Injection Pen Dose Sensing for Automated Companion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicine administering systems, particularly for self-administered fluid medications like insulin, lack automated tracking and communication of doses, making it difficult for patients to remember if a dose has been given and complicating dose management.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent medicine administration system comprising an injection pen with a sensor unit and electronics unit to detect and record doses, and a companion device for data processing and communication, enabling dose tracking, logging, and user interface for health management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual tracking of doses is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of dose tracking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The injection pen device automatically detects and records dose information through its sensor unit without requiring manual intervention. The device self-monitors dose amounts, timing, and administration status, eliminating the need for patients to manually track doses while ensuring accurate and reliable tracking through automated sensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with electronic sensing and data transmission systems. The sensor unit electronically detects dose information and transmits it wirelessly to a companion device, substituting manual record-keeping with automated electronic measurement and communication to improve tracking precision.
2Reliability
If automated dose tracking is implemented, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection pen device integrates multiple functions into a single unit: dose setting, dispensing, sensing, data processing, and wireless communication. The electronics unit handles both mechanical dose control and electronic data tracking, while the companion device provides both local storage and cloud synchronization capabilities, reducing the need for separate specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a companion device as an intermediary between the injection pen and the user/caregiver. This separate device handles complex data processing, storage, and communication functions, allowing the injection pen to remain relatively simple while achieving reliable automated tracking through the intermediary system.
3Loss of information
If dose information is stored locally, then loss of information is reduced, but adaptability and communication capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges local storage capabilities with wireless communication functions in the companion device. The device simultaneously maintains local dose records for immediate access and automatically synchronizes with cloud-based medical records systems, combining the benefits of data retention with enhanced communication and adaptability to different healthcare environments.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for administering a medicament to a patient. In one aspect, a system includes an injection pen device in wireless communication with a mobile communication device. The injection pen device includes a housing including a chamber to encase a cartridge containing medicine, a dose setting and dispensing mechanism to set the mechanism to dispense a particular dose of the medicine from the loaded cartridge, a sensor unit to detect a dispensed dose based on positions and/or movements of the dose setting and dispensing mechanism, and an electronics unit in communication with the sensor unit to process the detected dispensed dose and time data associated with a dispensing event and to wirelessly transmit the dose data to a user's device. The mobile communication device provides a software application to provide the user with health information using the processed dose data.