Wearable Injector Status Label With LED Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients self-administering injectable drugs face challenges in managing multiple daily injections, including forgetfulness and complexity due to fatigue and stress, and existing wearable injectors lack intuitive feedback mechanisms for operational status.
Innovation Solution
A wearable drug delivery device with integrated light sources and a label that provides visual indicators for operational conditions, such as readiness, delivery status, and failure, using a controller to actuate the device and illuminate corresponding light sources based on its condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If feedback mechanisms are added to convey operational condition information, then user understanding of device status is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms including light sources (LEDs) that illuminate to indicate operational states such as ready, delivering, finished, or malfunctioning. The controller selectively activates these light sources based on device status, providing continuous feedback to users about the operational condition without requiring complex interfaces or additional components beyond what is already necessary for device operation.
2Loss of information
If multiple light sources are added to indicate different operational conditions, then information conveyance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single multi-functional controller that manages both the drug delivery reservoir actuation and the selective illumination of multiple light sources. This unified control architecture allows the same controller circuitry to serve dual purposes: controlling drug delivery timing and providing operational status feedback through appropriate light source activation, thereby avoiding the need for separate control systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller and light sources are integrated into a single coordinated system where the controller selectively illuminates specific light sources based on operational state. This merging of control functions eliminates the need for separate control circuits for drug delivery and status indication, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining comprehensive feedback capability.
3Ease of operation
If visual indicators are implemented to show operational states, then user education requirements are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes light sources that can be perceived as different colors or states of illumination to convey specific operational conditions. By assigning distinct visual states (illuminated vs. non-illuminated, or different colors) to different operational modes such as ready, delivering, finished, or malfunctioning, the system provides intuitive visual cues that are immediately recognizable to users without requiring extensive education or interpretation.
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
The device ensures clear and intuitive communication of operational states, reducing the risk of missed injections and enhancing user understanding of device status through customizable and language-adapted visual feedback.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more light sources is disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the housing, each light source operable to indicate one of one or more operational conditions of the drug delivery device
Data Source
AI summary
A drug delivery device includes a housing, a reservoir, a cannula, one or more light sources, a label, and a controller. The reservoir is disposed within the housing. The cannula is connected to the reservoir for delivering a drug from the reservoir to the patient. The light sources are disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the housing, and each serves to indicate one of one or more operational conditions of the device. The label is fixed to the housing adjacent the light sources, and includes one or more informational messages. Each informational message is aligned with one of the light sources for conveniently conveying to a user an operational condition of the device as indicated by the corresponding light source. Finally, the controller is operably connected to the reservoir and the light sources. The controller is configured to actuate the reservoir to deliver the drug, and to selectively illuminate the one or more light sources based on the operational condition of the drug delivery device.