An electronic injection pen

Abstract

The present invention comprises an injector pen body (1) and a control module; the front end of said injector pen body (1) is removably connected to a loading portion (2); inside said injector pen body (1) is disposed a pusher portion (3), said pusher portion (3) comprising a push button (31), said push button (31) being able to abut against a rubber stopper (22) inside the cartridge (21); said control module comprises a pressure sensor and a control button (4); said control button (4) can receive two types of input signals, namely a rotation signal and a pressure signal, for switching and confirming the injector pen program. (Figure for abbreviation: Fig. 2)

Description

Title of the invention: An electronic injector pen Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of injector pens, and more particularly to an electronic injector pen. Previous technique

[0002] The electronic injection pen is an intelligent injection pen that uses a precision stepper motor combined with electronic control principles to perform the drug injection process. Electronic injection pens are distinguished from mechanical models by their increased precision, extended functional modularity, and generally reusable design.

[0003] Traditional electronic injection pens exhibit significant technical defects when using reusable cartridges:

[0004] When the liquid medication in the cartridge is not completely consumed and the rubber stopper shifts, the plunger, returning to its initial position after each injection, must travel an ineffective distance (virtual displacement) before re-establishing contact with the rubber stopper. This phenomenon causes a discrepancy between the dose actually injected and the programmed value. Furthermore, existing injection pens do not have an intelligent system for detecting the cartridge's installation status. The loading section, due to its opaque structure, does not allow visualization of the cartridge's integrity, exposing the user to the risk of accidentally using an uninstalled or empty cartridge, potentially resulting in a missed injection or medication waste.Furthermore, the lack of automated solutions for the precise removal of residual air bubbles from the cartridge and the mechanical locking of the plunger, etc., necessitates manual intervention, compromising both the safety and efficiency of the injections. While existing technologies have partially mitigated these problems through mechanical optimizations, they remain unable to resolve the fundamental challenges, including the dynamic positioning of the rubber stopper, intelligent condition detection, and automatic correction, etc. Description of the invention

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to: propose an electronic injector pen in order to overcome the limitations of existing technologies characterized by the lack of reliable detection of the states of the cartridge and the inability to automatically adapt the solutions according to the detected states of the cartridge.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention relates to: an electronic injector pen comprising an injector pen body and a control module;

[0007] Said pen injector body is hollow inside, with open front and rear ends; the front end of said pen injector body is removably connected to a loading part, said loading part being intended to receive a cartridge; inside said pen injector body is disposed a push part, said push part comprising a pusher, said pusher being able, under the action of a drive motor, to come to a stop against a rubber stopper inside the cartridge;

[0008] Said control module includes a pressure sensor disposed in the body of the injector pen, as well as a control button located at the end of the body of the injector pen away from the loading part; said pressure sensor is coupled to the drive motor to detect the force exerted by the drive motor on the pusher; said control button can receive two types of input signals, namely a rotation signal and a pressure signal, intended respectively for switching and confirming the program of the injector pen.

[0009] Preferably, the following parameters are defined:

[0010] The value detected F by said pressure sensor, as well as a first predefined value Fl and a second predefined value F2, with F1 <F2 ;

[0011] The operating stroke D of said pusher and a third predefined value DI.

[0012] Preferably, the integrated program of said injector pen includes a first operating mode, in said first operating mode, said injector pen can perform the following operations:

[0013] When the operating stroke D of said pusher actuated by the drive motor is less than Dl, and the value detected by the pressure sensor satisfies F2>F>F1, said pusher ceases its operation; and each brief press on the control button allows said drive motor to drive the pusher to advance the rubber stopper by a stroke of 1 to 3 mm.

[0014] Preferably, the integrated program of said injector pen includes a second operating mode, whereby when the stroke D of the pusher actuated by the drive motor is greater than D1, the value detected F by said pressure sensor remains constantly less than F2; the program of said injector pen activates the second operating mode and allows the following operations to be performed:

[0015] Said drive motor actuates the pusher for a reverse movement back to its initial position.

[0016] Preferably, when the stroke D of said pusher actuated by the drive motor is less than Dl and the value detected F by the pressure sensor is greater than F2, the said drive motor ceases to function and triggers an alarm.

[0017] Preferably, it also includes an automatic operating module, said automatic operating module comprising a first detection contact and a second detection contact fixed respectively in the loading part and the body of the injector pen;

[0018] Said first sensing contact and said second sensing contact are coupled when the loading part mechanically hooks with the body of the injector pen, enabling said injector pen to execute the corresponding first operating mode or second operating mode.

[0019] Preferably, said first detection contact consists of a magnet and said second detection contact is a hall effect sensor.

[0020] An electronic injector pen comprising an injector pen body and a control module;

[0021] Said pen injector body includes a pusher intended to come into contact with a rubber stopper inside the cartridge, as well as a drive motor for actuating the pusher;

[0022] Said control module includes a pressure sensor disposed in the body of the injector pen; said pressure sensor is coupled to the drive motor to detect the force exerted by the drive motor on the plunger;

[0023] The following parameters are defined: the detected value F by said pressure sensor, as well as a first predefined value Fl and a second predefined value F2, with Fl < F2; the operating stroke D of the pusher and a third predefined value DI;

[0024] The integrated program of said injector pen includes a first operating mode, in said first operating mode, said injector pen can perform the following operations:

[0025] When the operating stroke D of said pusher actuated by the drive motor is less than Dl, and the value detected F by the pressure sensor is equal to F2 and evolves towards F2>F>F1, said pusher ceases its operation;

[0026] The integrated program of said injector pen includes a second operating mode, when the stroke D of the pusher actuated by the drive motor is greater than D1, the value detected F by said pressure sensor remains constantly less than F2; the program of said injector pen activates the second operating mode and allows the following operations to be performed:

[0027] Said drive motor actuates the pusher for a reverse movement back to its initial position.

[0028] Compared to existing technology, the present invention offers the following advantages:

[0029] (1) The present invention provides for the installation of a control button, coupled A pressure sensor and plunger travel detection system adapt the pen injector program to execute either the first or second operating mode; these modes are respectively designed to adjust the initial plunger position after cartridge reuse or to detect the presence / absence of the cartridge and its fill level. Automatic program determination simplifies the operational process and reduces the learning curve for the pen injector.

[0030] (2) The first operating mode of the present invention, by detecting the The pressure exerted on the plunger determines the position of the rubber stopper and dynamically updates the plunger's initial position. This innovation ensures a direct correlation between the plunger's movement and the volume of medication dispensed with each injection, effectively resolving dose discrepancies caused by the rubber stopper's movement.

[0031] (3) The second operating mode of the present invention, by the interaction between the Pusher stroke and pressure detection allows for automatic identification of cartridge absence or empty cartridge states, and triggers an alarm, thus reducing the risk of operational error.

[0032] (4) The present invention also includes an operating module automatic, allowing the pen injector program to automatically execute the corresponding first or second operating mode after the loading part is attached to the pen injector body, thus improving the degree of automation of the pen injector. Brief description of the figures

[0033] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures and embodiments:

[0034] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic injector pen according to the present invention;

[0035] The [Fig.2] is a process diagram of the program of the injector pen according to the present invention;

[0036] [Fig.3] is an enlarged view of part A of [Fig.1] of the present invention;

[0037] Where: 1. injector pen body, 2. loading part, 21. cartridge, 22. cap 3. Rubber, 3. Push part, 31. Pusher, 32. Pusher sleeve, 33. Drive motor, 4. Control button, 5. Automatic operating module 51. First detection contact, 52. Second detection contact, 6. Function key. Description of the implementation methods

[0038] In the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly stated or defined, terms such as "installation," "connect," "connection," and "fastening" are to be interpreted broadly. For example, the connection may be fixed, removable, or integrated; it may be mechanical or electrical in nature; it may be direct or indirect via an intermediate element; or it may represent internal communication between two elements. For a professional in the field with ordinary competence, the specific meaning of the terms mentioned above in the present invention can be understood according to the particular circumstances.

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of these embodiments being illustrated in the figures, where identical or similar numerals denote identical, similar, or equivalent or similar functions. The embodiments described and illustrated by reference to the accompanying figures are provided by way of example to aid understanding of the invention, without restricting the scope of the present invention.

[0040] As illustrated in [Fig.1], an electronic injector pen comprises an injector pen body 1 and a control module.

[0041] In this device, the front end of the pen injector body 1 is removably equipped with a loading section 2. The interior of the loading section 2 is designed to receive a cartridge 21. The cartridge 21 resembles a syringe without a piston, which is equivalent to a "bottomless bottle." This cartridge is equipped at the front with an injection needle protected by a rubber seal, the opening of the cartridge is sealed by a rubber stopper and an aluminum cap, and the rear end is sealed by a rubber stopper 22. During use of the cartridge 21, the medication does not come into contact with any part of the syringe. By pushing the rubber stopper 22, the medication can be expelled from the needle. The interior of the middle portion of the pen injector body 1 includes a pusher section 3. The pusher section 3 incorporates a pusher mechanism.This pusher mechanism comprises a pusher 31 arranged coaxially with the injector pen body 1, a pusher sleeve 32 associated with the pusher 31, and a drive motor 33. One end of the pusher 31 is fixed to the actuating end of the drive motor 33, and its outer wall has an external thread. The inner wall of the pusher sleeve 32 has an internal thread. in threaded coupling with the plunger 31. The end of the plunger 31 away from the drive motor 33 is abutted against the rubber stopper 22 of the cartridge 21. The drive motor 33 drives the rotation of the plunger sleeve 32, which induces a translational movement of the plunger 31 in threaded coupling with the plunger sleeve 32. This movement pushes the rubber stopper 22 in the cartridge 21 towards the needle, thus expelling the drug liquid contained in the cartridge 21.

[0042] The control module includes a pressure sensor disposed in the body of the injector pen 1 and a control button 4 located at the end of the body of the injector pen 1 away from the loading part 2. The pressure sensor is coupled to the drive motor 33 to detect the force exerted by the drive motor 33 on the pusher 31; the control button 4 has two input signals, one of rotation and one of pressure, respectively for switching and confirming the programs of the injector pen.

[0043] Under real-world conditions, the user does not usually administer the entire contents of the cartridge 21 in a single injection. Consequently, during subsequent uses of the same cartridge 21, the rubber stopper 22 inside the cartridge 21 is no longer in its initial position at the bottom, but near the front or middle of the cartridge 21. However, after each use, the plunger 31 returns to its initial position. This can lead to play in the movement of the plunger 31 of the pen injector fitted with a used cartridge during injection, thus causing an inaccuracy in the administered dose.

[0044] To solve this problem, the following parameters are defined:

[0045] 1. The actual value F detected by the pressure sensor, with the first value predefined Fl and the second predefined value F2, where F1 <f2 ;

[0046] 2. The stroke D of the pusher 31 and the third predefined value DI.

[0047] The first predefined value Fl corresponds to the thrust force on the pusher 31 of the drive motor 33 when the pusher 31 is unloaded; the second predefined value F2 corresponds to the maximum static friction force between the rubber stopper 22 in the cartridge 21 and the body of the cartridge 21; the third predefined value DI corresponds to the stroke required for the pusher 31 to be against the rubber stopper 22 when the rubber stopper 22 is in the most forward position of the cartridge 21.

[0048] As shown in [Fig. 2], in this embodiment, the pen injector program includes a first operating mode. This mode is configured as a purging mode, intended to actuate the plunger 31 when using a pen injector equipped with an old cartridge 21 before injection so that the plunger 31 is against the rubber stopper 22 inside the cartridge 21. The The position where the pusher 31 is against the rubber stopper 22 is defined as the initial position of the pusher 31. Once this mode is activated, the dose can be precisely selected. At this point, because the initial position of the updated pusher 31 is against the rubber stopper 22, the subsequent stroke of the pusher 31 will have no play and will correspond directly to the volume of medication dispensed into the cartridge 21.

[0049] In practice, it is possible to rotate the control button 4 to allow the injector pen to enter the first operating mode and perform the following actions:

[0050] The pusher 31, driven by the drive motor 33, moves towards the loading section 2. At this point, the pusher 31 is under no load, and the pressure sensor detects that the driving force F exerted by the drive motor 33 on the pusher 31 is Fl. The drive motor 33 continues to drive the pusher 31. If the pusher 31 comes to rest against the rubber stopper 22 in the cartridge 21, this results in a load on the pusher 31, and the pushing force of the drive motor 33 on the pusher 31 will increase to F2. If at this point the drive motor 33 continues to drive the pusher 31, this will cause the rubber stopper 22 to move, changing the static friction force between the rubber stopper 22 and the inner wall of the cartridge 21 into a dynamic friction force.Since the dynamic friction force between identical media is less than the maximum static friction force, the drive force F of the drive motor 33 will then become a value less than F2 but greater than FL. Therefore, it is determined that the tappet 31 is against the rubber stopper 22. At this moment, the drive motor 33 stops, and the current position of the tappet 31 is defined as the initial injection position.

[0051] In addition, at that moment, if the control button 4 is pressed briefly, the drive motor 33 will drive the pusher 31 to move the rubber stopper 22 over a stroke of 1 to 3 mm, in order to evacuate the excess air in the cartridge 21.

[0052] Since the cartridge 21 is removable from the loading section 2, and the latter does not allow for sterile storage of the cartridge 21, the user must remove the cartridge after each use and reinstall it before the next use, which may result in the cartridge 21 being missing from the loading section 2. Furthermore, the loading section 2 is made of an opaque material, and some injection pens are equipped with a needle guard at the front, making it difficult to directly observe the presence or absence of the cartridge 21 from the outside. Therefore, in this embodiment, the injection pen program includes also a second operating method designed to detect the presence of cartridge 21, according to the following process:

[0053] When the stroke D of the plunger 31 driven by the drive motor 33 exceeds the third predefined value D1, and the detection value F of the pressure sensor remains below F2, it can be concluded that no cartridge 21 is installed in the loading section 2, or that the current cartridge 21 is empty, its rubber stopper 22 already being in its most advanced position. Then, the corresponding audible or visual elements of the injector pen are triggered to alert the user to the need to install or replace the cartridge 21. Simultaneously, the drive motor 33 drives the plunger 31 backward to its initial position, facilitating the removal of the loading section 2 to install or replace the cartridge 21.

[0054] In the first operating mode and the second operating mode, the following situations may occur:

[0055] The stroke D of the pusher 31 driven by the drive motor 33 is less than the third predefined value D1, but the detection value F of the pressure sensor is greater than the second predefined value F2. This indicates a malfunction, as the pusher 31 is stuck. At this point, the drive motor 33 stops operating and emits a malfunction alarm.

[0056] In other embodiments of this application, an automatic operating module 5 is also provided to automatically execute the first and second operating modes. The automatic operating module comprises a first sensing contact 51 and a second sensing contact 52. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, a bottom hole is drilled along the axis at the base of the loading portion 2. The first sensing contact 51, consisting of a magnet, is fixed in this hole, while the second sensing contact 52, consisting of a Hall effect sensor, is fixed on a PCB, near the loading portion 2 inside the injector pen body 1. When the loading portion 2 is connected to the end of the injector pen body 1, the distance between the first sensing contact 51 and the second sensing contact 52 reaches a predefined value, creating a coupling that generates an electromagnetic signal.This signal automatically activates the drive motor 33 to perform either the air evacuation in the first operating mode, or the detection of the drug level in the cartridge 21 in the second operating mode.

[0057] More specifically, under the control of the automatic operating module, the drive motor 33 drives the pusher 31, while the pressure sensor measures the force F exerted on the pusher 31.

[0058] When the stroke D of the pusher 31 is less than Dl, the first operating mode is executed. If F=F1, the pusher 31 continues its movement; if F becomes less than F2 but greater than Fl, the drive motor 33 stops the pusher.

[0059] If F exceeds F2 while the stroke D of the pusher 31 is less than Dl, the drive motor 33 stops and emits a malfunction alarm.

[0060] If F remains equal to Fl until the stroke D of the pusher 31 is equal to Dl, an alarm is triggered and the second operating mode is executed, returning the pusher 31 in reverse to its initial position.

[0061] In addition, a function key 6 is located on the side of the body of the injector pen 1. A long press on the function key 6 turns off the injector pen, while a short press on the function key 6 returns to the menu.

[0062] After the first operating mode has been executed, an initialization is performed. By turning and briefly pressing the control button 4, the time, drug information, dose per injection and injection rate are successively set to finalize the preparations.

[0063] During the injection, a long press on the control button 4 activates the drive motor 33, which pushes the plunger 31 to expel the medicine from the cartridge 21 via the rubber stopper 22. If it is desired to interrupt the current injection, a short press on the control button 4 pauses the injection.

[0064] The embodiments described above are intended solely to illustrate the technical design and features of the present invention, with the aim of enabling those familiar with this technology to understand the content of the invention and implement it accordingly. They shall in no way restrict the scope of protection of the present invention. It is obvious to anyone skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, but may be carried out in other specific forms without deviating from its spirit or essential features. The embodiments presented should be considered purely exemplary and not restrictive in any respect. The scope of the invention is defined exclusively by the appended claims, and not by the preceding description.Therefore, any modification which falls within the equivalent elements of the claims, in their meaning and scope, is expressly considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Electronic injection pen, characterized in that it comprises an injection pen body (1) and a control module; said injection pen body (1) is hollow inside, with open front and rear ends; the front end of said injection pen body (1) is removably connected to a loading portion (2), said loading portion (2) being intended to receive a cartridge (21); inside said injection pen body (1) is disposed a push portion (3), said push portion (3) comprising a push button (31), said push button (31) being able, under the action of a drive motor (33), to come to a stop against a rubber stopper (22) inside the cartridge (21); said control module comprises a pressure sensor disposed in the injection pen body (1), as well as a control button (4) located at the end of the injection pen body (1) away from the loading portion (2);said pressure sensor is coupled to the drive motor (33) to detect the force exerted by the drive motor (33) on the pusher (31); said control button (4) can receive two types of input signals, namely a rotation signal and a pressure signal, intended respectively for switching and confirming a control mode of the injector pen.

2. Electronic injector pen according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following defined parameters: the detected value F by said pressure sensor, as well as a first predefined value Fl and a second predefined value F2, with F1 <F2 ; la course de fonctionnement D dudit poussoir (31) et une troisième valeur prédéfinie Dl.

3. Electronic injection pen according to claim 2, characterized in that the integrated program of said injection pen comprises a first operating mode, in said first operating mode, said injection pen can perform the following operations: when the operating stroke D of said plunger (31) actuated by the drive motor (33) is less than D1, and the value detected F by the pressure sensor is equal to F2 and evolves towards F2>F>F1, said pusher (31) ceases its operation; and each brief press on the control button (4) allows said drive motor (33) to drive the pusher (31) to advance the rubber stopper (22) by a stroke of 1 to 3 mm.

4. Electronic injection pen according to claim 2, characterized in that the integrated program of said injection pen includes a second operating mode, when the stroke D of the pusher (31) actuated by the drive motor (33) is greater than D1, the value detected F by said pressure sensor remains constantly less than F2; the program of said injection pen activates the second operating mode and allows the following operations to be performed: said drive motor (33) actuates the pusher (31) for a reverse movement to its initial position.

5. Electronic injector pen according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that when the stroke D of said pusher (31) actuated by the drive motor (33) is less than Dl and the value detected F by the pressure sensor is greater than F2, said drive motor (33) ceases to operate and triggers an alarm.

6. Electronic injector pen according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it also comprises an automatic operating module (5), said automatic operating module (5) comprising a first sensing contact (51) and a second sensing contact (52) fixed respectively in the loading part (2) and the injector pen body (1); said first sensing contact (51) and said second sensing contact (52) are coupled when the loading part (2) mechanically hooks with the injector pen body (1), enabling said injector pen to execute the corresponding first operating mode or second operating mode.

7. Electronic injector pen according to claim 6, characterized in that said first sensing contact (51) is made up of a magnet and said second sensing contact (52) is a hall effect sensor.

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