Optical Liquid Volume Measurement With Temperature Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chronic disease patients face challenges in accurately logging medication doses and managing temperature-sensitive medications, leading to incomplete dosage records and increased healthcare costs due to fluctuating ambient temperatures affecting medication efficacy and safety.
Innovation Solution
A dose measurement system integrated with a temperature sensor in an injection pen cap that measures liquid volume and temperature, using light sources and sensors to determine liquid quantity and quality, and communicates data for health management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual dose logging is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of dosage records deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The injection pen automatically measures and records its own dosage information using integrated optical sensors and processing circuits, eliminating the need for manual logging by the patient. The system self-monitors liquid volume, temperature, and dose administration, providing accurate records without requiring patient intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical logging with automated electronic sensing and data processing. Optical sensors measure liquid volume and temperature electronically, and the processing circuit automatically records dosage information, substituting the manual writing process with automated digital measurement and storage.
2Reliability
If temperature monitoring is added to the injection pen, then medication quality and efficacy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines temperature sensing functionality with the existing injection pen structure by integrating a temperature sensor into the pen body. The temperature measurement function is merged with the dose monitoring system, allowing both liquid volume and temperature to be measured using a unified sensing and processing architecture, thereby minimizing additional complexity.
3Measurement precision
If automated dose measurement system is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing circuit serves multiple functions: it controls the optical sensors for liquid volume measurement, monitors temperature sensor data, processes dosage information, and manages communication with external devices. By making the processing circuit multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each measurement task, thereby minimizing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
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
Enhances accurate dose tracking, ensures medication efficacy by monitoring temperature, and reduces healthcare costs through improved patient self-management and caregiver monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
An optical sensor, temperature sensor, and processing circuit are integrated into the injection pen cap. The optical sensor is configured to detect a liquid volume in the container.
Implementation Method 2
The apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the liquid disposed in the container.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for measuring liquid volume in a container includes a plurality of light sources for emitting electromagnetic radiation (EMR) toward the container, a plurality of sensors optically coupleable to the plurality of light sources, each sensor of the plurality of sensors for detecting the EMR emitted by at least a portion of the plurality of light sources, a temperature sensor for measuring at least one temperature associated with a liquid in the container, and at least one processor for receiving data representative of the portion of the detected EMR from each of the plurality of sensors, comparing the at least one measured temperature to a temperature guideline to identify any temperature events associated with the received data; normalizing the received data based on any temperature events associated with the received data; and converting the normalized data into a signature representative of the EMR detected by the plurality of sensors.