A sensor device for attachment to an injection device
AssigneeSanofi
InventorMichael Helmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A supplementary device configured to be releasably attached to a distal end of a drug delivery device, the supplementary device comprising primary electronics, a non-contact acceleration sensor and a low power processor. The non-contact acceleration sensor is directed towards a proximal end of the drug delivery device and the low power processor is configured to: receive the signals output from the non-contact acceleration sensor; determine based on the signals that an outer needle cap of the drug delivery device has been removed; and in response to determining that an outer needle cap of the drug delivery device has been removed, send a wake-up signal to the primary electronics of the supplementary device.
Claims19
A supplementary device configured to be releasably attached to a distal end of a drug delivery device, the supplementary device comprising:
- primary electronics;
- a non-contact acceleration sensor located on or within the supplementary device, the non-contact acceleration sensor being directed towards a proximal end of the drug delivery device;
- and
- a low power processor configured to:
- receive the signals output from the non-contact acceleration sensor;
- determine based on the signals that an outer needle cap of the drug delivery device has been removed;
- in response to determining that an outer needle cap of the drug delivery device has been removed, send a wake-up signal to the primary electronics of the supplementary device.
A supplementary device according to any preceding claim, wherein the non-contact acceleration sensor is positioned so as to detect movement of a user's hand as it removes the outer needle cap.
A supplementary device according to any preceding claim, wherein the non-contact acceleration sensor is an electromagnetic reflection sensor.
A supplementary device according to any preceding claim, wherein the supplementary device further comprises a locking sensor configured to output signals indicative of whether the supplementary device is secured to the drug delivery device or not.
A supplementary device according to any preceding claim, wherein the supplementary device further comprises a wireless unit configured to transmit data to one or more external devices.
A method of operating a supplementary device configured to be releasably attached to a distal end of a drug delivery device, the method comprising:
- providing a non-contact acceleration sensor located on or within the supplementary device and being directed towards a proximal end of the drug delivery device to output signals;
- receiving the signals output from the non-contact acceleration sensor at a low power processor;
- the low power processor determining based on the signals that an outer needle cap of the drug delivery device has been removed;
- and
- in response to determining that the that an outer needle cap of the drug delivery device has been removed, sending a wake-up signal to primary electronics of the supplementary device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.