Medicament Ejection Recording via Sensor Thresholding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing supplemental devices for recording medicament ejection from injection devices inaccurately record both prime shots and actual injections, leading to potential over or under medication due to incorrect dose history information.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising a processor and sensors that differentiate between prime shots and actual injections by monitoring the movement of a part of the injection device, only recording medicament ejection when a predetermined amount is exceeded, thereby excluding prime shot data from the record.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If supplemental devices record all medicament ejection amounts from injection devices, then complete dose history information is captured, but inaccurate representation of actual patient injection amounts occurs due to inclusion of prime shots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose history information completenessVSAvoidaccuracy of actual injection amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter threshold for recording by comparing ejection amount against a predetermined threshold value. When the ejection amount exceeds the threshold (indicating actual injection rather than prime shot), the system records the dose history information. This parameter-based differentiation resolves the contradiction by selectively recording based on quantity criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual differentiation methods with electronic sensor-based detection. Optical sensors and/or acoustical sensors automatically detect and measure medicament ejection, substituting human judgment with precise electronic measurement systems that can objectively distinguish between prime shots and actual injections based on measured quantities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If electronic recording of dose history information is implemented, then manual recording accuracy is improved, but false representation of actual patient injection occurs due to prime shot inclusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose history recording reliabilityVSAvoidactual injection amount accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where sensor data about ejection amounts is continuously monitored and fed back to the processing unit. This feedback loop enables real-time differentiation between prime shots and actual injections, allowing the system to adjust recording decisions based on measured quantities and thereby maintain both reliability and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sensor systems as intermediary components between the injection device and the recording system. These sensors act as mediators that measure the actual ejection amount and translate physical medicament flow into measurable signals, enabling accurate differentiation and precise recording without direct human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If all ejection events are recorded without differentiation, then simple recording mechanism is maintained, but incorrect medication prescription risk increases due to inaccurate dose history

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording mechanism simplicityVSAvoidmedication prescription accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service automation where the recording device automatically performs differentiation between prime shots and actual injections without requiring user intervention. The sensor system and processing unit work together to autonomously determine what to record, maintaining simplicity while improving reliability through automated intelligent decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 approach provides a more accurate representation of medicament injected into a patient, reducing the risk of incorrect medication prescriptions by distinguishing between prime shots and actual injections.

Implementation Method 1

one or more optical sensors for determining information related to a condition and/or use of the medical device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical sensing: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

one or more acoustical sensors for determining information related to a condition and/or use of the medical device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic sensing: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP3219345B1Apparatus and method for recording the amount of medicament ejected from an injection device
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 SANOFI AVENTIS DEUT GMBH
  • EP3219345B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3219345B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3219345B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Apparatus (200) for recording the amount of medicament ejected from an injection device (100), is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a processor (208) coupled to receive information from a sensor arrangement (214, 216); and a memory (213). The sensor arrangement is configured to detect information displayed or generated by said injection device and to generate output corresponding thereto. The sensor arrangement is configured to detect ejection of medicament from said injection device. The processor is configured to process the output generated by the sensor arrangement relating to information displayed or generated by said injection device and to record in the memory information indicative of an amount of medicament ejected from said injection device only when the processor determines, on the basis of information received from the sensor arrangement relating to detecting ejection of medicament from said injection device that more than a predetermined amount of medicament has been ejected.