Touch Sensor for Drug Delivery Device Dosage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug delivery devices lack an efficient and reliable mechanism for detecting and recording medicament dosages, particularly in devices with complex mechanisms like injection pens, where user input and dosage selection need to be accurately tracked.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor system comprising a rigid element, a flexible touch element, and pressure-sensitive elements that generate an output signal upon pressure application, integrated into the device's design to detect user input and transmit signals for electronics to record medicament dosages, utilizing piezoelectric actuators or vibration motors for vibration control and signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a touch sensor is incorporated into a button or located in the vicinity of a button to detect user input, then the device can generate an activation signal for waking up electronics, but the device lacks precise detection and recording capability for medicament dosages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated touch sensor system: the flexible touch element, pressure-sensitive element, vibration control, and dosage detection are merged into one cohesive unit. This integration achieves precise medicament dosage detection while avoiding the complexity of separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs touch detection, vibration control, and medicament dosage detection. The pressure-sensitive element serves multiple purposes: detecting user touch, measuring applied pressure for dosage determination, and triggering wake-up signals for electronics, thereby achieving universal functionality without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If pressure-sensitive elements are arranged between the rigid element and flexible part to detect pressure, then the device can transmit pressure signals for electronics processing, but the device requires optimization of sensitivity and energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates vibration control through the pressure-sensitive element system. The flexible touch element can be vibrated, and the pressure-sensitive element detects these vibrations to generate signals. This mechanical vibration approach enables reliable signal transmission for touch and dosage detection while consuming minimal energy compared to continuous electronic sensing, as vibration occurs only when needed during user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor operates on a periodic action principle where the flexible element is vibrated in controlled periods rather than continuously. The pressure-sensitive element detects pressure during these periodic vibration cycles, enabling reliable signal transmission only when the user is actively interacting with the device, thereby optimizing energy efficiency by avoiding continuous power consumption.
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 detection and recording of medicament dosages, enhancing user interaction and device functionality by generating wake-up signals for electronics, optimizing sensitivity and energy efficiency through vibration control and signal processing.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing piezoelectric actuators or vibration motors for vibration control and signal processing
Implementation Method 2
at least one pressure sensitive element arranged between the rigid element and the flexible part of the touch element in the gap such that a pressure exercised on the flexible part of the touch element deforms the flexible part, and the deformation at least partly reduces the gap and at least partly transmits the exercised pressure to the pressure sensitive element
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor of a drug delivery device or of a drug delivery add-on device including a rigid element, a touch element arranged in relation to the rigid element such that a gap between at least a part of the rigid element and a flexible part of the touch element is provided, at least one pressure sensitive element arranged between the rigid element and the flexible part of the touch element in the gap such that a pressure applied to the flexible part of the touch element deforms the flexible part to reduce the gap and transmit the applied pressure to the pressure sensitive element, wherein the at least one pressure sensitive element is configured to generate an output signal upon detecting the pressure applied to the pressure sensitive element, the generated output signal being provided for signaling that the flexible part of the touch element has been touched.