Syringe Stopper Rod Sensor for Injection Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients face challenges in adhering to medication dosage regimens due to difficulties in correctly administering doses, remembering administration times, and tracking medication expiration and temperature, leading to potential inefficacy in treatment and administrative issues for healthcare providers.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery system with a syringe stopper rod equipped with a sensor and wireless transmitter module that generates a delivery signature upon use, transmitting a drug dose completion signal to a data management component, enabling accurate recording and management of medication administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a patient self-administers medication without monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of dose administration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect delivery signatures (such as plunger displacement, force applied, or time patterns) and provide feedback signals to confirm proper administration. This feedback mechanism ensures that the medication was administered correctly without requiring complex patient training or manual tracking, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device automatically detects and records administration events through sensors that sense physical parameters during injection (such as plunger movement, force application, or device activation). The system self-monitors without requiring patient intervention beyond the basic act of administration, allowing easy patient use while ensuring reliable tracking of dose delivery.
2Measurement precision
If a monitoring device with multiple sensors is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device uses a single multi-functional sensor or sensor array that can detect multiple aspects of the delivery signature (such as position, force, and time) simultaneously. This universal sensing approach achieves high measurement precision for various parameters without requiring separate specialized sensors for each measurement, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple sensing functions into an integrated sensor module or circuit board that monitors various delivery parameters (plunger position, force applied, injection rate) through a unified detection mechanism. This merging of sensing functions achieves comprehensive measurement precision while minimizing the number of discrete components and reducing device complexity.
3Loss of information
If wireless transmission and data management components are added, then loss of information is reduced, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless transmitter operates periodically rather than continuously, transmitting data at scheduled intervals or triggered by specific events (such as after a complete injection cycle). This periodic transmission maintains accurate information records by regularly updating the data management system while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages data transmission without requiring user intervention, transmitting administration records wirelessly when conditions are appropriate (such as when power is available or connection is established). The device self-regulates transmission timing and power usage to maintain information integrity while optimizing energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Drug delivery systems and methods of use thereof for recording administration of a drug dose to a subject are provided. Aspects of the invention include a syringe stopper rod comprising a sensor component that is configured to detect a delivery signature, and to transmit a report comprising a drug dose completion signal to a data management component, e.g., a mobile computing device.