US 11,446,212 B2 · Multiple cavity carrier apparatuses for detecting removal of items from cavities and their replacement

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are provided to detect when items are removed from a multiple cavity carrier (MCC) that stores items (e.g., pen needle assemblies) in respective cavities. A separate, reusable data collection unit (DCU) can be mounted to the MCC and has sensors for detecting cavity status (e.g., empty or filled with an item). The DCU stores data related to time stamps, optional dates, and cavity locations of item removal from and optional used item return to respective ones of the MCC cavities to help users track item usage (e.g., pen needle assemblies) to improve medication delivery management such as insulin injections with an injection pen and pen needle assemblies. Indicators can be generated to indicate from which cavity the next item should be extracted to encourage injection site rotation.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A reusable data collection unit detachably connected to a dispenser, the dispenser having cavities configured to enclose respective items for storage therein and subsequent removal, the data collection unit comprising:

a base housing detachably connected to the dispenser;
plural sensors provided on the base housing and configured to detect presence and absence of the items in the respective cavities and generate corresponding sensor data;
a memory device configured to store the sensor data;
and
a processor provided in the base housing and configured to analyze the sensor data and determine a time stamp of removal of the items from respective ones of the cavities, and
wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor data and determine which of a proposed injection sites have been used based on detection of the absence of items from their corresponding cavities, and select a next proposed injection site based on a designated pattern for using the items on the patient, and generating an indication that indicates which of the items in the cavities to remove from the dispenser and use next on a patient.

3 more elements

A medical instrument dispensing device having a reusable data collection unit detachably connected to a dispenser, the dispenser having cavities configured to house a plurality of sterile medical instruments for storage therein and subsequent removal, the data collection unit comprising:

a base housing detachably connected to the dispenser;
plural sensors provided on the base housing and configured to detect presence and absence of each of the plurality of sterile medical instruments in the corresponding cavity and generate corresponding sensor data;
a memory device configured to store the sensor data;
and
a processor provided in the base and configured to analyze the sensor data and determine a dataset to characterize the removal of at least one of the plurality of sterile medical instruments from its corresponding cavity,
wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor data and determine which of a proposed use sites have been used based on detection of the absence of items from their corresponding cavities, and select a next proposed use site based on a designated pattern for using the items on the patient, and generating an indication that indicates which of the medical instruments in the cavities to remove from the dispenser and use next on a patient.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple cavity carrier apparatuses for detecting removal of items from cavities and their replacement

Life of this patent

Multiple cavity carrier apparatuses for detecting removal of items from cavities and their replacement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15