# US 11,298,471 B2 · Limiting life time of dispense assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,471 B2 - Document ID: US11298471B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/401,007 - Filed: 2019-05-01 - Published: 2019-08-15 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-31 - Assignees: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH - Inventors: Michael Caspers; Ilona Eggert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298471B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/5086: {for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile} - A61M 5/172: electrical or electronic - A61M 5/20: Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically (A61M5/142 takes precedence) - A61M 5/2448: {comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing} - A61M 5/34: Constructions for connecting the needle {, e.g. to syringe nozzle or needle hub (connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014)} - 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 2205/12: with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit - A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/273: preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables - A61M 2205/276: preventing unwanted use - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/507: Head Mounted Displays [HMD] - A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient - 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 The technical problem of the present invention to provide a medical device, which exhibits an increased safety of the device and facilitates a safe use is solved by medical device for delivering at least one drug agent, comprising a sensor, a control unit and an attachable dispense assembly, wherein the sensor is configured to detect attachment of the dispense assembly to the medical device, wherein the control unit is configured to determine at least based on a signal from the sensor whether the end of life of the dispense assembly is reached and wherein the medical device is configured to indicate the end of life of the dispense assembly. The technical problem is further solved by a method according to the invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drug delivery device configured to deliver at least one medicament, the drug delivery device comprising: a main body; a cartridge retainer configured to receive a cartridge of a medicament, the cartridge retainer including a hinged connection to the main body and being moveable between an open position and a closed position; one or more first sensors configured to detect the presence of the cartridge in the cartridge retainer, wherein the one or more first sensors are pressure activated switches; and one or more second sensors configured to detect that the cartridge retainer is in the closed position, wherein the one or more second sensors are selected from the group of sensors consisting of a light barrier sensor, a camera, a barcode reader, and a proximity sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drug delivery device further comprises a controller including the one or more first sensors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the one or more first sensors are each connected to digital inputs of the controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one motor drive for expulsion of the medicament from the cartridge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drug delivery device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one motor drive is a stepper motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to a plurality of human interface elements or push buttons. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The drug delivery device according to claim 2, further comprising a display, wherein the controller is configured to provide device information to the display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drug delivery device according to claim 7, wherein the device information includes information regarding the medicament contained within the cartridge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The drug delivery device according to claim 7, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode display (OLED). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drug delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a second cartridge retainer configured to receive a second cartridge of a second medicament, the second cartridge retainer comprising a second hinged connection to the main body and being moveable between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a replaceable cartridge containing a medicament; and a drug delivery device configured to deliver at least one medicament, the drug delivery device comprising: a main body; a cartridge retainer configured to receive the replaceable cartridge of the medicament, the cartridge retainer including a hinged connection to the main body and being moveable between an open position and a closed position; one or more first sensors configured to detect the presence of the replaceable cartridge in the cartridge retainer, wherein the one or more first sensors are pressure activated switches; and one or more second sensors configured to detect that the cartridge retainer is in the closed position, wherein the one or more second sensors are selected from the group of sensors consisting of a light barrier sensor, a camera, a barcode reader, and a proximity sensor. ### Claim 12 A method of detecting the presence of a cartridge of a medicament in a cartridge retainer of a drug delivery device, the method comprising: providing the drug delivery device including: a main body; the cartridge retainer configured to receive the cartridge of medicament, the cartridge retainer including a hinged connection to the main body and being moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a controller including: one or more first sensors configured to detect the presence of the cartridge in the cartridge retainer, wherein the one or more first sensors are pressure activated switches; and one or more second sensors configured to detect that the cartridge retainer is in the closed position, wherein the one or more second sensors are selected from the group of sensors consisting of a light barrier sensor, a camera, a barcode reader, and a proximity sensor; the controller receiving signals from the one or more first sensors and the one or more second sensors via digital inputs of the controller; and the controller determining from the received signals whether the cartridge is present in the cartridge retainer and whether the cartridge retainer is in the closed position.