Visual Pairing Verification for Drug Delivery Add-Ons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drug delivery devices lack an efficient and cost-effective method for automating the logging of injection data, leading to potential errors and inaccuracies in patient compliance monitoring, as most devices are purely mechanical and do not integrate electronic data acquisition functionality.

Innovation Solution

A method for pairing a drug delivery device with an add-on device and an external control device, utilizing visual identifiers and image processing to verify correct mounting and pairing, enabling secure, easy, and cost-effective operation, where the external device captures and analyzes images to confirm the predefined combination of identifiers, activating the add-on device from an un-paired to a paired mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If electronic data acquisition functionality is integrated into the drug delivery device, then automated logging of injection data is achieved, but device cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated loggingVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic data acquisition functionality is extracted from the drug delivery device and placed in a separate add-on device. This allows the basic mechanical drug delivery device to remain simple and cost-effective, while the electronic logging capabilities are provided by an external accessory that can be attached when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The add-on device is designed to work with multiple different drug delivery devices through universal mounting mechanisms. This multi-functionality justifies the electronic capabilities by making the add-on device a versatile tool that can enhance various mechanical devices without requiring each device to have built-in electronics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If visual identifier verification is implemented, then pairing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepairing accuracyVSAvoidpairing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of complex electronic communication between devices, the system uses visual identifier codes that can be captured as images. The pairing information is copied into a database through image recognition, creating a digital record without requiring complex hardware interfaces or electronic handshaking protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic pairing verification systems with a visual identification system. Instead of using electronic sensors, magnetic codes, or mechanical interlocks, the system uses visual identifiers that can be captured by a camera and processed through image recognition algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3548120B1Accessory device with pairing feature

Publication Date: 2022.06.22 NOVO NORDISK AS

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AI summary

A method of verifying that a first unit and a second unit being mounted to each other are correctly paired, the first unit comprising a first visual identifier and the second unit comprising a second visual identifier, the method comprising the steps of (i) capturing an image of the first and second unit mounted to each, the image comprising both the first and the second visual identifier, and (ii) processing the captured image to (a) identify the first and the second visual identifier, and (b) determine whether the captured identifiers represent a predefined combination of visual identifiers to thereby verify the pairing.