Contact Image Sensor Insulin Pen Case for Dose Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring and recording insulin doses in diabetes self-care are inaccurate and cumbersome, particularly for insulin pens, leading to potential health risks due to unreliable data, and existing solutions often require modifications to the device or additional components, making them impractical for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus using a contact image sensor and software embedded in a storage case for insulin pens, which captures a colour curve of the pen to determine the plunger position and calculate the remaining insulin dose without requiring changes to the pen, allowing for automatic and accurate recording of doses without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a linear potentiometer is used to measure plunger position, then dose measurement capability is achieved, but the device size becomes too large for practical use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical linear potentiometer system with an optical measurement system using a camera and image processing. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky mechanical components while achieving the required measurement precision of ±0.5 iu, thereby reducing the overall device size to be suitable for portable insulin pen applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy (image) of the plunger position rather than using direct mechanical contact measurement. The camera captures an image of the plunger rod position, and image processing algorithms calculate the position from this optical copy, enabling accurate measurement without physical interference or large mechanical components.
2Extent of automation
If electronic measurement systems are integrated into the insulin pen, then automatic dose recording is achieved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the measurement system to be universally applicable to different insulin pen models without requiring model-specific integration. The camera-based system and image processing algorithms can measure plunger position across various pen designs, reducing the complexity of custom integration for each device type and enabling automatic dose recording with standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically captures images, processes them to determine plunger position, calculates the administered dose, and records the measurement without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability achieves automatic dose recording while minimizing the complexity of user interaction and system control.
3Ease of operation
If the plunger rod diameter is reduced to improve injection comfort, then measurement difficulty increases due to smaller target size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional direct measurement to two-dimensional image-based measurement. The camera captures the plunger rod in an image plane, allowing the system to detect position along the rod even when the rod diameter is small. Image processing algorithms can accurately locate the rod's position and calculate plunger depth from the 2D image data, maintaining measurement capability despite reduced rod diameter for patient comfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves a measurement accuracy of ±0.54 iu standard deviation, meeting the required precision for diabetes management, and integrates seamlessly into existing insulin pen usage without adding bulk or complexity, supporting both reusable and disposable pens.
Implementation Method 1
a contact image sensor (3) combined with said location for the medicament dosing device
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns an apparatus (1) for measuring and recording the remaining quantity of medicament in a medicament dosing device (2). The apparatus (1) has a location where the medicament dosing device (2) can be inserted. Combined with that location the apparatus (1) has equipment for measuring and analysing. The apparatus is characterised in that this equipment for measuring and analysing comprises a contact image sensor (3) combined with that location for the medicament dosing device, and a software in connection with the contact image sensor. In addition the object of this invention is the corresponding method for measuring and recording the remaining quantity of medicament in a medicament dosing device (2).