# US 11,439,763 B2 · Integration of an ultrasound sensor in a plunger stopper of an injection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,763 B2 - Document ID: US11439763B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/763,358 - Filed: 2018-11-12 - Published: 2020-10-22 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-14 - Assignees: Sanofi - Applicants: Sanofi - Inventors: Bernd Kuehn; Michael Schabbach; Dietmar Hammen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439763B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments} - A61M 5/31566: {Means improving security or handling thereof} - A61B 8/56: {Details of data transmission or power supply} - A61M 5/24: Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or cartridges, e.g. automatic - A61M 5/31511: {Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod (A61M5/5066 takes precedence)} - A61M 2005/3125: {Display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3327: Measuring - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - A61M 2205/3561: local, e.g. within room or hospital - G16H 20/17: delivered via infusion or injection - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to an injection device (102) that includes a medicament reservoir (103), a stopper (105) including a rigid core (125) and an ultrasound probe (122) disposed in a housing, the ultrasound probe configured to transmit an emitted ultrasound signal through the rigid core along a longitudinal direction of the rigid core into the medicament reservoir and to receive an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections including at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir, a control component (124a) configured to be electronically coupled with the ultrasound probe and to process the ultrasound signal to generate injection device data, and an antenna (124c) configured to be electronically coupled with the control component and to transmit the injection device data to an external computing device (104). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An injection device comprising: a medicament reservoir; a stopper comprising a rigid housing made of at least one of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) or a cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) and an ultrasound probe disposed embedded in the rigid housing, the ultrasound probe configured to transmit an emitted ultrasound signal through the rigid housing along a longitudinal direction of the rigid housing into the medicament reservoir and to receive an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections comprising at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir; a control component configured to be electronically coupled with the ultrasound probe and to process the ultrasound signal to generate injection device data; and an antenna configured to be electronically coupled with the control component and to transmit the injection device data to an external computing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound signal is within a frequency range of about 2 MHz to about 12 MHz. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is molded within an inner wall of a closed end of the stopper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, the injection device data comprises data associated with an amount of medicament within the medicament reservoir. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the rigid housing between the ultrasound probe and the medicament reservoir has a thickness from about 0.1 mm to about 4 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is a first probe among multiple probes disposed in the stopper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The injection device of claim 1, wherein the stopper includes multiple ultrasound probes, and each ultrasound probe is configured to operate on a respective frequency. ### Claim 8 A medicament injection system comprising: an injection device; and an external computing device, wherein the injection device comprises: a medicament reservoir, a stopper comprising a rigid housing made of at least one of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) or a cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) and an ultrasound probe embedded in the rigid housing, the ultrasound probe configured to transmit an emitted ultrasound signal through the rigid housing along a longitudinal direction of the rigid housing into the medicament reservoir and to receive an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections comprising at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir; a control component configured to be electronically coupled with the ultrasound probe and to process the ultrasound signal to generate injection device data, and an antenna configured to be electronically coupled with the control component and to transmit the injection device data to the external computing device, and wherein the external computing device is configured to: receive and process the injection device data; and display information related to the processed injection device data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The medicament injection system of claim 8, wherein the external computing device comprises one of a mobile device, a smart watch, a tablet, and a laptop. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The medicament injection system of claim 8, wherein the ultrasound probe is embedded in an inner wall of a closed end of the stopper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The medicament injection system of claim 8, comprising an energy source configured to provide energy to the ultrasound probe and the control component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The medicament injection system of claim 8, wherein the injection device data comprises data associated with an amount of medicament within the medicament reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The medicament injection system of claim 8, wherein the stopper includes multiple ultrasound probes, and each ultrasound probe is configured to operate on a respective frequency. ### Claim 14 A method for detecting an amount of medicament within an injection device, the method comprising: generating a trigger associated with an operation of the injection device; in response to generating the trigger, transmitting, by an ultrasound probe, an emitted ultrasound signal that is directed towards a medicament reservoir included in the injection device, the medicament reservoir being separated by a rigid portion of a stopper from the ultrasound probe, the rigid portion of the stopper being made of at least one of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) or a cyclo-olefin polymer (COP), the ultrasound probe being embedded in the rigid portion; receiving, by the ultrasound probe, an ultrasound signal generated by reflections of the emitted ultrasound signal, the reflections comprising at least a reflection from a distal end of the medicament reservoir; processing the ultrasound signal to generate injection device data comprising the amount of medicament in the medicament reservoir; and transmitting the injection device data to an external computing device configured to: receive and process the injection device data; and display information related to the processed injection device data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the ultrasound signal is within a frequency range of about 2 MHz to about 12 MHz. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the ultrasound probe is molded within an inner wall of a closed end of the stopper. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein an energy source is configured to provide energy to the ultrasound probe.