Injection Monitoring Circuitry Force Profile Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices struggle to reliably determine if a complete dose of medicament has been delivered, often relying on displacement sensors that increase complexity and cost, and are prone to errors due to variability in user force application.
Innovation Solution
The integration of injection monitoring circuitry that analyzes timestamped force measurements to determine the end of injection without the need for displacement sensors, using techniques such as force profile analysis, wavelet convolution, Fourier analysis, and machine learning algorithms to differentiate between successful and unsuccessful injections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If displacement sensors are used to determine end of injection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical displacement sensors with an analysis of the force profile applied by the user during injection. The processing circuitry analyzes the temporal characteristics of the applied force to determine when the end of injection has been reached, eliminating the need for separate displacement sensing mechanisms while maintaining determination accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection device uses the force data already being collected for other purposes (such as monitoring injection progress and providing feedback) to also determine the end of injection. The same force sensor and processing circuitry that monitor injection technique are repurposed to detect injection completion, eliminating the need for additional dedicated sensors.
2Measurement precision
If displacement sensors are used to determine end of injection, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for expensive displacement sensors by using software-based analysis of force profile characteristics. The processing circuitry identifies the end of injection by detecting specific patterns in the force data, such as when the force drops below a threshold or when the rate of force change indicates plunger rod completion, significantly reducing component costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The force sensor and processing circuitry serve multiple functions: monitoring injection technique, providing real-time feedback to the user, tracking injection progress, and determining end of injection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, reducing overall device cost.
3Measurement precision
If reflection-based displacement measurements are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical or electromagnetic reflection-based displacement measurement systems with a mechanical force analysis approach. The processing circuitry determines plunger rod position by analyzing the characteristics of the force applied during injection, eliminating complex optical components and their associated alignment and calibration requirements.
4Device complexity
If force measurement analysis is used to determine end of injection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the force profile and provides real-time feedback to determine injection status. By analyzing the temporal characteristics of the force data and comparing against expected injection patterns, the system can accurately identify the end of injection event, compensating for variations in user force application through pattern recognition rather than absolute threshold detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic analysis of the force profile, examining how the force changes over time during the injection process. By detecting transitions in the rate of force change or specific temporal patterns that occur at the end of injection, the system achieves accurate detection despite variations in the absolute force magnitude applied by different users.
Data Source
AI summary
Injection monitoring circuitry is provided for coupling to part of an injection device having a syringe and a plunger rod. The injection monitoring circuitry has an input to receive force measurement data from a force sensor, the force measurement data includes a plurality of timestamped force measurements of force applied by a user to the injection device when an injection is administered to an injection site. Processing circuitry is provided to determine from the force measurement data when an end of injection has been reached, the end of injection corresponding to the plunger rod having reached an end position in a distal portion of the barrel of the syringe during administration of the injection by the user. Machine readable instructions and an injection monitoring method are also provided.