Passive RF Injection Pen Tracking Without Battery Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic injection devices face issues with energy supply, leading to malfunctions or incorrect dosages due to low battery conditions, which can render them unusable.
Innovation Solution
The use of passive radio frequency (RF) signals for data transmission in injection devices, utilizing a resonating assembly with components like magnets, resonators, and oscillators to modulate RF signals based on plunger rod positions, eliminating the need for batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If electronic components and batteries are used for data transmission in injection devices, then data transmission capability is improved, but energy consumption increases leading to battery depletion and device malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic active transmission systems with a passive mechanical resonance system. The plunger rod's mechanical movement modulates an RF antenna's resonance characteristics, enabling data transmission about medicament delivery status without requiring powered electronic components or batteries in the injection device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external RF interrogation device as an intermediary. This external device provides the RF energy and processes the data, allowing the injection device to transmit information passively through resonance modulation without needing its own power source.
2Loss of information
If batteries are used to power electronic components, then data transmission function is enabled, but device reliability decreases due to battery depletion risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source and active electronics from the injection device itself, placing them in an external interrogation device. This eliminates battery depletion risks in the injection device while maintaining data transmission functionality through passive resonance-based communication.
3Use of energy by moving object
If passive RF modulation is used for data transmission, then energy consumption is reduced eliminating battery needs, but device complexity increases due to resonating assembly components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the plunger rod serve dual functions: delivering medicament and modulating RF resonance signals. The existing mechanical components (plunger rod, spring, eccentric elements) are utilized for both their primary mechanical function and as resonance modulation elements, avoiding additional dedicated complexity.
4Use of energy by moving object
If resonating assembly components are added for passive RF modulation, then battery elimination is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the resonance modulation components with existing structural elements of the injection device. The plunger rod, spring, and eccentric elements that already exist for mechanical operation are configured to also serve as the resonance modulation system, eliminating the need for separate dedicated resonance components and simplifying manufacturing.
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 reliable data transmission without energy harvesting, allowing for a disposable design with a meter-long communication range and no user intervention, ensuring accurate medicament dosage monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a radio frequency (RF) antenna attached to the tubular side and configured to receive an interrogation signal from an external device
Implementation Method 2
the resonating assembly includes a magnet attached to the plunger rod and one or more resonators attached to the tubular side and configured to change their RF characteristics based on at least one of a linear and angular position relative to the magnet
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to an injection device including: a reservoir including a wall defining a proximal end, a distal end and a tubular side, a plunger rod configured to be movable within the reservoir in a direction from the distal end to the proximal end, a radio frequency (RF) antenna attached to the tubular side and configured to receive an interrogation signal from an external device, and a resonating assembly configured to receive the interrogation signal from the RF antenna and to generate a modulated RF signal having a frequency associated with a position of the plunger rod.