# US 9,435,666 B2 · Optical determination of the position of the stopper in glass ampoules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,666 B2 - Document ID: US9435666B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/415,241 - Filed: 2009-03-31 - Published: 2009-12-03 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-07 - Assignees: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: René Richter - Inventors: René Richter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435666B2 ## CPC - G01B 11/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) - A61M 5/1684: {by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion} - A61M 5/24: Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or cartridges, e.g. automatic - A61M 5/31525: {Dosing (burettes, pipettes B01L3/02)} - G01B 11/024: {by means of diode-array scanning} - G01D 5/342: {the sensed object being the obturating part} - G01F 11/029: {provided with electric controlling means (G01F11/022 and G01F11/024 take precedence)} - A61M 5/1452: {pressurised by means of pistons} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - A61M 2205/6063: Optical identification systems - G01F 23/292: Light {, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet} - G01F 23/2927: {for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element} - Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - 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)} - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method for determining a position of a component in a medical apparatus along a travel distance. The method comprising the steps of generating light by a light source; fixing the component movably along a travel distance; providing a photosensitive sensor surface, and generating a silhouette of the component on the sensor surface by irradiating the component with light from the light source. Data relating to the silhouette is converted by a data processing unit into the position of the component along the travel distance. The component whose position is determined may comprise a stopper of a cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining a position of a stopper of a cartridge configured to be inserted in a pen medical apparatus along a travel distance, wherein the stopper comprises a front edge and a rear edge, the method comprising the steps of: generating light by a light source on a first side of the cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises a pierceable seal; fixing the stopper movably along the travel distance towards the pierceable seal of the cartridge, the stopper movable along the travel distance by being functionally connected to a plunger stem; providing a photosensitive sensor surface on a second side of the cartridge opposite the first side; generating a silhouette of the stopper on the sensor surface by irradiating the stopper with light from the light source; and converting the data relating to the silhouette by a data processing unit into the position of the stopper along the travel distance, wherein converting the data relating to the silhouette into the position of the stopper along the travel distance comprises: determining which one of a first cartridge region, a second cartridge region, and a third cartridge region the stopper is located in, wherein the first cartridge region comprises a cartridge end region, wherein the third cartridge region comprises a cartridge shoulder region, and wherein the second cartridge region comprises a cartridge region residing between the first cartridge region and the third cartridge region; using the determination as a basis to decide between different ways of determining the position of the stopper, and determining, in accordance with the decision, the position of the stopper, wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the front edge but not the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the first cartridge region, wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the front edge and the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the second cartridge region, and wherein the data processing unit uses the position of the rear edge and not the position of the front edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the third cartridge region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises a stopper of a cartridge for a pharmaceutical and the pharmaceutical comprises insulin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data processing unit is integrated in the medical apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a separate data processing unit is operated together with the medical apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source consists of an LED row. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the LED row gives a diffuse beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the individual LEDs of the LED row have a small aperture angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a converging lens is inserted between the LED row and the stopper. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, where the converging lens is a cylindrical lens. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source generates red light. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein laser light is generated by at least two light sources aligned side by side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein red laser light is generated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor surface consists of a row of arranged sensor elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor elements consist of a CCD line-scan camera. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a sensitivity is greatest with red light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a sensitivity is greatest with red light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the data processing unit determines the position of the stopper using the position of the front edge and the position of the rear edge, a maximum measurement error of the position of the stopper corresponds to half the width of a pixel of the photosensitive sensor surface. ### Claim 18 A device for determining a position of a stopper of a cartridge configured to be inserted in a pen medical apparatus along a travel distance, wherein the stopper comprises a front edge and a rear edge, this device comprising at least: a light source provided on a first side of the cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises a pierceable seal; a plunger stem functionally connected to the stopper and configured to fix the stopper movably along the travel distance towards the pierceable seal of the cartridge; a photosensitive sensor surface provided on a second side of the cartridge, opposite the first side; and a data processing unit configured to convert data relating to a silhouette of the stopper into the position of the stopper along the travel distance, wherein converting the data relating to the silhouette into the position of the stopper comprises: determining which one of a first cartridge region, a second cartridge region, and a third cartridge region the stopper is located in, wherein the first cartridge region comprises a cartridge end region, wherein the third cartridge region comprises a cartridge shoulder region, and wherein the second cartridge region comprises a cartridge region residing between the first cartridge region and the third cartridge region; and using the determination as a basis to decide between different ways of determining the position of the stopper, wherein the data processing unit is configured to use the position of the front edge but not the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the first cartridge region, wherein the data processing unit is configured to use the position of the front edge and the position of the rear edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the second cartridge region, and wherein the data processing unit is configured to use the position of the rear edge and not the position of the front edge to determine the position of the stopper if the determination is that the stopper is in the third cartridge region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A medical apparatus which is suitable for administering a pharmaceutical into the human or animal body, avoiding the gastrointestinal tract, comprising a device according to claim 18. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A medical apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the pharmaceutical is insulin.