Drug Injection Device Optical Window for Dose Readability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drug delivery devices face challenges in clearly displaying dose information, leading to user confusion due to overlapping indicia and markings, which can result in misalignment and incorrect dosage settings.

Innovation Solution

The integration of an optical element with both imaging and non-imaging sections in the drug delivery device, where the imaging section displays the first indicium while the non-imaging section deflects adjacent indicia out of the viewing angle, ensuring only the intended dose information is visible to the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a transparent dose window is used to display dose indicia, then visibility of dose information is improved, but adjacent indicia may become visible causing user confusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of dose informationVSAvoiduser confusion due to overlapping indicia

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The dose window is segmented into an imaging section and a non-imaging section. The imaging section displays the active dose indicium clearly, while the non-imaging section uses a diffusive structure to scatter and block light from adjacent indicia, preventing them from being visible and causing confusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the dose window have different optical properties. The imaging section is optimized for clear light transmission and imaging, while the non-imaging section has a diffusive structure that scatters light to block adjacent indicia. This local differentiation allows simultaneous visibility of the active indicium and blocking of inactive ones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dose indicia are displayed in sequence, then dose setting flexibility is improved, but readability of the current dose value deteriorates due to potential misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedose setting flexibilityVSAvoidreadability of current dose value

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-positions multiple dose indicia at different locations relative to the dose window. As the indication member moves to different positions, the imaging section is pre-configured to selectively image only the relevant indicium at each position, ensuring clear readability without misalignment issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The imaging section acts as an intermediary that selectively transmits light from the active dose indicium while blocking light from inactive indicia. This intermediary function ensures that only the current dose value is visible, maintaining measurement precision even as multiple indicia are displayed in sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration prevents user confusion by ensuring that only the intended dose information is visible, improving readability and accuracy in setting and dispensing drug doses, particularly for users with poor eyesight.

Implementation Method 1

The imaging section is configured such that, when the first indicium is arranged in the display position, the first indicium is imaged by the imaging section into an imaging solid angle.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical imaging: Lens

Implementation Method 2

The non-imaging section is configured such that light defining the second indicium, e.g. light reflected from the indication member, is deflected by the non-imaging section such that the second indicium cannot be identified by a user in the imaging solid angle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight refraction/deflection: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2968774B1Drug injection device with particular optical window elements for unambiguous legibility of dose value

Publication Date: 2019.04.24 SANOFI AVENTIS DEUT GMBH

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AI summary

A drug delivery device (200) comprising a dose viewing window (8) with an arrangement (100) comprising an optical element (1) through which numbers on a dose scale of the device can be viewed. The dose scale is arranged on an indication member (2) comprising a plurality of indicia/numbers/symbols (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 7). The optical element (1) comprises an imaging section (4) and a light-transmissive non-imaging section (5), wherein the indication member (2) is movable with respect to the optical element (1) such that the indicia can be successively moved into a display position relative to the optical element (1). The imaging and non-imaging sections are arranged such that only a single dose value can be viewed at any time through the imaging section (4), while adjacent dose values are obscured by e.g. diffusive or refractive characteristics of the non-imaging section (5).