Patent Application
20250050038
This disclosure generally relates to receiving of medication delivery devices in reusable accessories. More specifically, this disclosure relates to detection of reversable attachment of medication delivery devices in reusable accessories.
Medication delivery devices are used to deliver a medication to a person. Some medication delivery devices can be used by a person to self-administer medication. Medications delivered by medication delivery devices are not particularly limited to a specific type of external biologically effective drug. For example, medications delivered by medication delivery devices can include, but are not limited to, diabetes medications (e.g., insulin, analogs of insulin, glucagon), blood thinners (e.g., heparin), palliative care pain medications, growth hormone deficiency treatment medications (e.g., somatotropin), fertility treatments (e.g., human chorionic gonadotropin), follicle stimulating hormones, etc. Reuseable accessories are made to be engaged with a medication delivery device when not in use.
The various embodiments described below provide benefits and/or solve one or more of the foregoing or other problems in the art with devices and methods for a reuseable accessory for medication delivery devices. Embodiments include a reusable accessory for use with medication delivery devices, in which the medication delivery device includes one or more adaptive elements and one or more attachment sensors. The adaptive element(s) are configured to removably couple the reusable accessory to a medication delivery device, while the attachment sensor(s) can ensure a proper connection between the reusable accessory and the mediation delivery device delivery device.
In an embodiment, a reusable accessory for receiving a medication delivery device includes a housing, an adaptive element coupled to the housing, and one or more attachment sensors coupled to the housing. The housing is configured to receive a medication delivery device. The adaptive element is configured to reversibly attach to the medication delivery device. The one or more attachment sensors is configured to detect the adaptive element reversibly attaching to the medication delivery device.
In an embodiment, a method is directed to detecting a medication delivery device in a reusable accessory. The reusable accessory includes a housing configured to receive the medication delivery device, an adaptable element coupled to the housing, and one or more attachment sensors. The method includes receiving, via the one or more attachment sensors, sensing data for receiving the medication delivery device in the housing of the reusable accessory, and determining, based on the received sensing data, whether the medication delivery device is reversibly attached, via the adaptable element, to the housing of the reusable accessory. The method also includes presenting, via the at least one user interface, a status of the medication delivery device being reversibly attached to the reusable accessory via the adaptable element.
In an embodiment, a reusable accessory adaption kit includes a first reuseable accessory, a first adaptive element, and a second adaptive element different from the first adaptive element. The first reuseable accessory includes a housing and one or more attachment sensors coupled to the housing. The first adaptive element is configured to reversibly attach to a first medication delivery device while reversibly coupled to the housing of the reusable accessory. The second adaptive element is configured to reversibly attach to a second medication delivery device while reversibly coupled to the housing of the reusable accessory. The first medication delivery device has a geometry that is different from a geometry of the second medication delivery device. The one or more attachment sensors are configured to detect the reversible attachment of the first adaptive element to the first medication delivery device, when the first medication delivery device is received in the housing of the reuseable accessory. The one or more attachment sensors are also configured to detect the reversible attachment of the second adaptive element to the second medication delivery device, when the second medication delivery device is received in the housing of the reusable accessory.
In an embodiment, an adaptable reusable accessory kit includes a reusable accessory and a plurality of adaptive elements for a plurality of delivery medication devices with different geometries. The reuseable accessory includes a housing and one or more attachment sensors coupled to the housing. The plurality of adaptive elements are each configured to reversibly attach to a corresponding medication delivery device in the plurality of delivery medication devices while reversibly coupled to the housing of the reusable accessory. The one or more attachment sensors of the reuseable accessories are configured to detect, for each adaptive element in the plurality of adaptive elements when reversibly coupled to the housing, the reversible attaching of said adaptive element to the corresponding medication delivery device received in the housing.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of systems, methods, and embodiments, and various other aspects of the disclosure. Any person with ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. It may be that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of one element may be implemented as an external component in another, and vice versa. Non-limiting and non-exhaustive descriptions are described with reference to the following drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating principles. In the detailed description that follows, embodiments are described as illustrations only since various changes and modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.
Like reference characters represent like features.
In the following detailed description, particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description. In this description, as well as in the drawings, like-referenced numbers represent elements that may perform the same, similar, or equivalent functions, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, unless otherwise noted, the description of each successive drawing may reference features from one or more of the previous drawings to provide clearer context and a more substantive explanation of the current example embodiment. Still, the example embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings, may be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.
It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Additionally, the present disclosure may be described herein in terms of functional block components and various processing steps of a method. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions.
The scope of the disclosure should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given herein. For example, the steps recited in any method claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims. Moreover, no element is essential to the practice of the disclosure unless specifically described herein as “critical” or “essential”.
This disclosure generally relates to reuseable accessories configured to receive medication delivery devices. More specifically, this disclosure generally relates to detecting receiving of medication delivery devices in reusable accessories. Medication delivery devices, systems thereof, and methods described herein may be used for and/or in conjunction with delivering various medications and managing various diseases in a patient. For example, medications delivered by medication delivery devices can include, but are not limited to, diabetes medications (e.g., insulin, analogs of insulin, glucagon), blood thinners (e.g., heparin), palliative care pain medications, growth hormone deficiency treatment medications (e.g., somatotropin), fertility treatments (e.g., human chorionic gonadotropin), follicle stimulating hormones, etc. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by the inability of a person's pancreas to produce sufficient amounts of the hormone insulin such that the person's metabolism is unable to provide for the proper absorption of sugar and starch. The inability to absorb those carbohydrates sometimes leads to hyperglycemia, i.e., the presence of an excessive amount of glucose within the blood plasma. Hyperglycemia has been associated with a variety of serious symptoms and life threatening long-term complications such as dehydration, ketoacidosis, diabetic coma, cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal failure, retinal damage, and nerve damages with the risk of amputation of extremities.
Often, a permanent therapy is necessary to maintain a proper blood glucose (i.e., amount of glucose in a person's bloodstream or a glucose value (also referred to herein as an “estimated glucose value”) representative of the same, such as a blood glucose level taken by a blood glucose meter or a glucose level generated by a glucose monitor) within normal limits. Maintaining a proper glucose level is conventionally achieved by regularly supplying insulin to a person with diabetes (PWD). Maintaining a proper glucose value may create a significant cognitive burden for a PWD (or a caregiver) and affect many aspects of the PWD's life. For example, the cognitive burden on a PWD may be attributed to, among other things, tracking meals and constant check-ins and minor course corrections of glucose values. The adjustments of glucose values by a PWD may include taking insulin, tracking insulin dosing and glucose, deciding how much insulin to take, how often to take it, where to inject the insulin, and how to time insulin doses in relation to meals and/or glucose fluctuations. A medication delivery device, when used to deliver insulin, can be referred to as an insulin pen. A reusable accessory, when used with an insulin pen, can be referred to as a cap or pen cap.
Embodiments reusable accessories, systems thereof, and methods thereof for medication delivery devices. Such medication delivery devices can be employed to provide multiple, daily delivery of medication, for example, a mixture of rapid-acting and long-acting insulin to a user. For example, medication delivery devices, systems, methods, disclosed herein may allow a user (e.g., a person with diabetes or PWD) to keep track of when a dose of medication was last delivered and monitor whether a dose was missed, with medication delivery devices with varying geometries.
In one or more examples, the disclosed devices, systems, and methods include a housing configured to receive a medication delivery device, one or more adaptive elements that reversibly attach to the medication delivery device, and one or more attachment sensors that detects the reversible attachment between the adaptive element(s) and the medication delivery device. In some examples, the disclosed devices, systems, and methods further include at least one user interface configured to communicate whether the medication delivery device is not fully inserted into the reusable accessory, the time the accelerometer last detected a reversible attachment between the adaptive element(s) and the medication delivery device, and/or that the user has missed a dose of their medication.
In some embodiments, the user interface includes a button, and the attachment sensor(s) can include an accelerometer. In this case, the accelerometer may rest in a low-power mode until the user presses the button to wake the device. Once the user presses the button, the accelerometer switches to a high-sensitivity mode and waits for the signature of the reversible attachment between the adaptive element(s) and the medication delivery device.
In one or more examples, the disclosed devices and methods may include one or more proximity sensors coupled to the housing. The proximity sensor(s) may be located on either end of the housing, radially around the middle, or some combination thereof. In an embodiment, a proximity sensor may be provided on each end of the housing and radially around the middle. The proximity sensor(s) may be used to alert the accelerometer, putting it into a high sensitivity mode. Once in high sensitivity mode, the accelerometer waits for the signature of the reversible attachment between the adaptive element(s) and the medication delivery device.
In one or more examples, the proximity sensor(s) may also detect the type of insulin being inserted into the housing. If the proximity sensor(s) detect that the user is inserting a different type of insulin, the user interface may alert the user of such a change.
In one or more examples, the adaptive element(s) may include interchangeable collars that reversibly couple to the housing, where the interchangeable collars are compatible with different medication delivery devices that have varying geometries.
As referenced herein, “snap fit,” or “snap-fit connection” may refer to a type of fastening mechanism and method to reversibly attach a reusable accessory and a medication delivery device having one end received by the reusable accessory. A snap-fit connection allows the reusable accessory (e.g., a pen cap) and the medication delivery device (e.g., an insulin pen) to be easily assembled or disassembled by applying pressure or snapping them into place. A snap-fit mechanism may include any suitable features such as, e.g., protrusions, undercuts, flexible elements in the components to be joined. For example, a snap-fit may result in a haptic feedback click alerting the user of proper connection.
In one or more examples, the disclosed devices and methods may include interchangeable snap rings that reversibly attach to the housing of the reusable accessory, where the interchangeable rings are compatible with medication delivery devices having varying geometries.
In the illustrated embodiment, the medication delivery management system 100 may be an insulin therapy management system for delivering insulin (e.g., medication delivered by the system 100 includes insulin). For example, the first medication delivery device 110 is a first insulin pen with the reusable accessory 120 being a first pen cap, the second medication delivery device 110 is a second insulin pen with the reusable accessory 122 being a second pen cap. For example, the continuous monitor 130 is a continuous glucose monitor (“CGM”), the blood testing meter 150 is a blood glucose meter (BGM).
The medication delivery devices 110, 120 (e.g., insulin pens) may include dials (not shown) that may be used to configure the pens to inject a dose of medication (e.g., insulin) that corresponds to the dial turn. The medication delivery devices 110, 120 (e.g., insulin pens) may include interfaces for wireless and/or wired communication with one or more of the pen caps, glucose sensor, mobile devices, and other accessories.
A reuseable accessory (e.g., a pen cap) may include one or more user interface elements for presenting or displaying information and receiving user input. For example, the pen caps 112 and 122 include user interface elements 113 and 123, respectively. The one or more user interface elements 113, 123 may include any suitable hardware, circuitry, logic, firmware and other related components of a pen cap or an associated medication delivery device and configured to support user communications and interactions between the pen cap or the medication delivery device and a user. The one or more user interface elements may include one or more output elements including, for example, a visual output device such as a display, an audio output device such as a speaker, a vibration device, etc. The one or more user interface elements may further include one or more input elements, such as, for example, a button, a knob, a touch screen, or panel, etc.
In some embodiments, pen capping information may be displayed at a user interface element of a pen cap to a user. In some embodiments, pen capping information may be announced by a speaker in the pen cap. For example, in some embodiments, a pen cap may provide a timer clock that counts up (or a timer that counts down) from the last time the pen cap was secured to an injection pen. In some embodiments, a pen cap can wirelessly communicate pen capping information to mobile device 140 (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, etc. running a mobile application). As referenced herein, pen capping information may refer to information about when the pen cap is secured to and/or released from an insulin pen (also referred to herein as “capping” and “uncapping” respectively). Pen capping information may also include information about a current capping period (e.g., the time since the last capping), information about a duration of one or more uncapping, the timing (e.g., time-of-day or time elapsed since) of each uncapping and each capping, etc.
In some embodiments, pen capping information may be used to adjust the user experience. In some embodiments, the pen cap may adjust the presentation of therapy relevant information and/or recommendations provided to the user responsive to the pen capping information. For example, in some embodiments, a pen cap may provide bolus recommendations to correct for elevated glucose levels based on data from the CGM 130, but may limit the presentation of such correction bolus recommendations to time periods when the current pen capping duration is greater than a threshold period of time (e.g., at least 3 hours, at least 4 hours, or at least 5 hours). In some embodiments, the pen caps 112 and 122 may provide notifications, alerts, and/or alarms to the user based on the pen capping information (e.g., based on the amount of time that a pen has been capped and/or uncapped). For example, if the pen caps 112 and 122 are removed from an injection pen within a threshold period of time (e.g., within 30 minutes or 1 hour for a rapid-acting insulin, within 6-12 hours for a long-acting insulin) from a previous capping, the pen cap may provide a visual, audible, and/or tactile notification to indicate that the user may have recently used the pen to administer insulin. In some embodiments, the pen caps 112 and 122 may be in wireless communication with the mobile device 140 and one or more notifications, alerts, and/or alarms based on pen capping information may be announced or displayed on the mobile computing device.
A reusable accessory may include one or more attachment elements configured to adapt the reusable accessory to reversibly couple medication delivery devices having various configurations (e.g., sizes, shapes, geometries, etc.). In some embodiments, the one or more adaptive element(s) may include one or more of a snap ring (e.g., snap ring 610 of
In one example embodiment, a snap ring or interchangeable collar may form a snap-fit connection with the medication delivery device (e.g., an insulin pen) when the reusable accessory is connected/secured to the medication delivery device.
A reusable accessory may include one or more attachment sensors (e.g., one or more of sensors 332A, 332B, 332C,340 in
In one example embodiment, the reusable accessory may include one or more accelerometers to detect attaching/detaching (e.g., to detect the capping and/or uncapping). A suitable accelerometer may be configured to detect an acceleration, a motion, and/or a vibration of the reusable accessory. In one example, the accelerometer may be configured to detect a snap-fit connection formed between a snap ring or interchangeable collar and a medication delivery device (e.g., an insulin pen). The accelerometer may also detect a motion of the pen cap, e.g., when a PWD picks up the pen cap.
The attachment sensor(s) may include one or more proximity sensors (e.g., proximity sensors 332A, 332B, 332C in
A reusable accessory may further include a communications interface (not shown) which may include any suitable hardware, circuitry, logic, firmware and other related components of the reusable accessory that are coupled to the control circuitry and configured to support communications between the pen cap and a medication delivery device, between the pen cap and one or more external electronic devices, mobile computing devices, and a cloud networking such as a network. In some cases, the communication interface may use one or more wireless communication techniques such as, for example, near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth low energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, etc. In some embodiments, the communications interface may also support wired communications.
In this embodiment, the medication delivery device 12 is a disposable insulin pen that includes a reservoir 20 in which liquid insulin is held, a plunger 22 at a back end 24 of the insulin pen, and a hypodermic needle (not shown) from which the insulin is closed at the tip 28 of a front part 26 of the insulin pen. It should be appreciated that in a different embodiment, the medication delivery device 12 may be configured to deliver a liquid medication different from insulin, in which the reservoir 20 contains a liquid medication other than insulin. The first open end 16 of the cap 10 can be placed over the front part 26 of the medication delivery device 12 so that the reusable accessor 10 fits onto and covers the front part 26 of the medication delivery device 12. For example, as shown in
It is to be understood that while the embodiments of
In this example, at block 210, the accelerometer is in a high-sensitivity mode and waits to detect a reversable attachment (e.g., a snap-fit). At block 220, the user enters (e.g., inserts) the medication delivery device into the housing until the medication delivery device makes a reversable attachment with the adaptive element(s) of the reusable accessory (e.g., with a snap ring). At block 230, a controller determines whether the accelerometer detects a reversable attachment between the adaptive element(s) and the medication delivery device. When the accelerometer detects the signature of the reversable attachment (e.g., the signature for a snap-fit), the method 200 proceeds to block 240 at which a user interface may indicate that the medication delivery device is fully inserted into the reusable accessory. In some embodiments, the detection of the proper attachment (e.g., of the reversable attachment occurring) may start a clock that counts down until a next dose. When the accelerometer does not detect the signature of the reversable attachment, the method 200 proceeds to block 250 at which the user interface may send an alert to the user that the medication delivery device is not fully inserted.
While three proximity sensors are illustrated in the embodiment of
The reusable accessory 300 further includes an accelerometer 340 (A1) disposed on the housing 320 between the proximity sensor 332B (PS2) and the proximity sensor 332C (PS3). The accelerometer 340 is for detecting attachment/detachment (e.g., the capping and/or uncapping). A suitable accelerometer may be configured to detect an acceleration, a motion, and/or a vibration of the reusable accessory 300. For example, the accelerometer 340 may be configured to detect a reversable attachment (e.g., a snap-fit attachment) formed between an adaptive element (e.g., a snap ring or interchangeable collar) and a medication delivery device (e.g., an insulin pen).
The accelerometer may also detect a motion of the reusable accessory 300, e.g., when a PWD picks up the reusable accessory 300. The one or more proximity sensors can detect an insertion depth of a medication delivery device (e.g., an insulin pen) into the reusable accessory 300. In one example embodiment, when the proximity sensor(s) detect the insertion of an injection pen into a certain depth of the reusable accessory 300, the accelerometer can enter into a high-sensitivity mode to detect a snap-fit attachment between the reusable accessory 300 and the medication delivery device.
In the embodiment depicted in
It is to be understood that the housing 320 may be configured to receive medication delivery devices (e.g., insulin pens) and needles with various sizes. As shown in
It is to be understood that the method 400 disclosed herein may be conducted by one or more processors or controllers, and/or one or more components of a pen cap or a medication delivery device connected to the pen cap unless otherwise specified. The conducting processor/controller may communicate with other components of a medication delivery system (e.g., the medication delivery system 100 of
At block 405 (Wait for user to insert medication delivery device), a controller can control the reusable accessory to be in a standby mode, which waits for a user to begin to insert a medication delivery device (e.g., an insulin pen) into the housing of the reusable accessory. The method 400 may proceed from block 405 to block 410.
At block 410 (Detect medication delivery device entering first position), the controller determines, based on the sensing data from one or more proximity sensors, that the medication delivery device enters a first position within the housing of the reusable accessory. For example, the proximity sensor 332C (PS3) can detects that a tip of the medication delivery device (e.g., a pen tip of an insulin pen) enters the housing of the reusable accessory, e.g., being adjacent to the proximity sensor 332C (PS3) at the first position within the housing of the reusable accessory. The method 400 may proceed from block 410 to block 415.
At block 415 (Wake-up accelerometer into high sensitivity mode), the controller can send a control signal to wake-up the accelerometer 340 (A1) and set the accelerometer 340 (A1) into a high sensitivity mode. For example, the accelerometer 340 (A1) can be in a standby mode to save energy until the controller determines that an inserting pen inserts into a certain depth of the pen cap. That is, the accelerometer 340 (A1) may not be activated until the moment when the inserting pen inserts into the pen cap. The method 400 may proceed from block 415 to block 420.
At block 420 (Medication delivery device enter second position?), the controller determines, based on the sensing data from one or more proximity sensors, whether the medication delivery device enters a second position of the housing of the pen cap. For example, the proximity sensor 332B (PS2) can detect that the medication delivery device reaches its threshold within a specified amount of time and send the sensing data to the controller to determine whether the medication delivery device enters the second position. When the controller determines that the medication delivery device does not reach the proximity sensor 332B (PS2) within a specified amount of time, the method 400 may proceed from block 420 to block 425. When the controller determines that the medication delivery device does reach the proximity sensor 332B (PS2) within a specified amount of time, the method 400 may proceed from block 420 to block 430.
At block 425 (Send alert), the controller can send a control signal to a user interface to send an alert to the user that the medication delivery device is not fully inserted in the reusable accessory.
At block 430 (Detect medication delivery device position), the controller can receive sensing data from the proximity sensor 332A (PS1) to determine a position of the medication delivery device inside the housing of the reusable accessory. The method 400 may proceed from block 430 to block 435.
At block 435 (Medication delivery device enter third position?), the controller determines, based on the sensing data from one or more proximity sensors, whether the medication delivery device enters a third position of the housing of the reusable accessory. For example, the proximity sensor 332A (PS1) can detect that the medication delivery device reaches its threshold within a specified amount of time and send the sensing data to the controller to determine whether the medication delivery device enters the third position. When the controller determines that the medication delivery device does not reach the proximity sensor 332A (PS1) within a specified amount of time, processing may proceed from block 435 to block 445. When the controller determines that the medication delivery device does reach the proximity sensor 332A (PS1) within a specified amount of time, the method 400 may proceed from block 435 to block 440.
At block 440 (Detect connection), the accelerometer 340 (A1) can detect the signature of a reversible attachment (e.g., a snap-fit attachment) between the pen cap and the medication delivery device, and send the sensing data to the controller. In some embodiments, the signature of a snap-fit connection can be a sudden spike in acceleration from the pen “clicking in” and then a sudden deceleration when the “clicking” is complete and the reusable accessory and medication delivery device combination are at rest. The method 400 may proceed from block 440 to block 445.
At block 445 (Send alert), the controller can send a control signal to a user interface to send an alert to the user that the medication delivery device is not fully inserted (e.g., is not securely attached to the reusable accessory). At block 450 (Reversible attachment?), the controller can determine, based on the sensing data from the accelerometer 340 (A1), whether the reversible attachment is formed between the reusable accessory and the medication delivery device. When the controller determines that a reversible attachment is formed between the reusable accessory and the medication delivery device, the method 400 may proceed from block 450 to 460. When the controller determines that a reversible attachment is not formed between the reusable accessory and the medication delivery device, the method 400 may proceed from block 450 to 455.
At block 455 (Send alert), the controller can send a control signal to a user interface to send an alert to the user that the medication delivery device is not properly connected to the housing of the reusable accessory.
At block 460 (Send confirmation to user), the controller can send a control signal to the user interface to send a notification/confirmation to the user that the medication delivery device is fully inserted and secured in the housing of the reusable accessory.
It is to be understood that the method 400′ disclosed herein may be conducted by one or more processors or controllers, and/or one or more components of a reusable accessory or a medication delivery device connected to the reusable accessory unless otherwise specified. The conducting processor/controller may communicate with other components of a medication delivery system (e.g., the medication delivery system 100 of
At block 405′ (Wait for user to remove medication delivery device), a controller can control the reusable accessory being in a standby mode, waiting for a user to begin to remove the medication delivery device (e.g., insulin pen) from the housing of the reusable accessory (e.g., pen cap). The method 400′ may proceed from block 405′ to block 410′.
At block 410′ (Detect medication delivery device leave third position), the controller determines, based on the sensing data from one or more proximity sensors, that the medication delivery device leaves the third position of the housing of the reusable accessory. For example, the controller can determine, based on the sensing data from the proximity sensor 332A (PS1) that the medication delivery device leaves the threshold of the proximity sensor 332A (PS1). The method 400′ may proceed from block 410′ to block 415′.
At block 415′ (Medication delivery device leave second position?), the controller determines, based on the sensing data from one or more proximity sensors, whether the medication delivery device leaves the second position of the housing of the reusable accessory. For example, the controller may determine, based on the sensing data from the proximity sensor 332B (PS2), whether the medication delivery device reaches the threshold of the proximity sensor 332B (PS2) within a specified amount of time. When the controller determines that the medication delivery device does reach proximity sensor 332B (PS2) within a specified amount of time, processing may proceed from block 415′ to block 420′. When the controller determines that the medication delivery device does not reach proximity sensor 332B (PS2) within the specified amount of time, method 400′ may proceed from block 415′ to block 425′.
At block 420′ (Detect medication delivery device position), the controller can receive the sensing data from the proximity sensor 332C (PS3) to determine a position of the medication delivery device inside the housing of the reusable accessory. The method 400′ may proceed from block 420′ to block 430′.
At block 430′ (Medication delivery device leave first position?), the controller determines whether the medication delivery device leaves the first position within the housing of the reusable accessory. For example, when controller determines, based on the sensing data from the proximity sensor 332C (PS3), the medication delivery device reaches the proximity sensor 332C (PS3) within a specified amount of time, processing may proceed from block 430′ to block 440′. When controller determines, based on the sensing data from the proximity sensor 332C (PS3), the medication delivery device does not reach the proximity sensor 332C (PS3) within a specified amount of time, the method 400′ may proceed from block 430′ to block 435′.
At block 435′ (Send alert), the controller can send a control signal to the user interface to send an alert to the user that the medication delivery device is not properly inserted.
At block 440′ (Send confirmation), the controller can send a control signal to the user interface to send a confirmation/notification to the user that the medication delivery device has been fully removed from the housing of the reusable accessory.
It should be appreciated that the method 400 in
The interchangeable collar 510 has a first end 512 and a second end 514 opposite to the first end 512. The first end 512 of the interchangeable collar 510 is coupled to, a first end 522 of the housing 520 of the reusable accessory 500 to form a connection. For example, as shown in
The interchangeable collar 510 is configured to reversibly attach to, via the second end 514, a medication delivery device. In an embodiment, the interchangeable collar 510 may be configured to reversibly attach to a medication delivery device (e.g., one of the medication delivery devices 110, 120 in
As shown in
The interchangeable ring 610 is configured to reversibly attach to the medication delivery device (e.g., one of the medication delivery devices 110, 120 in
In an embodiment, an adaptive element for a reusable accessory (e.g., reuseable accessory 500, reuseable accessory 500) may include both an interchangeable collar (e.g., interchangeable collar 510) and an interchangeable ring (e.g., the interchangeable ring 610). In one example, the interchangeable ring is coupled (e.g., fit into) the housing of the reuseable accessory (e.g., a distal end of the housing), and the interchangeable collar is coupled onto the housing with the interchangeable ring disposed between the housing and the interchangeable collar. The interchangeable collar and the interchangeable ring can each be configured to reversible couple to a medication delivery device received in the housing of the reusable accessory.
The adaptive elements 720A, 720B can include a plurality of interchangeable collars, in the illustrated embodiment shown as shown in
While two reusable accessories 720A, 720B and ten adaptive elements 710 are illustrated in the embodiment of
The reusable accessory 3000 includes a distal end 3102 and a proximal end 3104 opposite to the distal end 3102. The housing 3100 extends along a housing axis X between the distal end 3102 and the proximal end 3104. For example, the distal end 3102 and the proximal end 3104 are also the distal end and the proximal end of the housing 3100. The medication delivery device is inserted into the housing 3100 through the distal end 3104.
The reusable accessory 3000 includes an adaptive element coupled to the housing 3100. The adaptive element is configured to reversibly coupled to the medication delivery device (e.g., an insulin pen). The adaptive element can include a clamping mechanism 3600 configured to clamp onto the medication delivery device received in the housing 3100. In the illustrated embodiment, the medication delivery device can be an insulin pen, and the reuseable accessory 3000 can be a pen cap, as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
The reusable accessory 3000 can also include attachment sensors 3050, 3052 configured to detect the reversible attachment of the adaptive element (e.g., clamping mechanism 3600) to a medication delivery device. The sensors 3050, 3052 are disposed within the housing 3100. As shown in
The clamping mechanism 3600 includes clamps 3612a,b, a spring well 3616, a datum 3615, and a clamp spring 3618 attached at one end to the spring well 3616. In some embodiments, the clamps 3612a,b are attached to the spring well 3616 via a hinge connection. Accordingly, the clamps 3612a,b are configured to swing radially inward toward a center longitudinal axis (e.g., the housing axis X) of the reusable accessory 3000 and engage (e.g., contact) the medication delivery device as the medication delivery device is inserted into the reusable accessory 3000. In response to the clamps 3612a,b swinging radially inward, the spring well 3616 is pushed along the longitudinal axis and compresses the clamp spring 3618.
In some embodiments, at least a portion of the datum 3615 is encompassed within the clamp spring 3618. The datum 3615 is configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the reusable accessory 3000 within the clamp spring 3618 in engagement with the clicker mechanism 3602. Longitudinal movement of the datum 3615 occurs upon insertion of the medication delivery device through the spring well 3616 and into and through the datum 3615. In some embodiments, the datum 3615 is shaped to allow at least an end portion of the medication delivery device (e.g., a portion of the needle and/or needle cover) to pass there through. The datum 3615 includes two longitudinally extending arms that form an opening that allows components of the clicker mechanism 3602 to pass therethrough. The datum 3615 includes a protrusion 3670 that protrudes radially inward of the datum 3615 and positioned along the longitudinal length of the datum 3615 that is configured to ride along a guide path 3905 of the clicker mechanism 3602. In some embodiments, each of the longitudinally extending arms of the datum 3615 includes a protrusion 3665 that protrudes radially inward. Each of the protrusions 3665 is configured to ride along the guide path 3905.
The datum 3615 is configured to move forward and backward along the longitudinal axis of the reuseable accessory 3600 over the bias member 3620, the clicker retainer 3622 and the first clicker body 3624. The linear travel of the datum 3615 along the longitudinal axis of the reuseable accessory 3600 causes the inwardly protruding protrusion(s) 3665 to travel along the guide path 3905 formed by the first and second clicker bodies 3624, 3626 and push the first and second clicker bodies 3624, 3626 to rotate the first and second clicker bodies 3624, 3626 and to compress the bias member 3620. The compressed bias member 3620 then pushes the datum 3615 backward (by a relatively slight length) such that the inwardly protruding protrusion(s) 3665 is stably positioned in the guide path 1905.
In an embodiment, a reuseable element may include one or more adaptive elements with features as described for the adaptable elements in U.S. application Ser. No. 18/398,051, which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, in some embodiments, the clamping mechanism 3600 and/or the clicker mechanism 3602 in the reusable accessory may various features as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 18/398,051 for a clamping mechanism and a clicker mechanism, respectively.
For example, the guide(s) 3665 of the datum 3615 are in a fifth position in the guide path 3905 in the clicker portion 3624. Each of the fourth position of the datum 3615 and the fourth position of the guide(s) 3665 is between the third and second positions along the housing axis X. The first spring 3618 is in the relatively more compressed state (e.g., in the second compressed state). The second spring 3620 is in a (relatively) intermediate compressed state (e.g., in a third compressed state that is more compressed than the second compressed state and is less compressed than the first compressed state).
In the fifth state, the clamping mechanism 3600 of the reuseable accessory 3000 is configured to allow removal of the medication delivery device 3001 from the housing 3100 by pushing/inserting the medication delivery device 3001 further into the housing 3100. This causes the clamping mechanism 3600 to return to the third state (e.g., shown in
For example, the guide(s) 3665 of the datum 3615 are in the fourth position in the guide path 3905 in the clicker portion 3624. The first spring 3618 is in the relatively more compressed state (e.g., in the second compressed state). The second spring 3620 is in the intermediate compressed state.
The attachment sensors 3050, 3052 of the reusable accessory 3000 include a spring well sensor 3050 and a clicker sensor 3052. The spring well sensor 3050 is disposed along a spring well 3616 of the clamping mechanism 3600. The spring well sensor 3050 is configured to detect when the spring well 3616 moves into a specific position relative to the housing 3100. For example, the spring well sensor 3050 is configured to detect when the spring well sensor 3050 moves relative to the housing 3100 into a specific position (e.g., moves into an improper removal position, e.g., in the position of the sixth state in
The spring well 3616 includes a position indicator 3650. The position indicator 3650 triggers the spring well sensor 3050 when moved into a position adjacent to the spring well sensor 3050. For example, the position indicator 3650 can trigger the spring well sensor 3050 when the position indicator 3650 stops in adjacent to the spring well sensor 3050 and when the position indicator 3650 continuously moves into and past being adjacent to the spring well sensor 3050.
The spring well sensor 3050 can be a proximity sensor. For example, the position indicator 3650 may be protrusion on the spring well 3616, and the spring well sensor 3050 may be an infrared sensor that detects when the protrusion is in a position adjacent to the infrared sensor. For example, the position indicator 3650 may be magnet of the spring well 3616 (e.g., disposed on or in the spring well 3616), and the spring well sensor 3050 may be a hall effect sensor that detects when the magnet is in the position adjacent to the hall effect sensor.
The clicker sensor 3052 is disposed along a clicker portion 3624 of the clamping mechanism 3600.
The clicker sensor 3052 is configured to detect when the clicker portion 3624 rotates relative to the housing 3100 into one or more specific position(s). The clicker sensor 3052 is configured to detect when the clicker portion 3624 is in a position that corresponds with the clamping mechanism 3600 moving into and/or being in its engaged/clamped position (e.g., clamps 3612a,b positioned to clamp onto any medication delivery device disposed therebetween, the clamping mechanism 3600 in the fifth state (e.g., clamping mechanism 3600 in the fifth state in
The clicker portion 3624 includes one or more rotation indicators 3652. The rotation indicator(s) 3652 can be disposed on an outer circumference of the clicker portion 3624. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the rotation indicator(s) 3652 can be disposed on the second clicker body 3628 of the clicker portion 3624. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide path 3905 is formed such that the clamping mechanism 3600 is moves into the engaged/clamped position twice in every full rotation of the clicker portion 3624. For example, the moving of the clamping mechanism 3600 from the zero state to the fifth state rotates the clicker portion 3624 by 180 degrees. In the illustrated embedment, the clamping mechanism 3600 has the two engaged/clamped positions and the clicker portion 3624 correspondingly has two of the rotation indicators 3652. For example, as shown in
Each rotation indicator 3652 triggers the clicker sensor 3052 when moved (e.g., rotated) into a position adjacent to the clicker sensor 3052. For example, a rotation indicator 3652 can trigger the clicker sensor 3052 when a rotation indicator 3650 is rotated into a position that is adjacent to the clicker sensor 3052. The rotation of the clicker portion 3624 recurringly rotates the clicker sensor 3052 into the position adjacent to the clicker sensor 3052. For example,
The clicker sensor 3052 can be a proximity sensor. For example, each position indicator 3652 can be protrusion of the clicker portion 3624 (e.g., a protrusion extending radially outward from the clicker portion 3624, from one of the clicker bodies 3626, 3628 of the clicker portion 3624), and the clicker sensor 3052 may be an infrared sensor that detects when the protrusion when in the position adjacent to the infrared sensor. For example, the position indicator 3652 may be magnet of the clicker portion 3052 (e.g., disposed on and/or in the spring well clicker portion 3052, disposed in and/or on the protrusion the clicker portion 3624), and the clicker sensor 3052 may be a hall effect sensor that detects when the magnet is rotated to be in the position adjacent to the hall effect sensor.
As previously discussed, the attachment sensors 3050, 3052 are configured to detect the reversible attachment of the adaptive element (e.g., the clamping mechanism 3600) to a medication delivery device. For example, the sensing from the clicker sensor 3052 can indicate whether the clamping mechanism 3600 is in the engaged/clamped position, and the sensing from the spring well sensor 3050 can indicate whether the clamping mechanism 3600 is in the fifth state (e.g., medication delivery device 3001 clamped in the clamping mechanism 3600) or in the sixth state (e.g., the clamping mechanism 3600 clamping but without a medication delivery device 3001 present, the medication delivery device 3001 was improperly removed). Accordingly, the attachment sensors 3050, 3052 in the illustrated embodiment are used to detect whether the adaptive element (e.g., clamping mechanism 3600) is reversibly attached (e.g., clamped onto) a medication delivery device in the housing 3100. For example, the controller of the reuseable accessory 3000 (e.g., printed circuit board 3054) receives sensing data from each of the attachment sensors 3050, 3052 (e.g., sensing data from the clicker sensor 3052 and sensing data from the spring well sensor 3050), and the controller is configured to detect the reversible attachment of the adaptive element (e.g., clamping mechanism 3600) to a medication delivery device based on the received sensing data.
Any of Aspects 1-22 may be combined with any of Aspects 23-34, any of Aspects 23-29 any be combined with any of Aspects 30-34, and any of Aspects 30-33 may be combined with Aspect 34.
The terminology used in this specification is intended to describe particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms as well, unless clearly indicated otherwise. The terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components.
With regard to the preceding description, it is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the construction materials employed and the shape, size, and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This specification and the embodiments described are exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the claims that follow.
It is to be understood that different features, variations, and multiple different embodiments have been shown and described with various details. What has been described in this application at times in terms of specific embodiments is done for illustrative purposes only and without the intent to limit or suggest that what has been conceived is only one particular embodiment or specific embodiments. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to any single specific embodiments or enumerated variations. Many modifications, variations and other embodiments will come to mind of those skilled in the art, and which are intended to be and are in fact covered by both this disclosure. It is indeed intended that the scope of this disclosure should be determined by a proper legal interpretation and construction of the disclosure, including equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the complete disclosure present at the time of filing.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63518203 | Aug 2023 | US |
