Medicament Delivery Device NFC Shielding for Status Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament delivery devices face challenges in providing cost-effective and user-friendly communication of status information, as traditional wireless communication technologies like Bluetooth require significant space and power, making them unsuitable for disposable devices, and complex RFID systems are expensive and not suitable for self-administering devices.
Innovation Solution
A medicament delivery device equipped with NFC-chips and shielding elements that change readability based on position, allowing a smart device to obtain status information, such as usage status, through Near Field Communication, eliminating the need for battery-powered communication circuits and reducing device complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth or other wireless communication circuits are used in medicament delivery devices, then communication functionality is improved, but device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication functionality from the medicament delivery device itself and relocates it to the terminal device (smartphone, tablet, or computer). The medicament delivery device only retains minimal identification components (such as a RFID tag or unique identifier), while all communication processing, data storage, and user interface functions are performed by the external terminal device. This extraction eliminates the need for bulky wireless communication circuits and batteries in the medicament delivery device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth or other wireless communication circuits are used in medicament delivery devices, then communication functionality is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication functionality is extracted from the medicament delivery device and placed in the terminal device, which the user already possesses. This eliminates the need to manufacture and assemble expensive wireless communication circuits, antennas, and power management components in the medicament delivery device, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and making the device more suitable for disposable or single-use applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex RFID systems are used for communication, then communication capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex RFID system and all communication processing logic are extracted from the medicament delivery device and placed in the terminal device. The medicament delivery device only contains a simple passive RFID tag or unique identifier that can be read by the terminal device. This extraction dramatically reduces device complexity while maintaining full communication capability through the terminal device's processing power.
4Adaptability or versatility
If battery-powered communication circuits are used, then communication functionality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery-powered communication circuits are extracted from the medicament delivery device and placed in the terminal device, which has its own power source. The medicament delivery device can use passive RFID technology or other low-power identification methods that do not require a battery, eliminating power consumption concerns for the medicament delivery device while maintaining full communication functionality through the powered terminal device.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective communication of status information to users and healthcare providers, ensuring accurate tracking of medication usage and adherence, while maintaining device simplicity and reducing costs, particularly for disposable devices.
Implementation Method 1
A medicament delivery device equipped with NFC-chips and shielding elements that change readability based on position, allowing a smart device to obtain status information, such as usage status, through Near Field Communication
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device comprising a housing (60), which housing is arranged to accommodate a medicament container (62); a drive unit (86) operably arranged to act on said medicament container (62) for expelling a dose of medicament; an activation unit (74) operably connected to said drive unit for activating said drive unit (86); said drive unit (86) comprising an actuation element (84) arranged movable inside the housing (60) from an initial position prior to activation, to a displaced position after activation; at least a first NFC-chip (170, 172) comprising specific information arranged on said actuation element; at least one shielding element (174) arranged to said housing, such as to shield said at least first NFC-chip (170, 172) from being read by an NFC-chip reader when said actuation element (84) is either in the initial position or in the displaced position. The present invention also comprises a communication system in which said medicament delivery device is a part.