Remote Sensor Processing for Drug Delivery State Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices face challenges such as uncertainty regarding injection timing after removal from cold storage, medication authenticity, expiration, and user operation, with the incorporation of expensive computer hardware being undesirable due to their disposable nature.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery system comprising a drug delivery device with sensors and a communication module that transmits data to an external computing device for determining operational and condition states, using mechanical, electrical, or chemical sensing mechanisms, and controlling device operation or communicating states to other devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive computer hardware is incorporated into the drug delivery device to process sensor data, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data processing function from the drug delivery device itself and relocates it to an external computing device. The drug delivery device retains only simple sensor data collection and transmission capabilities, while all complex analysis, storage, and processing operations are performed externally. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating expensive hardware requirements from the disposable device while maintaining high measurement precision through sophisticated external processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication module as an intermediary between the drug delivery device and external computing devices. This intermediary enables the transfer of sensor data from the simple, low-cost device to powerful external systems for processing. The communication module acts as a bridge that allows the disposable device to leverage external computational resources without incorporating expensive hardware itself.
2Productivity
If complex computer hardware is integrated into the drug delivery device, then data processing capability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes complex data processing hardware from the drug delivery device and places it in external computing devices. The device itself retains only essential functions: sensing, data storage in simple memory, and transmission. This extraction eliminates the need for microprocessors, complex memories, and Internet-accessible communication modules within the device, dramatically reducing hardware complexity while maintaining high productivity through external processing power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the system into two distinct parts: a simple drug delivery device responsible for data collection and transmission, and external computing devices responsible for data processing, analysis, and storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the device remains simple and disposable, while external systems provide sophisticated processing capabilities.
3Reliability
If expensive computer hardware is used in the drug delivery device, then reliability of condition monitoring improves, but cost-effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts sophisticated condition monitoring and analysis capabilities from the drug delivery device and relocates them to external computing devices. The device itself uses simple, reliable sensors and transmission, while external systems perform comprehensive analysis of medication authenticity, device condition, and operational state. This maintains high reliability through sophisticated external monitoring while keeping the disposable device cost-effective.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing sensor data collected by a drug delivery device with an external computing device. The drug delivery device may include a reservoir and a delivery cannula having a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir and a distal end to be received within a patient. The drug delivery device may further include one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data representative of a condition and/or operational state of the drug delivery device, and a communication module configured to transmit information to the external computing device. The external computing device may process the information received from the drug delivery device according to information stored in a memory of the external computing device to determine the condition or the operational state of the drug delivery device and/or generate instructional or informational prompts to be displayed to a user or patient.