Drug delivery device with a system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose, in particular a drug delivery device for subcutaneous injection, preferably multiple use injection device.
Monitoring a therapy comprising recording a data about a delivered drug, in particular a dose and a time when it has been delivered, can provide information relevant for a therapy, in particular treatment of chronic disease. This is of particular importance for the patients who are treated by a continuous drug therapy. For example a set of information about the insulin doses delivered including amount of insulin and time of delivery is a part of a self-control as well as an important information for the physicians.
The drug delivery devices for a self-administration of medicament by the patient are used in a treatment of many diseases, in particular in a treatment of the chronic diseases. A dose may be set by a patient before an injection or it may be predetermined in the fixed dose devices. If a dose can be set, its value may be indicated by a setting mechanism, for example as a numerical value appearing in an indication window disposed in a housing of the device. A significant improvement of these devices is a system for measuring a dose set by the setting mechanism or a delivered dose and allowing for recording of this information in an electronic form. This further allows for displaying a delivered dose on a dedicated element of the device, for example LCD (liquid-crystal-display) and/or storing it for later processing or sending to the other devices.
The devices for monitoring operation of a drug delivery devices enabling measurement of a set dose and/or a delivered dose are known in the prior art. In order to detect a dose, usually a displacement of an element of an injection device is measured during dose setting and possible dose correcting or during drug delivery.
Patent application WO2016198516A1 discloses a data collection apparatus adapted for mounting on a drug delivery device and comprising two parts rotatable with respect to each other, wherein one of said parts is rotationally coupled with a dose set knob. Measurement of an amount of relative rotation between said parts provides an information about a delivered dose of drug, wherein the measurement may be a magnetic measurement.
Patent application EP3386566A1 discloses a device for transmitting data from a drug delivery device, which comprises at least one system for detection of rotational movement configured to detect a rotation of at least one physical part of the drug delivery device. A magnet attached to a rotating part of the drug delivery device is used for detecting rotational movement. The magnet together with an electromagnetic switch mounted in the device form a system for detecting data related to a drug delivery, wherein the data are further transmitted by means of a wireless communication.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,632,509B2 reveals an injection device comprising a system enabling measurement of both a set dose and a delivered dose. This is achieved by the independent measurements of a movement of two rotatable elements of this device.
Patent application WO2013120778A1 concerns a measurement system in an add-on device for a drug delivery device. The system comprises two sensors, wherein one of them detects a rotational movement and the other one detects an axial movement by coupling of a sliding element of the measurement system with a dose setting element which is axially movable.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,511,480B2 describes a system for measuring a distance between a housing and a movable sleeve in a drug delivery device with the use of the magneto-resistive sensors utilizing the phenomenon of change of a sensor material resistance in an external magnetic field. The system enables measuring of a set dose and a detection of delivery of the set dose. However it requires a system of the magnetic elements comprising a permanent magnet fixed in the housing and the second magnet with a determined surface profile mounted on a sleeve which is rotationally and axially movable with respect the housing.
The above solutions for measuring a set dose are usually designed for a specific type of a drug delivery device for example the device comprising helically movable sleeve or axially movable activation button for injecting a dose which is arranged at the proximal end of the device. Furthermore in the known solutions the slide elements are used which can reduce their mechanical durability. The another inconvenience of these solutions is an additional resistance during movement of the elements of a system for dose measurement for example by use of the elements coupling with the mechanism of a drug delivery device.
The aim of the invention is to provide a drug delivery device with a system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose providing a precise measurement of a set dose or a delivered dose with a simple and durable construction and without the above inconveniences.
A drug delivery device comprising a system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose comprising at least one magnetic sensor and a magnetic field source according to the present invention comprises an element carrying the magnetic field source configured so that during delivering a dose the element moves axially with respect to an element carrying the at least one magnetic sensor measuring a magnetic field strength, wherein the system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose comprises a device configured to determine a set dose or a delivered dose based on the magnetic field measurements.
The element carrying at least one magnetic sensor may be a coupling element, a housing or other element which does not move axially during injection.
Preferably the magnetic field source is a permanent magnet.
Preferably the system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose comprises at least two, preferably at least four, more preferably at least six magnetic sensors.
Preferably the magnetic sensors are the Hall sensors.
Preferably the magnetic sensors are disposed collinearly.
Preferably the magnetic sensors are disposed at equal linear intervals.
Preferably the magnetic field source is disposed directly on an element configured so that it moves axially with respect to the element carrying at least one magnetic sensor during dose delivery, wherein this element is in a form of a piston rod, a pull-push control nut, a setting sleeve or a dose selector sleeve in non-automatic devices.
Preferably the device comprises a spring element for storing an elastic energy, preferably a helical spring.
Preferably the system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose comprises a device configured to determine a set dose or a delivered dose based on the magnetic field measurements, preferably in a form of a processor, a microprocessor, a microcomputer or the logic gates system, wherein the device is preferably connected with the sensors by means of a multiplexer.
Preferably the device configured to determine a set dose or a delivered dose based on the magnetic field measurements is connected with an accelerometer.
Preferably the device comprises a display for displaying at least the currently set or delivered dose.
Preferably the device comprises a wireless communication module, preferably Bluetooth module.
Preferably the device comprises a sensor for detecting a dose injection and/or a temperature sensor.
Preferably the device configured to determine a set dose or a delivered dose based on the magnetic field measurements is configured to control the display, the wireless communication module, a sensor for detecting a dose injection and/or temperature sensor.
Construction of a drug delivery device according to the present invention is simple and the device enables a precise measurement of a set dose or a delivered dose without need for using the external devices for example in a form of the dedicated add-ons. Setting a dose may comprise increasing a dose, increasing and resetting a dose or increasing and reducing a dose. Rotation of the magnetic sensors around a magnet does not affect a result of a measurement which depends only on a relative axial position.
A drug delivery device according to the present invention may be also used for measuring a dose delivered by a fixed dose injector allowing for the check of its correct operation.
A drug delivery device according to the present invention may be a disposable device or a reusable device allowing for exchange of a cartridge with medicament.
A drug delivery device according to the present invention may be an automatic applicator, in which at least part of the energy used for expelling a medicament from a cartridge is the energy stored in a spring element. Preferably at least part of the energy is being stored in the spring element during dose setting. Preferably the spring element is a helical spring. During dose setting the spring may be twisted, compressed or twisted and compressed.
Alternatively, in a drug delivery device according to the present invention, the energy used for expelling a medicament from a cartridge is provided directly by a user, in particular by means of pushing a button located on the proximal end of the device.
In a drug delivery device according to the present invention, wherein the device is in a form of an automatic applicator, dose delivery may be activated by pressing a trigger located on a side wall of the housing or pressing a button located on the proximal end of the device.
A device according to the present invention may be used for a delivery of a drug or other liquid preparation by means of a subcutaneous injection, in particular for insulin injection.
The invention is presented in the exemplary embodiments in the figures, wherein:
A system for measuring a dose comprises a magnet 9 disposed on the piston rod 7 pressing the piston 8 closing the medicament container 2 during medicament delivery, seven magnetic sensors 10 in a form of the Hall sensors, disposed colinearly and at equal linear intervals along the piston rod 7. During dose setting the magnet 9 does not move. The magnetic sensors 10 are disposed on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) 11 fixed to the rotatable element 9 which rotates during dose setting, dose correcting and dose delivery. Rotation of the magnetic sensors 10 around the magnet 9 does not affect the result of a measurement which depends only on their relative axial position.
During dose delivery the energy stored in the driving spring 5 causes rotation of a driving nut 12 which drives the piston rod 7 displacing it axially in the distal direction. During its axial movement, the piston rod 7 presses the piston 8 located in the medicament container 2 expelling the medicament from the container. The piston rod 7 is displaced axially by a distance corresponding to amount of the delivered dose. The magnetic sensors 10 measure a strength of a magnetic field generated by the magnet 9 which is displaced axially together with the piston rod 7 by a distance proportional to amount of the delivered dose. The results of these measurements are further converted to information about the dose by a processor 13 (not shown in
In the depicted embodiment, the system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose comprises also LCD 14 located in the knob 3. It can show the information about the delivered dose and other information relevant for a user such as time since the last injection or status of a connection with an external device.
An event related to a drug delivery (injection) may be detected by the magnetic sensors 10 sensing change of a magnetic field strength. The device may also comprise an independent system for detecting injection comprising a sensor 15 (not shown in
All of the magnetic sensors 10 can be identified, hence it is possible to detect movement of the piston rod in both axial directions of the device 1. It is therefore possible for the system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose to detect that the medicament container 2 has been exchanged because the exchange is related with retracting the piston rod 7 i.e. its displacement in the proximal direction such that it can be contacted with the piston 8 closing the new container 2.
In the embodiment shown in
During dose delivery the energy stored in the driving spring 5 causes rotation of a driving nut 12 which drives the piston rod 7 displacing it axially in the distal direction. During its axial movement, the piston rod 7 presses the piston 8 located in the medicament container 2 expelling the medicament from the container, wherein the pull-push nut 16 moves back to its initial position together with a setting mechanism and an indication mechanism. The axial distance travelled by the pull-push nut 16 during dose delivery is proportional to amount of the delivered dose.
In the depicted embodiment, the system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose comprises also LCD 14 located in the assembly 17. It can show the information about the delivered dose and other information relevant for a user such as time since the last injection or status of a connection with an external device. Furthermore possibility of measuring of a set dose allows for displaying the information what amount of a dose has been set.
An event of delivery of a drug dose can be detected as in the first embodiment.
In the embodiment shown in
During dose delivery the energy stored in the driving spring 5 causes axial displacement of the setting sleeve 18 in the distal direction and its movement drives the piston rod 7 causing its axial movement in the same direction. During its axial movement, the piston rod 7 presses the piston 8 located in the medicament container 2 expelling the medicament from the container, wherein the setting sleeve 18 moves back to its initial position together with a setting mechanism. The axial distance travelled by the setting sleeve during dose delivery is proportional to amount of the delivered dose.
An event of delivery of a drug dose can be detected as in the first embodiment.
Besides the described exemplary embodiments of the system for measuring a dose, the other specific means known in the art may be used. Other means may be used in particular in the field of the peripheral devices for data transmitting and displaying.
In the embodiment shown in
A place where the additional magnet 9′ is attached to the piston rod 7 may be different than in this embodiment. The magnet 9′ may be attached to the piston rod 7 or it may be disposed inside the piston rod 7. The magnet 9′ may be also disposed around the piston rod 7 or a part of the piston rod may be made from a magnetic material. All alternative locations of the additional magnet 9′ applies also to the magnet 9.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The system for measuring a set dose or a delivered dose presented as the embodiment 4 and in
In the embodiments according to the embodiments 6, 7 and 8 a magnetic field source is more than one magnet. In these embodiments there are two identical magnets—the magnet 9 and the additional magnet 9′ attached to the same element of the device and shifted with respect to each other in the axial direction. Alternatively the magnets may be attached to different axially movable elements or two elements coupled axially. The magnets 9 and 9′ may not be identical. The system for measuring a dose may comprise more than one additional magnet 9′, preferably two, three or four additional magnets.
The magnets 9 and 9′ generate the same magnetic field but due to a specific distance between the magnets their contributions to the magnetic field, detected by the magnetic sensors 10, are phase-shifted. This allows for achieving better precision of measuring a position of the element carrying a magnetic field source. It also enhances a reliability of the system for measuring a dose, in particular allows for reducing adverse effects of inaccuracies in mechanical system of the drug delivery device manufacturing and, as a result, broadens a scope of the possible implementations.
Additional preferable feature enhancing measurement precision is disposing the magnetic sensors 10 such that the element carrying a magnetic field source is within their range in all possible positions of this element during operation of the device.
The most preferable relative position of the magnets 9 and 9′ depend on many factors such that strength of the magnets, accuracy and position of the magnetic sensors 10 and working range of the element carrying the sensors. The magnets should be spaced so that the magnetic sensors 10 are able to detect a phase shift between the magnetic field generated by the magnets. But if the distance between the magnets is too long, it can adversely affect a size of the system and possible applications in the handy drug delivery devices.
A transverse distance between the magnet (or magnets) and the magnetic sensors 10 may also play a role in practical application, independently of a number of the magnets. It should be selected so that a detection signal is not too weak and so that the magnetic sensors are not saturated due to too high values of a magnetic field strength. Hence too small or too large transverse distance may adversely affect measurement precision. A suitable relative position of the magnets may be determined so that it minimizes inaccuracy of a measurement made according to a procedure shown in
The Characteristic Features of a Signal from the Magnetic Sensors of the Dose Measurement System
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PL431693 | Oct 2019 | PL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2020/060166 | 10/29/2020 | WO |