Optical Sensor Priming Pulse for Drug Delivery Dose Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical sensors in drug delivery devices face challenges in accurately detecting the movement of movable dosage programming components due to variations in pulse rates, leading to measurement uncertainty and inefficiencies in energy usage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating a priming light pulse before measurement light pulses to stabilize the optical sensor's signal behavior, allowing for different pulse rates to be used based on predefined thresholds, which helps in achieving higher spatial resolution and reducing energy consumption by minimizing unnecessary changes in pulse rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the optical sensor operates at high pulse rates to improve measurement precision, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pulse rate adjustable rather than fixed. The system can switch between different pulse rates (e.g., 100 Hz and 1000 Hz) depending on the operational context, allowing optimization between measurement precision and energy consumption. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by avoiding the need to maintain high pulse rates continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pulse rate based on predefined thresholds and operational conditions. By modifying this critical parameter dynamically, the system achieves high measurement precision when needed while reducing energy consumption during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pulse rate is changed to adapt to different measurement conditions, then adaptability is improved, but measurement uncertainty increases due to sensor transition effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a priming light pulse before actual measurements. This priming pulse prepares the optical sensor by stabilizing its signal behavior before the first measurement pulse is emitted. This preliminary stabilization action eliminates measurement uncertainty that would otherwise result from abrupt pulse rate changes, enabling the system to adapt pulse rates while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to monitor sensor status and determine when priming pulses are needed. By continuously assessing the sensor's operational state and comparing it against predefined thresholds, the system dynamically decides whether to insert priming pulses, thus maintaining measurement precision while achieving adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If priming light pulses are added to stabilize the sensor, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the optical sensor system prepare itself through priming pulses before actual measurements. The sensor stabilizes its own signal behavior using the priming pulse, eliminating the need for external intervention or complex pre-conditioning circuitry. This self-preparation mechanism improves measurement precision while adding minimal complexity to the overall 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
This approach enhances the accuracy of dose detection and reduces measurement uncertainty while optimizing energy usage by stabilizing the optical sensor's output and adapting pulse rates according to the sensor's conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the optical sensor is provided and configured to detect movement of the movable dosage programming component relative to the sensor arrangement during dosing of a drug by generating measurement light pulses and detecting reflections of the measurement light pulses from the movable dosage programming component
Implementation Method 2
When the priming light pulse is generated with the selected predefined pulse rate, a signal behaviour of the optical sensor generating the measurement light pulses with the selected predefined pulse rate is stimulated
Data Source
AI summary
A method for driving an optical sensor of a drug delivery device or of a drug delivery add-on device is disclosed, wherein the drug delivery device comprises a movable dosage programming component and the optical sensor is provided and configured to detect movement of the movable dosage programming component relative to the sensor arrangement during dosing of a drug by generating measurement light pulses and detecting reflections of the measurement light pulses from the movable dosage programming component, and wherein the method comprises configuring the optical sensor to generate the measurement light pulses with at least one predefined pulse rate and to generate at least one priming light pulse before one or more measurement light pulses, wherein the at least one priming light pulse is generated with one of the at least one predefined pulse rate.