Supplemental Injection Device Optical Dose Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of an RFID unit with a value sensor in pre-filled disposable injection devices increases costs, and existing supplementary devices for monitoring insulin injection do not efficiently address the need for cost-effective and user-friendly tracking of medicament doses.

Innovation Solution

A supplemental device with an electromechanical switch arrangement and a processor that attaches to an injection device, featuring an optical character recognition system and image capture device to detect and display the dialled medicament dose, reducing the need for manual data logging and enhancing user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an RFID unit with a value sensor is integrated into pre-filled disposable injection devices, then monitoring capability is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring capabilityVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is divided into two separate components: an RFID unit integrated into the reusable injection device housing, and a value sensor integrated into the disposable medicament container. This segmentation allows the expensive monitoring components to be shared across multiple disposable containers, reducing the per-unit cost while maintaining monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The RFID unit in the reusable housing serves multiple functions: it communicates with the value sensor in the disposable container, stores patient-specific parameters, provides user interface functions, and enables wireless communication with external devices. This multi-functionality consolidates monitoring capabilities into a single reusable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a supplemental device with OCR and image capture is used, then manual data logging is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual data loggingVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supplemental device acts as an intermediary between the injection device and the user/external systems. It captures images of the dosage window, performs OCR to extract dose information, and automatically transmits this data to blood glucose monitoring systems, eliminating the need for manual data entry while keeping the injection device itself simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of reading and recording dose information is replaced by an automated optical system. The image capture device and OCR software automatically extract dose information from visual displays, substituting human reading and manual data entry with automated optical recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10799640B2Pen-type drug injection device and electronic add-on monitoring module for monitoring and logging dose setting and administration

Publication Date: 2020.10.13 SANOFI AVENTIS DEUT GMBH

AI summary

A supplemental device for attachment to an injection device. A supplemental device for attachment to an injection device, the supplemental device comprising: a housing; an electromechanical switch arrangement, the electromechanical switch arrangement comprising: a main body; and a switching member, the switching member having a protrusion arranged to protrude from the main body so as to contact a surface of the injection device while the supplemental device is attached to the injection device; and a biasing member configured to bias at least a part of the main body of the electromechanical switch arrangement against the injection device while the supplemental device is attached to the injection device.