Smart Syringe Plunger Head Ultrasonic Dosage Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking drug administration, particularly insulin injections, lack automated dosage tracking capabilities, leading to inefficiencies and potential inaccuracies in managing blood glucose levels for diabetic patients.
Innovation Solution
A smart plunger head for syringes equipped with a transducer, microcontroller, and antenna that uses ultrasonic signals to accurately measure and record medication dispensed, transmitting data to a remote device for tracking and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual measurement and recording of drug administration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of dosage tracking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-tracking of medication administration. The transducer continuously measures plunger position and calculates dosage dispensed without requiring manual intervention. The microcontroller automatically records timing and quantity data, and the wireless interface autonomously transmits information to remote devices, eliminating the need for manual measurement and recording while maintaining high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical recording methods with electronic measurement and digital tracking. The transducer converts mechanical plunger movement into electrical signals for automated measurement. The microcontroller processes these signals electronically to calculate dosage, replacing manual calculation and paper-based recording systems with automated electronic tracking
2Productivity
If reusable pens with dosage tracking are developed, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The smart plunger head design integrates multiple functions into a single device component. It combines transducer for position sensing, microcontroller for data processing, wireless interface for communication, and power management all within the plunger head assembly. This multi-functional integration enables reusable pens to provide both medication delivery and automated dosage tracking capabilities, improving productivity while managing complexity through functional consolidation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds the smart tracking components within the existing syringe/plunger structure. The transducer, microcontroller, and other electronic components are integrated into the plunger head, which nests within the syringe barrel. This nested arrangement allows the addition of dosage tracking functionality to conventional syringe designs without requiring a complete system redesign, thereby improving productivity while controlling complexity
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 precise tracking of medication dosage and timing, improving patient care by allowing caregivers to adjust treatments based on accurate injection history, reducing the need for manual recording, and enhancing safety through alerts for temperature and air bubbles.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer that sends and receives ultrasonic signals
Implementation Method 2
measure the time it takes for the ultrasonic signals to travel through the medication in the syringe to an end of the barrel and return to the transducer
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and methods for tracking administering of medication by syringes is provided. The apparatus may include a plunger head for a syringe. The plunger head may include a transducer that sends and receives ultrasonic signals. The plunger may also include an antenna and a microcontroller that interfaces with the transducer and the antenna. The plunger may also include a power source that powers the microcontroller and the transducer. The transducer, the antenna, the microcontroller, and the power source may be at least partially encapsulated in an elastomer housing that fits within a barrel of the syringe. The microcontroller may be programmed with instructions to calculate data representative of the quantity of medication dispensed from the barrel and transmit the data to a remote device via the antenna.