# US 11,077,254 B2 · Embedded multiple-part sensor within a plunger rod to capture and transit injection information

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- Number: US 11,077,254 B2
- Document ID: US11077254B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/469,211
- Filed: 2017-12-13
- Published: 2019-11-14
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14
- Assignees: MedImmune, LLC
- Applicants: Medimmune, LLC
- Inventors: Janardhanan Anand Subramony; Michael C. Song
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077254B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/31568: {Means keeping track of the total dose administered, e.g. since the cartridge was inserted}
- A61M 5/50: having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile {(retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321)}
- A61M 2205/0216: Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
- A61M 2205/33: Controlling, regulating or measuring
- A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
- A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth®
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A smart plunger rod adapted to push a medication out of a syringe is disclosed. The plunger rod comprises a shaft sized and dimensioned to act on a piston on the syringe and a finger actuated head portion containing at least two subunits of a wireless sensor. In a pre-activation configuration, the subunits are spaced apart from each other by a physical barrier and the wireless sensor is non-operational. In a post-activation configuration, the subunits are connected to each other and the sensor is operational to send a signal. A user activates the finger actuated head portion to reversibly move the physical barrier and moves the plunger rod from the pre-activation configuration to the post-activation configuration. The signal sent by the sensor comprises information relating to ejecting the medication out of the syringe, and is received by a remote receiver.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plunger rod adapted to push a medication out of a syringe comprising a shaft sized and dimensioned to act on a piston on the syringe and a finger actuated head portion comprising at least two subunits of a wireless sensor,
wherein in a pre-activation configuration the at least two subunits are spaced apart from each other by a physical barrier and the wireless sensor is non-operational,
wherein in a post-activation configuration the at least two subunits are connected to each other and the sensor is operational to send a signal,
wherein a user activates the finger actuated head portion to move the physical barrier and moves the plunger rod from the pre-activation configuration to the post-activation configuration;
wherein the at least two subunits of the sensors comprises an antenna subunit and a wireless transmission subunit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plunger rod of claim 1, wherein the physical barrier is flexible and reverts back to an original configuration after being moved.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The plunger rod of claim 2, wherein the physical barrier comprises a cantilevered ledge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The plunger rod of claim 1, wherein the antenna subunit comprises an antenna wire wrapped around an antenna holder with at least one electrical lead positioned at the bottom of the antenna holder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The plunger rod of claim 4, wherein the wireless transmission subunit comprises a wireless transmission chip and at least one contact switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The plunger rod of claim 5, wherein the at least one contact switch contacts the at least one electrical lead in the post-activation configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The plunger rod of claim 1, wherein the finger actuated head portion comprises a sensor housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The plunger rod of claim 7, wherein the sensor housing defines a slot sized and dimensioned to receive the wireless transmission subunit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The plunger rod of claim 8, wherein the sensor housing further comprises an orientation lock sized and dimensioned to match with an orientation notch on the antenna subunit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The plunger rod of claim 1 further comprising a flexible cover located on top of the finger actuated head portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The plunger rod of claim 10, wherein the flexible cover is elastomeric.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The plunger rod of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises information relating to pushing the medication out of the syringe.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The plunger rod of claim 1, wherein the signal is received by a remote receiver.