Connected Injection Pen With Needle Sensors for Adherence Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an injection device capable of automatically collecting and transmitting patient health data during treatment to improve adherence to prescribed treatments and reduce healthcare costs by minimizing the need for additional medical visits.
Innovation Solution
An integrated injection system with a data capture module, including sensors on the needle, that collects patient health data during an injection event and transmits it to a communication device, such as a smartphone, for analysis and remote monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an injection device collects and transmits patient data during injection, then patient adherence monitoring and real-time health data availability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the injection device with integrated sensors, data capture modules, and communication capabilities into a single unified system. This merging allows the device to simultaneously perform injection delivery, physiological parameter monitoring, data collection, and wireless transmission, thereby improving patient adherence monitoring without requiring separate standalone devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a medication delivery system and a health monitoring station. It can measure multiple physiological parameters (glucose, temperature, heart rate), store patient data, communicate with external devices, and provide real-time feedback, making it a universal tool that addresses multiple healthcare needs in one device.
2Loss of information
If patient data is collected and transmitted in real-time, then healthcare provider decision-making improves, but data management and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where patient physiological data collected during injection is immediately transmitted to healthcare providers via wireless communication. This feedback loop enables providers to monitor patient responses continuously, make timely treatment adjustments, and receive alerts for abnormal conditions, ensuring information is available when needed without requiring complex manual data collection processes.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are integrated on the needle for data collection, then measurement capability improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where miniaturized sensors are integrated within or attached to the needle assembly, which itself is contained within the larger injection device housing. This nesting approach allows precise physiological measurements to be taken at the point of injection while organizing complex components in a compact, manufacturable configuration that reduces overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated system for injection including an injection device in electronic connection with a communication device is provided. The external communication device may be a handheld electronic device such as a Smartphone or a dedicated reader such as a reader capable of reading information contained on an RFID tag. The injection device includes a needle and a drug delivery portion enclosed within an external housing. Optionally, a plurality of sensors is affixed to the surface of the needle to collect data about the injection and physical characteristics of the patient. The data may be recorded on a data capture module. The electronic chip may be a readable and writable electronic chip such as a non-volatile memory chip. Alternatively, the electronic chip is a passive RFID tag. The injection device may further include a data transmitter for sending information obtained from the data capture module to the external communications device.