an external electronic device (such as a smart phone or smart watch)).

[0023] According to another example, at least one of the reader and the transceiver comprises a wireless near-field transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate with the machine-readable identification of the injection device in order to read or obtain information or data provided by or in the machine-readable identification of the injection device. Here, the machine-readable identification may be implemented as a near-field communication chip, such as an NFC chip or an NFC tag. The transceiver or reader of the additional device may be implemented accordingly. It may be implemented as an NFC reader operable to communicate with an NFC chip or an NFC tag of the injection device providing the machine-readable identification.

[0024] Once the wireless near-field transceiver of the additional device comes within a predefined short-range distance of the machine-readable identification of the injection device, appropriate pairing between the machine-readable identification of the injection device and the reader or transceiver of the additional device can be automatically triggered. For some examples, the additional device can be attached to the proximal end of the injection device, for example to the dial extension and / or to at least one of the dose dial and the trigger. Here, the machine-readable identification of the injection device, in particular the short-range identification label, can be arranged in or on the proximal end of the injection device. It can be arranged on or in the proximal face of the trigger or trigger button of the injection device.

[0025] For some examples, the attachment includes a receiving portion for receiving a portion (eg, the proximal end of the injection device). Thus, when the attachment is properly attached to the proximal end of the injection device, the machine-readable mark can be located inside the receiving portion of the attachment.

[0026] By providing the attachment with a wireless near field transceiver and by having a corresponding short range machine readable identification on or in the injection device, a substantially fail-safe interconnection between the injection device and the attachment may be provided only and exclusively when the attachment is within a predefined spatial range of the injection device.

[0027] For some examples, and for a short-range transceiver of the additional device, establishing or setting up a communication link between the machine-readable identification and the wireless near-field transceiver of the additional device may require a distance of less than 5 cm, less than 2 cm, less than 1 cm or even less than 0.5 cm. In this way, it can be provided that it is only possible to read the machine-readable identification of the injection device when the additional device with its device body is properly fastened to the dedicated part of the injection device. Only after the additional device is correctly mounted to the injection device can the machine-readable identification be properly extracted and processed by the electronic module of the additional device for configuring or reconfiguring the user-perceivable device identification of the additional device.

[0028] According to another example, at least one of the reader and the transceiver comprises a wireless local range transceiver. The wireless local range transceiver is operable to wirelessly communicate with an external electronic device to receive a machine-readable identification of the injection device from or via the external electronic device. Here, the external electronic device (e.g. implemented as a smart phone) may be operable to read the machine-readable identification of the injection device and forward the corresponding identification, and thus the corresponding information content, to the additional device via the local range transceiver. The local range transceiver may use a communication protocol different from the communication protocol of the near-field transceiver. Typically, the wireless local range transceiver comprises a transmission range that is larger than the transmission range of the wireless near-field transceiver. Typically, the wireless local range transceiver may be implemented as a Bluetooth transceiver, a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver (BLE) or a Wi-Fi transceiver.

[0029] In this way, the wireless local range transceiver may be used or may be adapted to read out the machine-readable identification of the injection device, for example indirectly via a communication link with the external electronic device. The wireless local range transceiver of the additional device may further be operable to communicate with the external electronic device, for example to synchronize or exchange data between the additional device and the external electronic device. It may in particular be configured to transmit data measured by the additional device to the external electronic device for further processing.

[0030] The additional device may also include a sensor or sensor assembly operable to detect or collect data indicative of the operation of the injection device. The sensor may be operable to track or measure the movement or configuration of a feature of the injection device during its use. Data indicative of the operation of the injection device and collected or collected by the sensor (such as injection data) may be transmitted to an external electronic device via a transceiver. The transceiver may be implemented as a Bluetooth transceiver or a BLE transceiver.

[0031] The electronic module and thus the additional device comprises a memory configured to store a plurality of measurements of the sensor. The electronic module and thus the additional device further comprises a clock configured to provide a time index to each of the plurality of measurements of the sensor, the time index indicating a detection time point and / or date of a corresponding operation of the injection device 1.

[0032] For some examples, the sensor further includes an acceleration sensor configured to detect an injection operation of the injection device 1 and / or detect or classify a user's gesture when using the sensor and / or the injection device 1. For example, and when the injection device is implemented as an auto-injector, the acceleration sensor can detect the acceleration of the needle of the auto-injector when performing a dispensing or injection procedure.

[0033] The sensor may further comprise a position sensor which may be operable to detect the position or orientation of a dedicated component of a drive mechanism of the injection device. The position sensor may be operable to detect, for example, the position of a last dose nut, a piston rod or the like of the drive mechanism, which position indicates the amount of medicament located in the medicament container.

[0034] Additionally and for a further example, the electronic module and / or the sensor may comprise a microphone by which a characteristic clicking noise of the injection device may be detected and processed, thereby allowing the size of the dose currently set or injected by the injection device to be derived or measured.

[0035] In addition, the external electronic device can be wirelessly connected to the additional device in order to configure the additional device and / or to provide the user with extended operability or functionality of the additional device. A dialog function between the additional device and the external electronic device can be further provided, for example via a wireless local range transceiver. Through the dialog function, the user can configure or reconfigure any setting or configuration of the additional device via the external electronic device.

[0036] For some examples, the attachment device includes both a wireless near-field transceiver and a wireless local range transceiver. Here, the attachment device may be operable to obtain and / or read the machine-readable identification of the injection device, for example, indirectly via or through the wireless near-field transceiver. Through the wireless local range transceiver, the attachment device may communicate with an external electronic device (such as a portable and / or mobile electronic device). Here, the electronic device is operable to read the machine-readable identification of the injection device. The corresponding information may then be transmitted to the attachment device, for example, via a communication link between the attachment device and the external electronic device.

[0037] In this way, the attachment is operable to autonomously read or obtain the machine-readable identification from the injection device. Furthermore, the attachment is operable to communicate with the external electronic device, even if the external electronic device is only indirectly close to the injection device or the attachment. Typically, the local range transceiver includes a transmission range within a few meters.

[0038] According to another example, the device identification in the first configuration represents a first identifier indicating a first machine-readable identification. The device identification in the second configuration represents a second identifier indicating a second machine-readable identification. The first identifier and the second identifier are perceptibly distinguishable from each other. In this way and when the attachment is fastened or attached to a first injection device equipped with a first machine-readable identification, the device identification of the attachment provides or represents the first identifier. Removing the attachment and reattaching the attachment to another injection device, for example, to a second injection device equipped with a second machine-readable identification distinguishable from the first machine-readable identification provides a fairly automated reconfiguration of the device identification perceptible to the user of the attachment. Then, and in the process of attaching the attachment to the second injection device, the device identification of the attachment is operated or operable to generate and / or provide a second identifier that is perceptibly distinguishable from the first identifier.

[0039] In this way, the attachment device with its reconfigurable and user-perceptible device identification may be individually and appropriately adapted to the injection device to which it is temporarily attached.

[0040] According to another example, the device identification includes an electronic signal generator controlled or operable by the processor. The electronic signal generator is operable to generate an electronic signal perceptible to a user. The electronic signal generator is particularly operated by the processor based on a machine-readable identification obtained or read by a reader or transceiver of the attached device and provided to the processor via the reader or transceiver of the attached device.

[0041] According to a further example, the electronic signal generator may be operable to generate at least one of a visual, acoustic and tactile device identification and / or to thereby generate a corresponding identifier of a visual, acoustic and / or tactile type.

[0042] For some examples, where the electronic signal generator is operable to generate at least a visual device identification or corresponding identifier, various device identifications or various identifiers can be distinguished by at least one of color, brightness and / or time change (e.g., in the form of a flashing light or a strobe light).

[0043] When the electronic signal generator is implemented to generate acoustic signals, these signals can be distinguished by at least one of frequency, volume and time variation. When implemented as a tactile device marker or tactile marker, the electronic signal generator can typically be implemented as a vibration generator, which is, for example, operable to generate vibration signals that are distinguished in intensity, vibration frequency and / or by their time variation.

[0044] Any user-perceivable device identification or corresponding identifier that can be generated by the electronic signal generator can be a feature of a specific machine-readable identifier of the additional device. For example, and for different types of medicaments, different types of machine-readable identifiers can be provided on or in the injection device. For each of these different medicaments, a unique device identification and / or corresponding identifier that is distinguished by its color can be provided. For some examples, the electronic signal generator includes at least a first and a second light source, wherein the first and second light sources are operable to emit light of different colors and / or frequencies.

[0045] According to a further example, the electronic signal generator comprises at least two light sources of different colors to generate a device identification that is distinguishable with respect to its color or a generated device identification.

[0046] The electronic signal generator may further include a light guide or lighting surface optically coupled to the first and second light sources. Now and in order to provide different user-perceivable device identifications and / or to provide different identifiers to the signal generator, only one of the first and second light sources or the other of the first or second light sources may be activated to provide identifiers of different colors and / or user-perceivable device identifications. By activating two light sources, a mixed color may be provided and therefore a third color may be provided, which represents a third identifier distinguished from the color of the first and second light sources.

[0047] By increasing the number of light sources, a variety of user-perceivable device identifications or corresponding identification objects coded with different colors can be provided.

[0048] In the same way, corresponding acoustic signals may be provided, such as characteristic sounds or vibrations associated with the characteristics of different injection devices and / or different medicaments to be injected with such devices. In the same way, characteristic tactile signals may be generated by a vibration generator. For acoustic and tactile device identification, characteristic coding of additional devices may be provided, for example, by generating characteristic sounds characterized by corresponding acoustic or tactile signals of varying duration and / or amplitude.

[0049] For some examples, the electronic signal generator can be activated anonymously, such as when the attachment switches from a sleep mode to an activated mode. In this way, and each time the user intends to use the injection device equipped with the attachment, a corresponding user-perceivable device identification will be generated or refreshed and provided to the user.

[0050] For some examples, and when generation of the identifier or user-perceptible device identifier consumes power, the electronic signal generator may automatically shut down or may transition to a sleep mode, such as after a predefined time interval has passed since the attachment was last used.

[0051] According to another example, the additional device includes an electronic display coupled to the processor and operable to display a device identification. Here, the electronic display may include a display segment that may be reconfigured to provide or serve as a user-perceivable device identification. Here, the user-perceivable device identification may be provided by the electronic display of the device. Here, the background color of the electronic display may represent a machine-readable identification of the injection device.

[0052] For other examples, the specific or characteristic display segment may represent a user-perceivable device identification. For example, and when the user-perceivable device identification is provided in a characteristic color, information generally provided on or by the electronic display may be reproduced in this specific color code, or information content provided on the electronic display may be framed by a characteristic color code of a medicament or injection device encoded by its machine-readable identification.

[0053] For another example, it is conceivable that the electronic display includes an electrophoretic display that exhibits particularly low power consumption, particularly when the additional device is not in use. Such an electronic display can continuously or permanently represent or provide a user-perceivable device identification, for example in the form of a specific color and / or in the form of a characteristic pattern or graphic on the electronic display.

[0054] According to another example, the device identification can be continuously and / or permanently perceived from outside the attachment. The device identification and / or corresponding identifier can be continuously and permanently retained on the attachment until it is reconfigured by the processor of the electronic module, for example during the process of removing the attachment and reattaching it to another injection device.

[0055] For some examples, the electronic module, and in particular the processor thereof, may be configured to configure or reconfigure the device identification upon detecting the machine-readable identification of the injection device (eg, during assembly or attachment of the additional device to the injection device).

[0056] In a further example, the electronic module and / or the processor may be operable to deactivate the device identification upon loss of contact with the machine-readable identification of the injection device (e.g., during detachment of the attachment from the injection device). Thus, in an initial configuration, the user-perceivable device identification may be deactivated or may represent a neutral identification without an identifier to be mapped to a specific injection device. The machine-readable identification of the injection device may then be read only and exclusively after establishing a connection or attachment of the attachment to the injection device, and the processor of the electronic module of the attachment configures or reconfigures the user-perceivable device identification based on data obtained from the machine-readable identification of the injection device.

[0057] According to another example, the device identification is arranged on the device body or integrated into the device body. For some examples, the device identification may include a window located in the side wall of the device body. The window may cover an electronic signal generator that is operable to generate at least a visual device identification and / or a visual identifier. The user-perceivable device identification may include a light guide optically coupled to the light source or to multiple light sources of the electronic signal generator.

[0058] In use, the additional device, in particular a device logo arranged on or integrated into the device body, may illuminate in a characteristic color indicative of a specific injection device or medicament.

[0059] Integrating the device identification into the device body can provide a fairly stable and compact design of the additional device. Providing or integrating the device identification in or on the device body is also quite intuitive for the user to identify the characteristic device identification or identifier.

[0060] According to another example, the attachment includes a movable portion that can be operably coupled to a trigger of the injection device and can be moved relative to the device body. Here, the device identification is arranged on the movable portion or integrated into the movable portion. For some examples, the movable portion of the attachment can protrude from the proximal end of the device body. The movable portion can be implemented as a kind of auxiliary injection button or trigger button, which will be pressed and will move in a distal direction relative to the device body, so as to start or start the dispensing action of the injection device when the attachment is properly attached to the injection device.

[0061] When the movable part is operably coupled to the trigger of the injection device, a dispensing force applied to the movable part relative to the device body may initiate a corresponding movement of the trigger relative to the housing of the injection device, thereby initiating a dispensing operation of the injection device. By implementing a user-perceptible device identification in or on the movable part, a fairly clearly defined and easily perceptible indication may be provided to the user of the particular type of injection device to which the additional device is attached.

[0062] For some examples, the movable part comprises a window, a transparent part or a partially transparent and therefore translucent part, through which the perceptible signal of the electronic signal generator is perceptible, e.g. visible. For other examples, the entire movable part may be made of a transparent or translucent material, e.g. a translucent plastic material. In combination with the electronic signal generator comprising at least one or several light sources, the movable part may comprise or constitute a signaling device configured to visually indicate a machine-readable identification of the injection device.

[0063] For some examples and in a first configuration of device identification, the movable portion of the attached device may be illuminated in a first color (eg, red). For another configuration of user-perceivable device identification, the movable portion may be illuminated in a different color (eg, green).

[0064] In a further example, the electronic signal generator may be operable to generate a visible signal defined by a sequence of light pulses or illumination pulses. The electronic signal generator, in particular its light source, may be operable to generate a coded sequence or a characteristic sequence of light pulses or illumination pulses that may be visible at the proximal end of the attachment, for example at or in the movable part.

[0065] By implementing the movable part as a transparent or translucent component of the attachment, a user-perceivable device identification can be integrated into the attachment quite easily. Thus, an existing component of the attachment originally intended for operating the attachment can be provided with a second function, i.e. with a signalling or identification function. Furthermore, the attachment provided with the movable part implemented as a signalling device provides a quite attractive design and improves the intuitive handling of the attachment, in particular when coupled with an injection device. In this way, the user appeal and user acceptance associated with the attachment can be further enhanced.

[0066] In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to an injection system. The injection system includes an injection device for setting and injecting a dose of a medicament. The injection device includes a machine-readable identification. The machine-readable identification indicates one of the type of the injection device and the type of the medicament. The injection system further includes an additional device as described above that can be detachably attached to the injection device. The machine-readable identification can be arranged on or in the housing of the injection device. The machine-readable identification can include one of an optical or visible identification and an electronically readable identification. The electronically readable identification can include a communication chip, such as an RFID or NFC tag. The machine-readable identification can be implemented as a passive or active electronic component, respectively without a power supply or equipped with its own power supply.

[0067] When implemented as a passive electronic component, the machine-readable identifier is operable to draw or obtain power from an interrogating RF field provided, for example, by a reader or transceiver of the attachment device. The electronic machine-readable identifier may be operable to communicate with a reader or transceiver of the attachment device to transmit identification information of the injection device to the attachment device.

[0068] For some examples, the injection device includes a primary medicament container, for example in the form of a syringe or in the form of a cartridge. The syringe or cartridge typically includes a tubular barrel that is sealed in the proximal direction by a movable stopper. The movable stopper will be pushed or pushed in the distal direction, for example, by a piston rod of a drive mechanism of the injection device. In this way, a dose of medicament or multiple doses of medicament can be dispensed through the distal outlet of the primary medicament container.

[0069] For some examples, the machine-readable identification is disposed on or in the primary medicament container. It may be disposed in or on a label attached to the outer surface of the barrel of the cartridge or syringe.

[0070] For another example, the machine-readable identification can be arranged on or in the stopper of the medicament container. For another example, the machine-readable identification is arranged on the outer surface of the housing of the injection device. In this way, the machine-readable identification can include a visible code, such as a bar code or a matrix code. Here, the machine-readable identification can be identified by or via an imaging system such as an external electronic device. The external electronic device (for example, implemented as a smart phone, a smart watch or a tablet computer) can be further operable to pair with an additional device. In this way, the configuration or reconfiguration of the additional device can be performed based on the machine-readable identification, which is collected or obtained by the external electronic device and transmitted to the additional device via a separate communication link between the additional device and the external electronic device.

[0071] In another example, the injection device includes a dose dial and a trigger, for example, disposed at a longitudinal proximal end of the injection device. The injection device may be implemented as a pen-type injector. The dose dial and / or the trigger may be disposed at a longitudinal proximal end of the pen-type injector. Here, a machine-readable mark may be provided in or on the dose dial and / or the trigger. The attachment may be configured to be releasably or detachably fastened to the proximal end of the injection device.

[0072] The additional device, in particular the device body thereof, may comprise a receiving portion for mounting on a dose dial and / or a trigger. By implementing or arranging the machine-readable identification in or on the trigger or the dose dial, the geometric distance between the machine-readable identification and a reader or transceiver of the additional device for reading out the machine-readable identification can be reduced to a minimum, thereby allowing the transceiver or reader of the additional device to be implemented as a wireless near-field transceiver operable to read a corresponding near-field communication tag of the machine-readable identification of the device. In this way, the reading out of the machine-readable identification can only occur when the additional device is correctly mounted to the proximal end of the injection device.

[0073] According to another example, the injection system includes an external electronic device, for example implemented as a smart phone, a smart watch or a tablet computer. The external electronic device is operable to read a machine-readable identification of the injection device. The external electronic device is further operable to transmit the identification of the injection device to an additional device.

[0074] Thus, the attachment may not have its own reader or transceiver operable to read the machine-readable identification of the injection device. Rather, it may be sufficient when the attachment is only equipped with a transceiver, such as a wireless local range transceiver operable to communicate wirelessly with the external electronic device. Reading of the machine-readable identification of the injection device may then be provided and performed by the external electronic device, which when properly paired with the attachment is operable to provide the identification information of the injection device to the attachment, which may then perform configuration or reconfiguration of the user-perceivable device identification.

[0075] For this example, the machine-readable identification of the injection device can be implemented in a variety of different ways. Here, the machine-readable identification can be implemented as a physical or optical code that can be read or recognized by an imaging system of an external electronic device.

[0076] For further examples, the machine-readable identification includes one of a mechanical code or a mechanical encoding that can be read or detected by the attachment device during attachment of the attachment to the injection device.

[0077] For further example, the machine-readable identification includes a magnetic code or magnetic encoding that can be read or detected by the attachment device during attachment of the attachment device to the injection device.

[0078] For further examples, the machine-readable identification includes an electrical or electrostatic code or corresponding encoding that can be read or detected by the attachment device during attachment of the attachment to the injection device.

[0079] According to another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for configuring an additional device. The method includes the step of providing an injection device, wherein the injection device includes a machine-readable identification. The machine-readable identification includes characteristic information of the injection device and / or a medicament to be dispensed by the injection device. In a further step, an additional device as described above is provided. The additional device is configured to be removably fastened or removably connected to the injection device. Before, during or after attaching the additional device to the injection device, the machine-readable identification is read or collected. In a further step, a user-perceivable device identification of the additional device is configured or reconfigured based on the machine-readable identification.

[0080] For some examples, the reading of the machine-readable identification is performed by the additional device itself. To this end, the machine-readable identification may include a wireless short-range communication tag, such as an NFC tag, and the additional device may include a corresponding wireless near-field transceiver or near-field reader operable to read out the information of the machine-readable identification.

[0081] For other examples, the attachment device is operable to communicate with an external electronic device. Here, the attachment device can be paired with the external electronic device and establish a communication link with the external electronic device, which communication link is operable to transfer data between the attachment device and the external electronic device. For this example, the reading of the machine-readable identification can be performed by the external electronic device. The information about the injection device and / or about the medicament obtained by reading the machine-readable identification can then be transmitted from the external electronic device to the attachment device, which in turn can reconfigure the user-perceivable device identification according to the machine-readable identification.

[0082] Typically, the method of configuring an additional device utilizes the additional device as described above. In this regard, all features, effects and benefits described above in conjunction with the additional device are also applicable to the method of configuring the additional device; and vice versa.

[0083] For further aspects, the present disclosure also relates to a computer program comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of an attachment device, cause the processor to reconfigure a user-perceivable device identification of the attachment device based on a machine-readable identification of an injection device.

[0084] Typically, the computer program is executable by an additional device as described above. The computer program is further operable to perform a method of configuring an additional device as described above. In this regard, the computer program and its computer readable instructions are operable to cause a processor of the additional device to perform a method of configuring an additional device as described above. The computer readable instructions may be executed by a processor of the additional device as described above.

[0085] Additionally or alternatively and when the external electronic device of the injection system as described above is configured to read the machine-readable identification of the injection device, the computer program and its computer-readable instructions may be at least partially executed by a processor of the external electronic device.

[0086] The computer program will be executed by a processor of the attachment as described above, so as to perform the method of configuring the attachment as described above. In this regard, all features, effects and benefits as described above in conjunction with the attachment and / or in conjunction with the method of configuring the attachment, as well as any effects, features and benefits as described above in conjunction with the injection system, also apply to the computer program; and vice versa.

[0087] The present disclosure further discloses and proposes a computer program, which includes computer executable instructions for implementing the method according to the method / device / system disclosed in one or more examples contained herein when the program is executed on a processor, a computer or a computer network. In particular, the computer program can be stored on a computer-readable data carrier. Thus, in particular, one, more than one or even all of the method steps indicated above can be performed by using a computer or a computer network (typically by using a computer program).

[0088] The present disclosure further discloses and proposes a computer program product with program code means, so that when the program is executed on a computer or a computer network, the method / system disclosed in one or more embodiments contained herein is implemented. Specifically, the program code means can be stored on a computer readable data carrier.

[0089] Furthermore, the present disclosure discloses and proposes a data carrier having a data structure stored thereon, which, after being loaded into a processor, a computer or a computer network, such as loaded into a working memory or a main memory of the processor, the computer or the computer network, can execute a method according to one or more examples disclosed herein.

[0090] The present disclosure further proposes and discloses a computer program product having a program code device stored on a machine-readable carrier, so that when the program is executed on a processor, a computer or a computer network, the method or part thereof according to one or more examples disclosed herein is implemented. As used herein, the computer program product refers to the program as a tradable product. The product can generally exist in any format (such as paper format) or on a computer-readable data carrier. Specifically, the computer program product can be distributed on a data network.

[0091] For another example, a modulated data signal is proposed and disclosed in the present disclosure, and the modulated data signal contains instructions that can be read by a processor, a computer system, or a computer network, which are used to implement at least a portion of the method according to one or more examples disclosed herein. Preferably, with reference to the computer-implemented aspects of the present disclosure, one or more method steps or even all method steps of the method according to one or more examples disclosed herein can be implemented by using a processor, a computer, or a computer network. Therefore, generally, any method step including collecting, providing and / or manipulating data can be performed by using a processor, a computer, or a computer network. Generally, these method steps can include any method steps, typically except for method steps that require manual work, such as providing samples and / or performing certain aspects of actual measurement.

[0092] Specifically, the present disclosure further discloses a computer or computer network, which includes: at least one processor, wherein the processor is suitable for executing a method according to one of the examples described in this specification; a computer-loadable data structure, which is suitable for executing a method according to one of the examples described in this specification when the data structure is executed on a processor or a computer; and a computer program, wherein the computer program is suitable for executing a method according to one of the embodiments described in this specification when the program is executed on a computer.

[0093] Generally, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the content of the claims. The present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments or examples, but includes any combination of elements of different embodiments or examples. In this case, the present disclosure covers any combination of claims and any technically feasible combination of features disclosed in combination with different examples or embodiments.

[0094] In this context, the term "distal" or "distal end" refers to the end of the injection device that faces the injection site of a human or animal. The term "proximal" or "proximal end" refers to the opposite end of the injection device that is farthest from the injection site of a human or animal.

[0095] The terms "drug" or "medicament" are used synonymously herein and describe a pharmaceutical preparation comprising one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In the broadest sense, an active pharmaceutical ingredient ("API") is a chemical structure that has a biological effect on humans or animals. In pharmacology, a drug or medicament is used to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose disease or to otherwise enhance physical or mental health. A drug or medicament may be used for a limited duration, or periodically for a chronic disorder.

[0096] As described below, a drug or medicament may include at least one API or a combination thereof in different types of formulations for treating one or more diseases. Examples of APIs may include small molecules (having a molecular weight of 500 Da or less); polypeptides, peptides, and proteins (e.g., hormones, growth factors, antibodies, antibody fragments, and enzymes); carbohydrates and polysaccharides; and nucleic acids, double-stranded or single-stranded DNA (including naked and cDNA), RNA, antisense nucleic acids (such as antisense DNA and RNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), ribozymes, genes, and oligonucleotides. Nucleic acids may be incorporated into molecular delivery systems (such as vectors, plasmids, or liposomes). Mixtures of one or more drugs are also contemplated.

[0097] The drug or medicament can be included in a primary package or "drug container" suitable for use with a drug delivery device. The drug container can be, for example, a cartridge, a syringe, a reservoir or other solid or flexible vessel, which is configured to provide a suitable chamber for storing (for example, short-term or long-term storage) one or more drugs. For example, in some cases, the chamber can be designed to store the drug for at least one day (for example, 1 day to at least 30 days). In some cases, the chamber can be designed to store the drug for about 1 month to about 2 years. It can be stored at room temperature (for example, about 20 ° C) or refrigerated temperature (for example, about -4 ° C to about 4 ° C). In some cases, the drug container can be or can include a dual-chamber cartridge, which is configured to store two or more components (for example, API and diluent, or two different drugs) of the pharmaceutical preparation to be applied separately, and one is stored in each chamber. In such a case, the two chambers of the dual-chamber cartridge can be configured to allow mixing between two or more components before and / or during distribution to the human body or animal body. For example, the two chambers may be configured so that they are in fluid communication with each other (e.g., via a conduit between the two chambers) and allow the user to mix the two components if desired prior to dispensing. Alternatively or additionally, the two chambers may be configured to allow mixing when dispensing the components into a human or animal body.

[0098] The drugs or medicaments contained in the drug delivery devices as described herein can be used to treat and / or prevent many different types of medical disorders. Examples of disorders include, for example, diabetes or complications associated with diabetes (such as diabetic retinopathy), thromboembolic disorders (such as deep vein or pulmonary thromboembolism). Further examples of disorders are acute coronary syndrome (ACS), angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, tumors, macular degeneration, inflammation, hay fever, atherosclerosis and / or rheumatoid arthritis. Examples of APIs and drugs are examples as described in the following manuals: such as Rote Liste 2014 (for example, but not limited to, main group 12 (antidiabetic drugs) or 86 (oncology drugs)) and Merck Index, 15th edition.

[0099] Examples of APIs for treating and / or preventing type 1 or type 2 diabetes or complications associated with type 1 or type 2 diabetes include insulin (e.g., human insulin, or human insulin analogs or derivatives); glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), GLP-1 analogs or GLP-1 receptor agonists, or analogs or derivatives thereof; dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof; or any mixtures thereof. As used herein, the terms "analogs" and "derivatives" refer to polypeptides having a molecular structure that can be formally derived from the structure of a naturally occurring peptide (e.g., the structure of human insulin) by deleting and / or exchanging at least one amino acid residue present in a naturally occurring peptide and / or by adding at least one amino acid residue. The added and / or exchanged amino acid residues can be codable amino acid residues or other naturally occurring residues or purely synthetic amino acid residues. Insulin analogs are also referred to as "insulin receptor ligands." In particular, the term "derivative" refers to a polypeptide having a molecular structure that is formally derived from the structure of a naturally occurring peptide (e.g., the structure of human insulin), wherein one or more organic substituents (e.g., fatty acids) are bound to one or more amino acids. Alternatively, one or more amino acids present in the naturally occurring peptide may have been deleted and / or replaced by other amino acids (including non-encodable amino acids), or amino acids (including non-encodable amino acids) have been added to the naturally occurring peptide.

[0100] Examples of insulin analogs are Gly(A21), Arg(B31), Arg(B32) human insulin (insulin glargine); Lys(B3), Glu(B29) human insulin (insulin glulisine); Lys(B28), Pro(B29) human insulin (insulin lispro); Asp(B28) human insulin (insulin aspart); human insulin in which the proline at position B28 is replaced by Asp, Lys, Leu, Val or Ala and in which the Lys at position B29 may be replaced by Pro; Ala(B26) human insulin; Des(B28-B30) human insulin; Des(B27) human insulin and Des(B30) human insulin.

[0101] Examples of insulin derivatives are, for example, B29-N-myristoyl-des(B30) human insulin, Lys(B29)(N-tetradecanoyl)-des(B30) human insulin (insulin detemir, ); B29-N-palmitoyl-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-myristoyl human insulin; B29-N-palmitoyl human insulin; B28-N-myristoylLysB28ProB29 human insulin; B28-N-palmitoyl-LysB28ProB29 human insulin; B30-N-myristoyl-ThrB29LysB30 human insulin; B30-N-palmitoyl-ThrB29LysB30 human insulin; B29-N-(N-palmitoyl-γ-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin, B29-N-ω-carboxypentadecanoyl-γ-L-glutamyl-des(B30) human insulin (degludec insulin, ); B29-N-(N-lithocholyl-γ-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-(ω-carboxyheptadecanoyl)-des(B30) human insulin and B29-N-(ω-carboxyheptadecanoyl) human insulin.

[0102] Examples of GLP-1, GLP-1 analogs and GLP-1 receptor agonists are e.g. lixisenatide Exendin-4 A 39-amino acid peptide produced by the salivary glands of the Gila monster), liraglutide Semaglutide, tasmoglutide, albiglutide Dulaglutide rExendin-4, CJC-1134-PC, PB-1023, TTP-054, Langlenatide / HM-11260C (Efpeglenatide), HM-15211, CM-3, GLP-1Eligen, ORMD-0901, NN-9423, NN-9709, NN-9924 , NN-9926, NN-9927, Nodexen, Viador-GLP-1, CVX-096, ZYOG-1, ZYD-1, GSK-2374697, DA- 3091, MAR-701, MAR709, ZP-2929, ZP-3022, ZP-DI-70, TT-401 (Pegapamodtide), BHM-034. MOD-6030, CAM-2036, DA-15864, ARI-2651, ARI-2255, Telportide (LY3298176), Bamadutide (SAR425899), Exenatide-XTEN, and Glucagon-Xten.

[0103] Examples of oligonucleotides are: A cholesterol-lowering antisense therapeutic for the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia, or RG012 for the treatment of Alport syndrome. Examples of DPP4 inhibitors are linagliptin, vildagliptin, sitagliptin, denagliptin, saxagliptin, berberine.

[0104] Examples of hormones include pituitary hormones or hypothalamic hormones or regulatory activity peptides and their antagonists, such as gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, chorionic gonadotropin, tocopherol), growth hormone (somatropin), desmopressin, terlipressin, gonadorelin, triptorelin, leuprorelin, buserelin, nafarelin and goserelin.

[0105] Examples of polysaccharides include glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, heparin, low molecular weight heparin or ultra low molecular weight heparin or derivatives thereof, or sulfated polysaccharides (e.g., polysulfated forms of the above polysaccharides), and / or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. An example of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a polysulfated low molecular weight heparin is enoxaparin sodium. An example of a hyaluronic acid derivative is Hylan GF 20 A sodium hyaluronate.

[0106] As used herein, the term "antibody" refers to an immunoglobulin molecule or an antigen binding portion thereof. Examples of antigen binding portions of immunoglobulin molecules include F (ab) and F (ab') 2 fragments, which retain the ability to bind antigens. The antibody can be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a recombinant antibody, a chimeric antibody, a deimmunized antibody or a humanized antibody, a fully human antibody, a non-human (e.g., mouse) antibody or a single-chain antibody. In some embodiments, the antibody has effector functions and can fix complement. In some embodiments, the ability of the antibody to bind to Fc receptors is reduced or there is no such ability. For example, the antibody can be an isotype or subtype, an antibody fragment or a mutant, which does not support binding to Fc receptors, for example, its Fc receptor binding region has been mutated or deleted. The term "antibody" also includes antigen binding molecules based on tetravalent bispecific tandem immunoglobulins (TBTI) and / or dual variable region antibody-like binding proteins with cross-binding region orientation (CODV).

[0107] The term "fragment" or "antibody fragment" refers to a polypeptide (e.g., antibody heavy chain and / or light chain polypeptide) derived from an antibody polypeptide molecule, which does not include a full-length antibody polypeptide, but still includes at least a portion of a full-length antibody polypeptide that can bind to an antigen. Antibody fragments may include cleavage portions of full-length antibody polypeptides, but the term is not limited to such cleavage fragments. Antibody fragments that can be used in the present invention include, for example, Fab fragments, F(ab')2 fragments, scFv (single-chain Fv) fragments, linear antibodies, monospecific or multispecific antibody fragments (such as bispecific, trispecific, tetraspecific and multispecific antibodies (e.g., diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies)), monovalent or multivalent antibody fragments (such as bivalent antibodies, trivalent antibodies, tetravalent antibodies and multivalent antibodies), mini antibodies, chelated recombinant antibodies, triabodies or biabodies, intracellular antibodies, nanobodies, small modular immunopharmaceuticals (SMIPs), binding domain immunoglobulin fusion proteins, camelized antibodies and antibodies containing VHH. Other examples of antigen-binding antibody fragments are known in the art.

[0108] The term "complementarity determining region" or "CDR" refers to short polypeptide sequences within the variable region of both heavy and light chain polypeptides that are primarily responsible for mediating specific antigen recognition. The term "framework region" refers to amino acid sequences within the variable region of both heavy and light chain polypeptides that are not CDR sequences and are primarily responsible for maintaining the correct positioning of the CDR sequences to allow antigen binding. Although the framework region itself is typically not directly involved in antigen binding as known in the art, certain residues within the framework region of certain antibodies may be directly involved in antigen binding or may affect the ability of one or more amino acids in the CDR to interact with the antigen.

[0109] Examples of antibodies are anti-PCSK-9 mAb (eg, alirocumab), anti-IL-6 mAb (eg, salilumab), and anti-IL-4 mAb (eg, dupilumab).

[0110] Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any API described herein are also contemplated for use in a drug or medicament in a drug delivery device. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are, for example, acid addition salts and basic salts.

[0111] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications (additions and / or removals) may be made to the various components, formulations, apparatuses, methods, systems and embodiments of the API described herein without departing from the overall scope and spirit of the invention, and that the invention encompasses such modifications and any and all equivalents thereof.

[0112] An example drug delivery device may involve a needle-based injection system as described in Table 1 of Section 5.2 of ISO 11608-1:2014(E). As described in ISO 11608-1:2014(E), needle-based injection systems can be broadly divided into multi-dose container systems and single-dose (partially or completely emptied) container systems. The container may be a replaceable container or an integral non-replaceable container.

[0113] As further described in ISO 11608-1:2014(E), a multiple-dose container system may involve a needle-based injection device with a replaceable container. In such a system, each container contains multiple doses, the sizes of which may be fixed or variable (pre-set by the user). Another multiple-dose container system may involve a needle-based injection device with an integral non-replaceable container. In such a system, each container contains multiple doses, the sizes of which may be fixed or variable (pre-set by the user).

[0114] As further described in ISO 11608-1:2014 (E), a single dose container system can relate to an injection device based on a needle with a replaceable container. In an example of such a system, each container holds a single dose, wherein the entire deliverable volume is discharged (completely emptied). In another example, each container holds a single dose, wherein a portion of the deliverable volume is discharged (partially emptied). Also as described in ISO 11608-1:2014 (E), a single dose container system can relate to an injection device based on a needle with an integral non-replaceable container. In an example of such a system, each container holds a single dose, wherein the entire deliverable volume is discharged (completely emptied). In another example, each container holds a single dose, wherein a portion of the deliverable volume is discharged (partially emptied). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0115] In the following, several examples of data recording devices for monitoring the use of injection devices and corresponding injection devices will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0116] Figure 1 An example of an injection device is schematically shown,

[0117] Figure 2 The process of assembling the additional device to the proximal end of the injection device is shown.

[0118] Figure 3 Three different configurations of an attachment device attached to the proximal end of an injection device are shown,

[0119] Figure 4 Three additional configurations of another example of an additional device attached to the proximal end of an injection device are shown,

[0120] Figure 5 An example of an injection system is shown,

[0121] Figure 6 Another example of an additional device when attached to an injection device is shown,

[0122] Figure 7 Three different examples of attachments are shown, each of which is shown in a first configuration and a second configuration, respectively,

[0123] Figure 8 shows a specific configuration of the external electronic device,

[0124] Fig. 9 shows the pairing between the additional device and the external electronic device,

[0125] Fig.10 The reading of the machine-readable identification of the injection device during the assembly of the attachment device to the injection device is shown,

[0126] Fig.11 shows the configuration of the external electronic device after successful mutual pairing between the attachment device, the injection device and the external electronic device,

[0127] Fig.12 An example of the operation of the attachment device when attached to the injection device is shown,

[0128] Fig.13 shows a further example of the operation of the attachment device when attached to the injection device,

[0129] Fig.14 A block diagram showing an attachment device, an injection device, and external electronics, and

[0130] Fig.15 A flow chart of a method of configuring an attachment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0131] Figure 1 An example of a drug delivery device 1 is shown, which is implemented as a handheld injection device. The injection device 1 may include or may be implemented as a pen-type injector. It may be implemented as a disposable injection device or a reusable injection device. In some examples, the injection device 1 is implemented as an autoinjector. The injection device 1 has an elongated shape. It may extend along a longitudinal direction. Towards the longitudinal distal direction 2, the drug delivery device 1 comprises a dispensing end for dispensing or injecting a medicament 24. Towards the proximal direction 3, the injection device 1 comprises at least one of a dose member 8 and a trigger 9, by which doses of equal size or individual or different sizes can be set and dispensed, respectively.

[0132] The injection device 1 comprises a housing 10. The housing 10 may comprise a plurality of housing components, such as a body 6 and a cartridge holder 7. The body 6 may be sized and configured to accommodate a drive mechanism 20. The cartridge holder 7 may be sized and configured to accommodate a medicament container 21, which may be implemented, for example, as a cartridge containing a liquid medicament 24. The medicament container 21 comprises a tubular barrel 22, which is sealed towards the distal end by a seal 23. The seal 23 may comprise a pierceable septum fixed to an outlet 25 of the medicament container 21. The interior of the barrel 22 is sealed towards the proximal end by a piston 18 or a stopper, which is slidably disposed within the barrel 22.

[0133] By advancing the piston 18 toward the distal direction 2, a dose of medicament 24 can be discharged from the medicament container 21. In use, the medicament container 21 is arranged inside the cartridge holder 7. The drive mechanism 20 of the injection device 1 includes a piston rod 19, which can be displaced in the distal direction 2 to advance the piston 18 toward the outlet 25 of the medicament container 21. The details of the drive mechanism are not further shown and described here. In some examples, the drive mechanism 20 can be implemented as a full mechanical drive mechanism, wherein the user must provide the piston rod 19 and therefore the piston 18 All the required dispensing forces are moved in the distal direction 2. For other examples, the drive mechanism includes a mechanical energy storage, which is configured to provide at least a portion of the dispensing force. Examples of drive mechanisms can be found in, for example, WO 2004 / 078241A1, WO 2014 / 033197 A1 or WO2014 / 033195 A1, and the entire contents of these documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0134] For some examples, such as in Figure 2 As described or shown in , the injection device 1 and therefore the drive mechanism 20 may include a dial extension 27 that projects and moves from the proximal end of the body 6 in the proximal direction 3 when or during setting a dose, and returns to its initial distal position during the dose injection procedure. To this end, the user can use the thumb 114 of his hand 110 to exert distally directed pressure on the trigger 9, thereby pushing the dial extension 27 in the distal direction 2 during the dose injection procedure.

[0135] In order to set or dial a dose, the user may, for example, twist or rotate the dose dial 8 in a dose incrementing direction 4, thus in a clockwise direction when viewed from the proximal end. In order to correct a previously set dose, the user may also rotate the dose dial 8 in an opposite dose decrementing direction 5. The size of the dose is typically displayed in a window 26 provided in or on the body 6 of the injection device 1. Before a dose of medicament 24 is injected, the distal end of the cartridge holder 7 must be connected to the needle assembly 12. To this end, the distal end of the cartridge holder 7 comprises a connector 11, for example in the form of a threaded interface, to engage with a complementary shaped threaded mating interface of the needle assembly 12.

[0136] The needle assembly 12 can be detachably or releasably fixed to the cartridge holder 7. It includes a double-pointed injection needle 13. The proximal end of the injection needle (not shown) is configured to enter the through opening at the distal end face of the connector 11 or the cartridge holder 7 so as to pierce or penetrate the seal 23 of the medicament container 21. The distal end of the injection needle 13 is usually covered by a detachable inner needle cap 14. The entire needle assembly 12 can be covered by a detachable outer needle cap 15.

[0137] The cartridge holder 7 and thus a part of the housing 10 will be received in a protective cap 16 which can be detachably connected to the cartridge holder 7 or the body 6 .

[0138] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 , an example of an attachment 30 configured for fastening to the proximal end of an injection device 1 is shown. The attachment 30 comprises a sensor 48 or sensor assembly operable to detect, identify, characterize and / or measure the operation of the injection device 1 .

[0139] like Figures 2 to 14 The additional device 30 shown in the figures in the figures can be detachably connected to the dose dial 8. It comprises a device body 60 having a tubular side wall 61. Towards the distal end, the side wall 61 defines a receiving portion 63, which is dimensioned to receive the dose dial 8 and the trigger 9 of the injection device 1. To this end, the inner side of the side wall 60 may include one or more fastening ribs 64, which are configured to provide a non-slip fastening of the additional device 30 to the dose dial 8.

[0140] The device body 60 comprises a receiving portion 63 at a distal section of the attachment 30. The receiving portion 63 is open towards the distal direction 2. It is sized and configured to be mounted on the proximal end of the injection device 1. The inner surface of the side wall 61 defining the receiving portion 63 comprises a plurality of fastening ribs 64, for example made of an elastic or elastically deformable material, such as an elastomeric material.

[0141] When the device body 60 is assembled onto the dose dial 8 of the injection device 1, the fastening rib 64 provides a friction fit with the dose dial 8. The receiving portion 63 may be defined in the longitudinal direction by a flange portion 62 protruding radially inwardly from the tubular sidewall 61 of the receiving portion 63. The flange portion 62 is located at a position proximally offset from the insertion opening of the receiving portion 63. The flange portion 62 may be annular in shape and may be configured to axially abut on a stepped section at the proximal end of the dose dial 8. Thus, when the attachment 30 is properly fastened to the dose dial 8, the trigger 9 comprising a reduced diameter compared to the dose dial 8 may protrude through the flange portion 62 in the proximal direction 3, while the flange portion 62 may rest or abut against the proximal end face of the dose dial 8.

[0142] The attachment 30 further comprises a movable portion 70 protruding in a proximal direction from the device body 60. The movable portion 70 comprises or forms an auxiliary trigger or a trigger button configured to mechanically engage with the trigger 9 of the injection device 1 when the attachment 30 is correctly assembled to the injection device 1.

[0143] Typically, the attachment 30, in particular the device body 60, frictionally engages with the dose dial 8. In this way, the user can apply a dose setting torque to the dose dial via the device body 60. Instead of rotating the dose dial 8 to set a dose, the user can simply rotate the device body 60 relative to the body 6 of the injection device 1. In this way, the dial extension 27 can undergo a dose increment dial or rotational movement. The corresponding size of the currently set dose will then be displayed in the window 26 of the body 6 of the injection device 1, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 shown.

[0144] To dispense a dose, the user has to depress the movable part 70, which can then move in the distal direction relative to the device body 60. The movable part 70, which can be directly or indirectly mechanically engaged with the trigger 9, can then exert a corresponding dispensing force on the trigger 9, thereby initiating a dose dispensing action of the injection device 1.

[0145] like Fig.14 The additional device 30 schematically shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic module 34. The electronic module 34 includes a printed circuit board 36. The electronic module 34 includes a processor 44, an electronic memory 40, and a clock 42. In addition, the electronic module 34 includes a power supply 46 and a sensor 48. The electronic module 34 also includes a signal generator 52 coupled to the processor 44 and / or coupled to the power supply 46. The electronic module 34 further includes a reader 37 and at least one of the wireless transceivers 38, 39. The additional device 30 also includes a device identifier 50 that is perceptible to a user.

[0146] For some examples, the device identifier 50 includes or comprises a signal generator 52 coupled to the processor 44 and operable or reconfigurable by the processor 44. For some examples, the device identifier 50 includes an electronic display 51 operable to visually display various identifiers 55 indicating the injection device 1 to which the attachment 30 is connected or coupled.

[0147] For some examples, the signal generator 52 is operable to generate at least one of a visual, acoustic, and tactile device identification, and thus produce or generate a visual marker, an acoustic marker, or a tactile marker or a corresponding alarm signal.

[0148] For some examples, the attachment 30 includes a plurality of signal generators 52. Here, a first signal generator may be operable to generate a visual device identification or visual identifier. Another electronic signal generator 52 may be operable to generate an acoustic identifier, and / or an additional signal generator 52 may be operable and configured to generate a tactile identifier.

[0149] for Figure 2 In an example, the signal generator 52 may include a speaker operable to generate an acoustic signal, wherein the acoustic signal represents or constitutes an identifier, for example in the form of an acoustic code or sequence indicating the injection device 1 or indicating the medication 24 located inside the medication container 21 of the injection device 1.

[0150] The electronic signal generator 52 is coupled to the processor 44 of the additional device 30 and in particular to the electronic module 34 of the additional device 30. The processor 44 is configured to generate different acoustic signals in cooperation with the signal generator 52 implemented as a speaker. Here, a first acoustic signal indicating a first injection device 1 or a medicament 24 and at least a second acoustic signal indicating another injection device 1 'or another medicament 24' may be generated. Thus, the first and second acoustic signals can be audibly distinguished by a user of the injection device 1.

[0151] for Figure 3 In the example of FIG. 5 , the movable portion 70 forms or constitutes a reconfigurable and user-perceivable device identifier 50. Figure 3 , three different configurations of the reconfigurable device identification 50 are shown. When or during the attachment of the attachment 30 to the first injection device 1, the attachment 30 is configured to read the machine-readable identification 28 of the injection device 1. The machine-readable identification 28 can be implemented as an electronic identification object 29, such as Fig.14 As shown, the machine-readable identification 28 of the injection device 1 may be configured to communicate with a suitable reader 37, for example with a short-range transceiver 38 of the attachment 30. The transceiver 38 may be operable to read the machine-readable identification 28 of the injection device 1.

[0152] The reader 37 or transceiver 38 is operably connected to the processor 44 and is thus operable to transmit data obtained from the machine-readable identification 28 to the processor 44. The processor 44 is in turn operable to process the machine-readable information obtained from the machine-readable identification 28 and is also operable to configure or reconfigure the user-perceivable device identification 50. Figure 3 In the example shown, the user-perceivable device identification 50 includes a signal generator 52, which is implemented, for example, as a light source operable to illuminate a movable portion 70. Here, the movable portion 70 may include at least one of a window or a transparent portion, through which the light signal generated by the light source of the electronic signal generator 52 becomes visible. Moreover, the entire movable portion protruding from the device body 60 may be a transparent or translucent material. It may include a frosted or translucent plastic material, thereby providing light diffusion when illuminated by a light source, for example. In this way, the movable portion can be evenly illuminated.

[0153] The configuration or reconfiguration of the user-perceivable device identification 50 is typically performed during the assembly of the attachment 30 to the injection device 1. Figure 3 In the example shown on the left, the attachment 30 is attached to a first injection device 1 equipped with a first machine-readable identification 28. The reader 37 or transceiver 38 of the attachment 30 is operable to read the machine-readable identification 28 indicating the type of injection device 1 or indicating the medicament 24 located inside the injection device 1. In response to the reading of the machine-readable identification 28, the processor 44 of the attachment 30 obtains characteristic information of the injection device 1 provided by the machine-readable identification 28. Then, in response to receiving the machine-readable identification data, the processor 44 is operable to reconfigure the user-perceivable device identification 50, which can then produce or generate a first identifier 55 that is visible at or through the movable part 70. For Figure 3 In the example shown, the movable portion 70 may be illuminated in a first color to form or constitute the first marker 55 .

[0154] exist Figure 3 In the middle illustration of , the additional device 30' is attached to another injection device 1' equipped with another machine-readable identification 28'. Therefore, and in response to the reading of the machine-readable identification 28', the processor 44 reconfigures the user-perceivable device identification 50, which then generates a second identification 55'. The second identification 55' can be distinguished from the first identification 55 by its color.

[0155] For Figure 3In another example shown on the right side of the figure, the additional device 30" is attached to another injection device 1", which is distinguished from the injection devices 1, 1' or from the medicament 24 located in the respective injection devices 1, 1'. Additionally or alternatively, the injection device 1" can be distinguished from the injection devices 1, 1' in terms of its operability.

[0156] The additional device 30" is configured to read the machine-readable identification 28" and reconfigure its user-perceivable device identification 5β, thereby generating a third identifier 55", which is distinguishable from the other identifiers 55, 55'. Similarly, the identifier 55" can be distinguished from the other identifiers 55, 55' by its color.

[0157] for Figure 4 In another example, a similar reconfiguration of the additional device 30 is implemented. Here, the additional device 30 includes a user-perceivable device logo 50, which is implemented as a transparent or translucent window 56, which is integrated into the side wall 61 of the device body 60. The window 56 can be arranged at or near the proximal end of the side wall 61. The window or window section 56 can include an annular shape. It can be made of a transparent or translucent, for example frosted and / or translucent plastic material, so as to, for example, include or form a light guide or light guide structure optically coupled to the electronic signal generator 52, which includes at least one or several light sources.

[0158] like Figure 4 As shown in the left part of FIG. 5 , when the additional device 30 is attached to the first injection device 1 , the user-perceivable device logo 50 and thus the window section 56 are operable to generate a first identifier 55 characterized by a first color.

[0159] In another configuration of the attachment 30', when the attachment 30 is attached to a different type of injection device 1' equipped with a different machine-readable mark 28', the user-perceivable device mark 50 is reconfigured. Thus, the window 56 forms or constitutes the second mark 55'. For example, the window 56 presents a second color.

[0160] When attaching the additional device 30 ″ to the further additional device 1 ″ and after reading out of the corresponding machine-readable modification 28 ″, the device identification 50 generates or produces a third identification 55 ″. Here, the window 56 exhibits a third color, which is distinguishable from the colors of the identifications 55 , 55 ′.

[0161] As in Figure 5As further shown in the example of the injection system 120 in FIG. 1 , the additional device 30 attached to the injection device 1 can be in a first configuration, so that a first identifier 55 is generated on or by the movable part 70. Here, the movable part 70 can be illuminated in a color substantially the same as the color of the label 17 of the body 6 of the injection device 1. The label 17 provided on the outer surface of the side wall of the body 6 can be distinguished from other devices simply by the color of the body 6. For other examples, the label 17 can be a printed label. The label 17 can represent the identification 28 of the injection device and thus represent the machine-readable identification 28, for example in the form of an optical or visual code.

[0162] For some examples and when the label 17 and thus the machine-readable identification 28 is the color of a portion of the housing of the injection device 1 , it may be beneficial to illuminate or render the user-perceivable device identification 50 of the supplemental device 30 in the same color as the label 17 .

[0163] For some examples, the machine-readable identifier 28 (eg, implemented as an electronic identifier that can be read by the reader 37 or short-range transceiver 38 of the attached device 30) may simply include a code representing the color of the tag 17. Figure 5 and Fig.14 As further shown in FIG. 1 , the injection system 120 includes an injection device 1 and an additional device 30 .

[0164] Optionally, the injection system 120 may further include an external electronic device 100. The external electronic device 100 includes a housing 101, such as Figure 8 As shown. The electronic device 100 can be implemented as a portable electronic device. It can include a smart phone, a smart watch, or a tablet computer. The external electronic device 100 typically includes a device processor 144 connected to the electronic device memory 140. The electronic device 100 further includes a device power supply 146. Moreover, the electronic device 100 includes a device display 151, which is typically implemented as a touch-sensitive display. The device display 151 can be operated to provide or simulate a device signal generator 152. Therefore, the device display 151 is operable to provide at least one of an illustration 153 and a notification 154 to the user.

[0165] For some examples, the external electronic device 100 is operable to generate a device identification 150 indicating the injection device 1 currently being used or currently connected to the attachment device 30. Fig.14 As particularly shown in FIG. 1 , the external electronic device 100 includes a device reader 137 and at least one of device transceivers 138 and 139. The device transceiver 138 may be implemented as a short-range wireless transceiver. The transceiver 139 may be implemented as a local range wireless transceiver.

[0166] The device transceiver 138 is operable to communicate with the transceiver 38 of the additional device. The transceiver 139 is configured to communicate with the transceiver 39 of the additional device 30. The reader 137 is operable to read a visual identifier provided on the injection device 1. For some examples, the device reader 137 includes an imaging system. It may include a camera objective and a spatially resolved detector to read or capture a visual code, which is provided, for example, on the outer surface of the injection device 1 or on the outer surface of the medication container 21.

[0167] The external device 100 is configured to establish a communication link, such as a wireless communication link with the additional device 30. To this end, the local range transceiver 39 of the additional device 30 can communicate wirelessly with the local range device transceiver 139 of the additional device 100. Once a communication link has been established between the electronic device 100 and the additional device 30, the electronic device 100 can be operable to visually display a device identification 150 on a device display 151. The device identification 150 as shown on the device display 151 can correspond to the device identification 50 or the identification 55 as rendered or provided by the additional device 30. For some examples, the color of the identification 55 as generated by the device identification 50 can correspond to or can be equal to the color of the device identification 150 as rendered on the display 151 of the external electronic device 100.

[0168] The electronic device 100 is typically implemented as a handheld electronic device. It can be held in the user's hand 110. For another example (not shown), the external electronic device 100 can be worn on the user's wrist 111. Figure 5 In the example shown, the electronic device 100 is held in the palm 112 of a user. The device display 151 is implemented as a touch-sensitive display and can be operated by the thumb 114 and / or individual fingers 116 of the hand 110 of the user.

[0169] exist Figure 6 and Figure 7 In FIG. 5 , another example of an additional device 30 is shown. The additional device 30 also includes a device body 60, which now includes its own display 51. Figure 6 and Figure 7 The additional device 30 shown in the figure comprises a fastener 65, for example in the form of a mounting piece configured to be attached to the distal end of the body 6 of the injection device 1. The additional device 30 can be installed in the interface between the cartridge holder 7 and the body 6 of the injection device 1. When the additional device 30 is properly attached to the injection device 1, the fastener 65 (for example in the form of a ring-shaped or clip-like mounting piece) is rigidly connected to the flat display 51 through a neck portion 66 protruding radially outwards from the side wall of the body 6. The display 51 has a rather flat shape and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the body 6.

[0170] for Figure 6 In the example of FIG. 1 , the user-perceivable device identification 50 is provided by an electronic display 51 of the additional device 30 . Here, the color of the display 51 , such as the background color of the display 51 , may indicate the machine-readable identification 28 of the injection device 1 .

[0171] like Figure 7 As shown and for the first example of the additional device 30, the entire display 51 can be configured to reproduce or generate the first identifier 55 or the second identifier 55'. The first identifier 55 and the second identifier 55' are distinguished from each other by their colors. Figure 1 The example of the additional device 30 reproduced on the left side of FIG. 5 , the identifiers 55 , 55 ′ are distinguished by their colors. Here, the machine-readable identifier can be reproduced on the display 51 by a change in the background color of the display 51 .

[0172] For Figure 7 54 '. In another example, the attachment 30 ' comprises a display 51 divided into different sections 53, 54. The first display section 53 is operable to visually display some injection device related parameters or can provide a readable notification to the user. The display section 54 represents a first identifier 55 or a second identifier 55 '. For the first identifier 55 of the attachment 30 ', the display section 54 is reproduced in a first color. For the second identifier 55 ' of the attachment 30 ', the display section 54 ' is reproduced in a second, therefore different, color.

[0173] For Figure 7 Another example of a reconfigurable display 51 shown on the right, the display 51 is divided into a first display segment 53 and a second display segment 54 surrounding the first display segment. The first display segment 53 is configured to visually display various device parameters of the injection device 1 and / or the additional device 30. The surrounding second display segment 54 is operable to generate or reproduce variable identifiers 55, 55'. For the additional device 30" and in the first configuration, the second display segment 54 is configured to generate the first identifier 55. Here, the second display segment 54 can be provided in a first color. For another configuration of the additional device 30", the identifier 55' changes. Here, the display segment 54' is illuminated, for example, in a color that is distinguished from the color of the display segment 54 of the additional device 30".

[0174] Figures 3 to 7The example of shows a reconfigurable user-perceivable device logo 50 operable to change its visual appearance. In the same or similar manner, the device logo 50 can be equipped with an electronic signal generator 52, which is implemented as a speaker or a vibration module, for example, by which a characteristic acoustic sequence or vibration sequence can be generated, which can be perceived by the user in a similar or similar manner compared to the changing visual appearance that can be distinguished by its color or can be distinguished by a visible pattern or similar visual representation.

[0175] like Fig. 9 As further shown in FIG. 1 , and when the attachment 30 is used with the injection device 1, the attachment 30 can be wirelessly paired with the external electronic device 100. Here, the wireless pairing routine can be executed or initiated by the external electronic device 100. As an example, the local range device transceiver 139 of the external electronic device 100 can establish a communication link with the local range transceiver 39 of the attachment 30.

[0176] Here, the external electronic device 100 may be paired with the additional device 30 via a Bluetooth connection or via a Bluetooth low energy communication link. Once the communication link has been established, the external electronic device 100 may be operable to visually display the device identification 150 on the device display 151, such as Fig. 9 Here, the presence of the additional device 30 is detected within the transmission range of the external electronic device 100 to indicate to the user. The user can prompt or can trigger the pairing of the additional device 30 with the external electronic device 100 by pressing a corresponding connection button as simulated or shown on the device display 151.

[0177] Thereafter or even before the attachment device 30 is paired with the external electronic device 100, the attachment device 30 will be connected to the injection device 1, such as Fig.10 Before or during mounting of the attachment 30 onto the dose dial 8 at the proximal end of the injection device 1 , the short-range transceiver 38 of the attachment 30 reads the machine-readable identification 28 provided on or in the injection device 1 .

[0178] To this end, it may be beneficial when the machine-readable identification 28 includes an electronic identifier 29, such as an NFC tag that can be read by the short-range transceiver 38 of the additional device 30. Upon reading the machine-readable identification 28, which may be located inside or outside the injection device 1, characteristic information indicative of the type of injection device 1 and / or the type of medicament 24 to be dispensed by the injection device 1 may be provided and communicated to the additional device 30. Based on the data collected from the machine-readable identification 28, the processor 44 of the additional device 30 may be operable to configure or reconfigure the device identification 50 that is perceptible to the user.

[0179] The pairing of the attachment 30 with the injection device 1 and the reading of the machine-readable identification 28 by the attachment 30 may also be transmitted to the external electronic device 100 , which in turn may indicate to the user that the attachment 30 has been properly paired and / or mechanically connected to the injection device 1 .

[0180] like Fig.11 As shown, the electronic device display 151 may provide a graphical representation 153 of the injection device 1. It may further provide a notification 154 to the user that the attachment 30 has detected a particular type of injection device 1 and / or that the attachment 30 has read the machine-readable identification 28 of this particular injection device 1. When the attachment 30 has been properly assembled to the injection device 1 and after configuring or reconfiguring the user-perceivable device identification, the attachment 30 generates or produces a long-term, persistent or temporary identification 55 that is perceivable by the user and characterizes the injection device 1 according to the machine-readable identification 28.

[0181] For Fig.12 In the example shown, the device identifier 55 is integrated into the movable portion 70 of the attachment device 30 and is operable to provide visible identifier 55 in the form of illuminating the movable portion 70 in a characteristic color or by producing a characteristic temporary lighting sequence.

[0182] For some examples, the color of the movable portion 70 and thus the identifier 55 may include the same or similar color as the label 17 provided on the outer surface of the body 6 of the injection device. The same color as the device identifier 150 on the display 151 of the external electronic device 100 may be reproduced. In addition, the external electronic device 100 may provide a notification 154 including instructions regarding the operation of the injection device or regarding a prescribed medication schedule.

[0183] Fig.13 Another configuration of the injection system 120 is shown. Here, the movable portion 70 can still be illuminated in the characteristic color. Here, the notification 154 of the external electronic device 100 has been changed to a notification 154'. According to the prescribed medication schedule, the external electronic device 100 immediately notifies the user to perform the injection procedure. The external electronic device 100 also provides information about the administration of the medication. In addition to the notification 154' provided on the electronic device display 151, the communication link between the external electronic device 100 and the additional device 30 can be further used to indicate to the user that an injection procedure is expected, such as by a simple modification of the identifier 55'.

[0184] Here, the identifier 55 ′ may include a flashing or blinking light. In addition, and when equipped with an additional electronic signal generator 52 (eg implemented as an acoustic or tactile signal generator), the external electronic device 100 may cause the generation of an acoustic or tactile signal as the identifier 55 on or through the additional device 30 .

[0185] exist Fig.15 , a flow chart of a method for configuring an additional device 30 is shown. In a first step 200, an injection device 1 as described above is provided. The injection device 1 comprises a machine-readable identification 28 indicating the type of injection device 1 and / or indicating the type of medicament 24 located inside the injection device 1 or intended to be injected with the injection device 1.

[0186] In a subsequent step 202, an additional device 30 as described above is also provided. In a step 204, the machine-readable identification 28 is read by the additional device 30 or by an optional external electronic device 100. Based on the information obtained from the machine-readable identification 28, the user-perceivable device identification 50 of the additional device 30 is configured or reconfigured to be permanently or temporarily adapted to a specific type of injection device 1.

[0187] For some examples, the device identifier 50 is configured to remain in a configured or reconfigured state permanently. Therefore, the device identifier 50 can remain in a configured state permanently and can permanently reflect or represent the injection device 1 to which the additional device 30 is attached. Therefore, in step 206, the user-perceivable device identifier 50 of the additional device 30 is reconfigured or configured according to the machine-readable identifier 28. For some examples, the device identifier 50 is operable to provide at least first and second identifiers 55, 55', wherein the first identifier 55 is distinguished from the second identifier 55' by its color.

[0188] For some examples, the reading of the machine-readable identification 28 is performed by the reader 37 and / or the transceiver 38, 39 of the additional device 30. For other examples, the reading of the machine-readable identification 28 is performed by the external electronic device 100. Then, the corresponding information of the machine-readable identification 28 is transmitted to the additional device 30 via the communication link between the additional device 30 and the external electronic device 100.

[0189] For some examples, display 51 includes an electrophoretic display. An electrophoretic display may be reconfigurable to present different colors with minimal energy consumption.

[0190] Reference numerals

[0191] 1 Injection device

[0192] 2 Distal direction

[0193] 3 Proximal direction

[0194] 4 Dose escalation direction

[0195] 5 Dose reduction direction

[0196] 6 body

[0197] 7 Cartridge holder

[0198] 8-dose dial option

[0199] 9 Triggers

[0200] 10 Housing

[0201] 11 Connectors

[0202] 12-pin assembly

[0203] 13. Injection needle

[0204] 14 Inner needle cap

[0205] 15 Outer needle cap

[0206] 16 Protective cap

[0207] 17 Tags

[0208] 18 Piston

[0209] 19 Piston rod

[0210] 20 Driving mechanism

[0211] 21 Medicine Container

[0212] 22 Cylinder

[0213] 23 Seals

[0214] 24 Pharmacy

[0215] 25 Exit

[0216] 26 Window

[0217] 27 Dial extension

[0218] 28 Logo

[0219] 29 Electronic markers

[0220] 30 Additional devices

[0221] 34 Electronic modules

[0222] 36 Printed Circuit Board

[0223] 37 Reader

[0224] 38 Transceiver

[0225] 39 Transceiver

[0226] 40 Memory

[0227] 42 clock

[0228] 44 Processor

[0229] 46 Power Supply

[0230] 48 Sensors

[0231] 50 Logo

[0232] 51 Display

[0233] 52 Signal Generator

[0234] 53 Display Segment

[0235] 54 Display Segments

[0236] 55 Markers

[0237] 56 Window

[0238] 60 Device body

[0239] 61 Sidewall

[0240] 62 flange part

[0241] 63 Reception Department

[0242] 64 Fastening rib

[0243] 65 Fasteners

[0244] 66 Neck

[0245] 70 Movable part

[0246] 100 Electronic devices

[0247] 101 Housing

[0248] 102 Display

[0249] 110 hands

[0250] 111 Wrist

[0251] 112 Palm

[0252] 114 Thumb

[0253] 116 fingers

[0254] 120 Injection System

[0255] 137 Device Reader

[0256] 138 Device transceiver

[0257] 139 Device transceiver

[0258] 140 Device Memory

[0259] 144 Device Processor

[0260] 146 Device power supply

[0261] 150 Device identification

[0262] 151 Device Display

[0263] 152 Device Signal Generator

[0264] 153 Graphics

[0265] 154 Notice

Claims

1. An attachment device (30) for attachment to an injection device (1), wherein: The injection device (1) comprises a machine-readable mark (28), and the additional device (30) comprises: - a device body (60) which can be fastened to a part of the injection device (1), - a reconfigurable and user-perceivable device identification (50), - an electronic module (34) comprising a processor (44) coupled to the device identification (50) and operable to reconfigure the device identification (50) according to the machine-readable identification (28) of the injection device (1).

2. The attachment (30) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a reader (37) and a transceiver (38, 39), which is connected to the processor (44) and is operable to read or obtain the machine-readable identification (28) of the injection device (1).

3. The attachment (30) according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one of the reader (37) and the transceiver (38, 39) comprises a wireless near-field transceiver (38) operable to wirelessly communicate with the machine-readable identification (28) of the injection device (1) to read or obtain information or data provided by or in the machine-readable identification (28) of the injection device (1).

4. The attachment according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The at least one of the reader (37) and the transceiver (38, 39) comprises a wireless local range transceiver (39), wherein the wireless local range transceiver (39) is operable to wirelessly communicate with an external electronic device (100) to receive a machine-readable identification (28) of the injection device (1) from or via the external electronic device (100).

5. An attachment (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The device identifier (50) in a first configuration represents a first identifier (55) indicating a first machine-readable identifier (28), and wherein the device identifier (50) in a second configuration represents a second identifier (55') indicating a second machine-readable identifier, wherein the first identifier (55) and the second identifier (55') are perceptibly distinguishable from each other.

6. An attachment (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The device identifier (50) includes an electronic signal generator (52) controlled or operable by the processor (44).

7. The attachment (30) according to claim 6, wherein: The electronic signal generator (52) is operable to generate at least one of a visual, acoustic, and tactile device identification (50).

8. An attachment (30) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 or 7, wherein: The electronic signal generator (52) is operable to generate various device identifications or various identification objects distinguished by at least one of color, brightness and time change.

9. An attachment device (30) according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, wherein: The electronic signal generator (52) includes at least two light sources of different colors to generate a device identification (50) that is distinguishable with respect to its color.

10. The attachment (30) of any preceding claim, further comprising an electronic display (51) coupled to the processor (44) and operable to display the device identification (50).

11. The additional device (30), wherein: The device identification (50) is permanently and / or permanently perceptible from outside the additional device (30).

12. An attachment device (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The device identification (50) is arranged on the device body (60) or integrated into the device body.

13. The attachment (30) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a movable part (70) operably connectable to the trigger (9) of the injection device (1) and movable relative to the device body (60), wherein: The device identification (50) is arranged on the movable part (70) or is integrated into the movable part.

14. An injection system (120), comprising: an injection device (1) for setting and injecting a dose of a medicament (24) and comprising a machine-readable identification (28) indicating at least one of the type of the injection device (1) and the type of the medicament (24), - An additional device (30) according to any of the preceding claims, which is detachably attachable to the injection device (1).

15. The injection system (120) according to claim 14 further comprises an external electronic device (100) operable to read the machine-readable identification (28) of the injection device (1) and operable to transmit the identification (28) of the injection device (1) to the additional device (30).

16. A method for configuring an attachment device (30), the method comprising the steps of: - providing an injection device (1), the injection device comprising a machine-readable identification (28), - providing an additional device (30) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 13, - Read the machine-readable identification (28) - reconfiguring the user-perceivable device identification (50) of the additional device (30) based on the machine-readable identification (28).

17. A computer program comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by a processor (44) of an attachment device (30), causes the processor (44) to reconfigure a user-perceivable device identifier (50) based on a machine-readable identifier (28) of an injection device (1).

Images