Drug Delivery Switch Failure Detection via Motion Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drug delivery devices with electronic systems face risks due to potential failures in switches, particularly the rotary switch, which can lead to undetected malfunctions, potentially causing health hazards for patients, especially in self-administered dosing scenarios where users lack formal medical training.
Innovation Solution
An electronic system for drug delivery devices that includes a dose setting and drive mechanism with a first member performing specific movement relative to a second member, featuring a first switch, a second switch, and a motion sensor system to detect position changes, enabling failure detection of the second switch and preventing malfunctions by generating alerts or locking the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a rotary switch is used to detect dose delivery operation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential switch failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a motion sensor system that proactively monitors the drive mechanism before a failure can occur. The sensor continuously tracks positional information of the first member, enabling the system to detect abnormalities in the second switch's operation in advance and generate warnings before actual dose delivery failure occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a motion sensor system as an intermediary between the mechanical drive mechanism and the electronic control system. This intermediary component translates mechanical position information into electrical signals that the control unit can process, enabling reliable detection of switch failures without directly modifying the switch itself.
2Reliability
If additional motion sensor system is added to detect switch failure, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the motion sensor system to serve multiple functions: it monitors the position of the first member during normal operation, detects failures of the second switch, and provides data for both real-time control and historical analysis. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single system addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion sensor system enables the electronic system to self-diagnose potential failures by continuously monitoring its own operational parameters. The control unit compares expected positional information from the sensor against actual readings, automatically detecting discrepancies that indicate switch failure without requiring external intervention or complex additional monitoring systems.
3Ease of operation
If switch failure is not detected, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the harmful factors increase due to undetected malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by creating a closed-loop monitoring system where the motion sensor continuously provides positional information to the control unit, which compares this data against expected values and generates warnings when discrepancies indicate switch failure. This feedback mechanism maintains ease of operation by automatically detecting issues without requiring user intervention while simultaneously reducing health risks through timely failure detection.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to an electronic system (100, 100A) for a drug delivery device (1) comprising a dose setting and drive mechanism (300) with a first member (20), wherein the first member (20) performs a specific movement relative to a second member (11) during a dose delivery operation. The electronic system (100, 100A) comprises a first switch (220) configured to be activated by a pre-defined user operation, wherein the pre-defined user operation includes or consists of a user operation that is expected in conjunction with dose delivery operation, a second switch (220) for indicating the specific movement, and a sensor arrangement (120) for a motion sensor system (129) for providing position data that allows to distinguish between different positions of the first member (20) relative to the second member (11). An electronic control unit (110) is configured to activate a failure detection functionality for detecting failure of the second switch (230) if the first switch (220) is activated whereas the second switch (230) does not indicate the specific movement of the first member (20) relative to the second member (11), to operate, in the failure detection functionality, the sensor arrangement (120), and to determine failure of the second switch (230) based on position data obtained from the sensor arrangement (120).