Rotary Sensor Assembly with Axial Switch for Drug Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drug delivery devices lack an efficient and reliable system for automating the logging of dose data, leading to potential errors in patient injection records, which can mislead medical decisions.

Innovation Solution

A sensor assembly with rotary and axial position sensors, combined with electronic circuitry, is integrated into a drug delivery device to detect and log dose data accurately, ensuring proper function and error detection, and allowing for automatic logging of drug expulsion amounts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a rotary sensor with axial position contacts is used to detect dose data, then automated logging of dose data is achieved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated logging of dose dataVSAvoidcomplexity of sensor assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor assembly is divided into multiple independent contact structures (first, second, and third axial position contacts) that can be individually configured and positioned. Each contact structure operates independently to detect specific axial positions, allowing the system to achieve automated logging through modular components rather than a single complex sensor unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces axial position detection as a third dimension alongside rotational position detection. By adding axial contacts that engage with axial position sensor segments, the system gains the ability to detect both rotational and axial movements, enabling comprehensive automated logging of dose data while maintaining manageable complexity through structured multi-dimensional sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple axial position contacts are used to detect different sensor segments, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of dose data detectionVSAvoidnumber of contact structures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each axial position contact structure is locally optimized to detect specific axial position sensor segments. The first axial position contact detects first axial position segments, the second detects second axial position segments, and the third detects third axial position segments. This localized detection approach ensures high reliability for each specific measurement while keeping each individual contact structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor assembly is pre-configured with multiple axial position contacts positioned to detect different sensor segments before operation begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the rotor rotates and axial movement occurs, the contacts are already in position to accurately detect the intended segments, improving reliability without requiring complex real-time processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If axial position contacts are arranged to contact different sensor segments, then measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of axial position detectionVSAvoidprecision of contact alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The axial position detection is segmented into multiple independent contact-point-segment pairings. Each contact structure is designed to detect a specific segment, allowing for independent manufacturing and assembly of each contact-point relationship. This segmentation reduces the overall manufacturing precision requirement compared to a single contact system that would need to simultaneously achieve high precision for multiple detection points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor component serves as an intermediary element that carries both the rotational position segments and the axial position contacts. This intermediary structure allows the transmission of positional information from the rotor to the stationary sensor segments through a well-defined mechanical interface, reducing the direct manufacturing precision requirements between the contacts and the sensor assembly by utilizing the rotor's controlled geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11052198B2Rotary sensor assembly with axial switch and redundancy feature

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 NOVO NORDISK AS

AI summary

A sensor assembly comprising a first rotary sensor part with a plurality of individual electrically conducting axial position sensor segments arranged in a circumferential pattern, and a second rotary sensor part arranged rotationally relative to the first portion and comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged electrically interconnected axial position contacts adapted to be arranged in contact with the axial position sensor segments. The assembly further comprises actuator means for axially moving the axial position contacts between a connected and a dis-connected position, wherein the axial position contacts and the axial position sensor segments are arranged such that for a given rotational position at least two axial position contacts each are in contact with a different axial position sensor segment.