Removable Optical Dose Sensor for Insulin Pen Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices, such as insulin pens, often require manual dose selection and monitoring, which can lead to inaccuracies and lack of tracking capabilities, especially when the dosage window does not remain stationary.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device is removably attachable to a drug delivery device, utilizing an array of optical sensors and circuitry to detect the position and rotation of movable elements, allowing for accurate determination of the dialled dose through encoded information visible through the device's windows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a supplementary device with a camera and OCR system is used to detect dose information, then dose monitoring capability is improved, but the device complexity increases and the dosage window must remain stationary which limits adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system (camera and OCR) with an electrical sensing system. The sensor device uses electrical sensors to detect the position of the movable element and a rotor position sensor to detect rotational position, eliminating the need for complex optical components and image processing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device is designed to be universally applicable to various drug delivery devices. It can detect both longitudinal position and rotational position using standardized sensing mechanisms, making it adaptable to different device types without requiring device-specific customization.
2Measurement precision
If optical sensors are used to detect movable element position, then measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional light sources and sensor arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light source and optical sensor into an integrated sensing unit. Each sensing unit contains both a light source and an optical sensor that work together to detect the position of the movable element, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Ease of operation
If manual dose selection is used in drug delivery devices, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability decreases due to potential for false handling and tracking errors
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device provides real-time feedback on the position of the movable element and the rotational position of dialing mechanisms. This feedback is processed by circuitry that determines the currently-dialled dose, allowing the system to monitor and confirm dose selection accuracy, thereby preventing false handling and tracking errors while maintaining manual operation.
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 sensor device provides precise monitoring of drug doses, enabling accurate tracking and reducing the risk of incorrect dosing by detecting light reflections from movable elements within the drug delivery device.
Implementation Method 1
each of the optical sensors being arranged to detect the emitted light reflected from the externally visible path
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 2E
AI summary
A sensor device (2) is removably attachable to a drug delivery device (12). The sensor device comprises an array (20) of optical sensors arranged within the sensor device such that, when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device, the drug delivery device having a first movable element (14) which is configured to move along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drug delivery device, each optical sensor is operable to detect light received at different locations along the linear path and to output a signal indicative of an amount of detected light; and circuitry (21) configured to receive the signals output from the optical sensors and, based on the received signals, to determine information associated with a location along the path of the first movable element.