Label for an Injection Device
20220387716 · 2022-12-08
Inventors
Cpc classification
G09G2340/0492
PHYSICS
A61M2005/3125
HUMAN NECESSITIES
G09G3/20
PHYSICS
International classification
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a label for an injection device. The label includes a flexible substrate configured for attachment to a body. The label further includes a first label area on the substrate provided with a first information content, wherein the first information content includes at least one visual sign or character. The label further includes a second label area on the substrate non-overlapping with the first label area, wherein the second label area includes an electronic display configured to display a second information content, The label further includes a processor connected to the electronic display and configured to modify at least the second information content.
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. A label for an injection device, the label comprising: a flexible substrate configured for attachment to a body, a first label area on the substrate provided with a first information content, the first information content comprising at least one visual sign or character, a second label area on the substrate non-overlapping with the first label area , wherein the second label area comprises an electronic display configured to display a second information content, and a processor connected to the electronic display and configured to modify at least the second information content.
18. The label according to claim 17, wherein the first label area comprises an electronic display of a first display type and wherein the electronic display of the second label area is an electronic display of a second display type, and wherein the first display type and the second display type are different display types.
19. The label according to claim 18, wherein the first display type is one of an electroluminescent display, an electrophoretic display, a liquid crystal display, or a light emitting diode display, and wherein the second display type is one of an electroluminescent display, an electrophoretic display, a liquid crystal display, or a light emitting diode display.
20. The label according to claim 18 , wherein the first display type is an electrophoretic display and wherein the second display type is a light emitting diode display.
21. The label according to claim 17, wherein the first information content is printed or imprinted on the first label area.
22. The label according to claim 17, wherein the electronic display of the second label area comprises an organic light emitting diode display.
23. The label according to claim 17, wherein the electronic display of the second label area comprises a color display configured to visualize at least one of the second information content or an information background in at least two different colors.
24. The label according to claim 17, further comprising at least one of a device sensor or an ambient sensor, wherein the device sensor is configured to determine at least one of a position or orientation of at least one of a dose tracker or a piston rod of the injection device relative to a housing or body of the injection device and wherein the ambient sensor is configured to determine at least one of an ambient brightness, an acceleration, a temperature, or a variation of ambient air pressure.
25. The label according to claim 24, wherein the processor is operable to modify at least one of the first information content or the second information content depending on an electric signal received from at least one of the device sensor or the ambient sensor.
26. The label according to claim 24, wherein the device sensor comprises an electrode structure on the substrate configured to measure at least one of an electric capacitance, an electric field, or a magnetic field.
27. The label according to claim 26, wherein the electronic display comprises at least one electrically conductive grid electrode at least partially spatially overlapping with the electrode structure of the device sensor, and wherein the at least one electrically conductive grid electrode provides an electromagnetic shield for the electrode structure of the device sensor.
28. The label according to claim 17, wherein the processor comprises a power management operable to switch on and/or to switch off the electronic display.
29. The label according to claim 28, wherein the power management is configured to switch on, switch off, and/or dim the electronic display dependent on varying ambient conditions.
30. An injection device for setting and injecting of a dose of a medicament, the injection device comprising: a housing configured to accommodate a medicament container; a drive mechanism configured to withdraw or to expel the dose of the medicament from the medicament container and configured to inject the dose of the medicament into biological tissue; and a label attached to the housing, wherein the label comprises: a flexible substrate configured for attachment to the housing of the injection device, a first label area on the substrate provided with a first information content, the first information content comprising at least one visual sign or character, a second label area on the substrate non-overlapping with the first label area, wherein the second label area comprises an electronic display configured to display a second information content, and a processor connected to the electronic display and configured to modify at least the second information content.
31. The injection device according to claim 30, further comprising the medicament container arranged inside the housing.
32. An adapter configured for a releasable attachment to a housing of an injection device, the adapter comprising: a rigid body comprising an outside surface and a counter fastening feature configured to releasably mechanically engage with a fastening feature of the housing of the injection device; and a label attached to the outside surface, wherein the label comprises: a flexible substrate configured for attachment to the outside surface, a first label area on the substrate provided with a first information content, the first information content comprising at least one visual sign or character, a second label area on the substrate non-overlapping with the first label area , wherein the second label area comprises an electronic display configured to display a second information content, and a processor connected to the electronic display and configured to modify at least the second information content.
33. The adapter according to claim 32, wherein the label further comprises at least one of a device sensor or an ambient sensor, wherein the device sensor is configured to determine at least one of a position or orientation of at least one of a dose tracker or a piston rod of the injection device relative to a housing or body of the injection device and wherein the ambient sensor is configured to determine at least one of an ambient brightness, an acceleration, a temperature, or a variation of ambient air pressure.
34. The adapter according to claim 33, wherein the processor is operable to modify at least one of the first information content or the second information content depending on an electric signal received from at least one of the device sensor or the ambient sensor.
35. The adapter according to claim 33, wherein the device sensor comprises an electrode structure on the substrate configured to measure at least one of an electric capacitance, an electric field, or a magnetic field.
36. The adapter according to claim 35, wherein the electronic display comprises at least one electrically conductive grid electrode at least partially spatially overlapping with the electrode structure of the device sensor, and wherein the at least one electrically conductive grid electrode provides an electromagnetic shield for the electrode structure of the device sensor.
Description
BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0154] In the following, numerous examples of a container and of an injection device will be described in greater detail by making reference to the drawings, in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0170] The injection device 1 as shown in
[0171] When the injection device 1 is configured to administer e.g. human insulin, the dosage set by a dose dial 12 at a proximal end of the injection device 1 may be displayed in so-called international units (IU, wherein 1 IU is the biological equivalent of about 45.5 μg of pure crystalline insulin (1/22 mg). The dose dial 12 may include or may form a dose dial.
[0172] As shown further in
[0173] The injection device 1 may be configured so that turning the dosage knob 12 causes a mechanical click sound to provide acoustical feedback to a user. The number sleeve 80 mechanically interacts with a piston in the insulin cartridge 6. When the needle 15 is stuck into a skin portion of a patient, and when the trigger 11 or injection button is pushed, the insulin dose displayed in display window 13 will be ejected from injection device 1. When the needle 15 of the injection device 1 remains for a certain time in the skin portion after the trigger 11 is pushed, a high percentage of the dose is actually injected into the patient's body. Ejection of an insulin dose may also cause a mechanical click sound, which is however different from the sounds produced when using the dose dial 12.
[0174] In this embodiment, during delivery of the insulin dose, the dose dial 12 is turned to its initial position in an axial movement, that is to say without rotation, while the number sleeve 80 is rotated to return to its initial position, e.g. to display a dose of zero units.
[0175] The injection device 1 may be used for several injection processes until either the cartridge 6 is empty or the expiration date of the medicament in the injection device 1 (e.g. 28 days after the first use) is reached.
[0176] Furthermore, before using injection device 1 for the first time, it may be necessary to perform a so-called “prime shot” to remove air from the cartridge 6 and the needle 15, for instance by selecting two units of the medicament and pressing trigger 11 while holding the injection device 1 with the needle 15 upwards. For simplicity of presentation, in the following, it will be assumed that the ejected amounts substantially correspond to the injected doses, so that, for instance the amount of medicament ejected from the injection device 1 is equal to the dose received by the user.
[0177] An example of the drive mechanism 8 is illustrated in more detail in
[0178] The piston rod 20 is further provided with a second thread 24 at its proximal end. The distal thread 22 and the proximal thread 24 are oppositely handed.
[0179] There is further provided a drive sleeve 30 having a hollow interior to receive the piston rod 20. The drive sleeve 30 includes an inner thread threadedly engaged with the proximal thread 24 of the piston rod 20. Moreover, the drive sleeve 30 includes an outer threaded section 31 at its distal end. The threaded section 31 is axially confined between a distal flange portion 32 and another flange portion 33 located at a predefined axial distance from the distal flange portion 32. Between the two flange portions 32, 33 there is provided a last dose limiter 35 in form of a semi-circular nut having an internal thread mating the threaded section 31 of the drive sleeve 30.
[0180] The last dose limiter 35 further includes a radial recess or protrusion at its outer circumference to engage with a complementary-shaped recess or protrusion at an inside of the sidewall of the housing 10. In this way the last dose limiter 35 is splined to the housing 10. A rotation of the drive sleeve 30 in a dose incrementing direction 4 or clockwise direction during consecutive dose setting procedures leads to an accumulative axial displacement of the last dose limiter 35 relative to the drive sleeve 30. There is further provided an annular spring 40 that is in axial abutment with a proximally facing surface of the flange portion 33. Moreover, there is provided a tubular-shaped clutch 60. At a first end the clutch 60 is provided with a series of circumferentially directed saw teeth. Towards a second opposite end of the clutch 60 there is located a radially inwardly directed flange.
[0181] Furthermore, there is provided a dose dial sleeve also denoted as number sleeve 80. The number sleeve 80 is provided outside of the spring 40 and the clutch 60 and is located radially inward of the housing 10. A helical groove 81 is provided about an outer surface of the number sleeve 80. The housing 10 is provided with the dosage window 13 through which a part of the outer surface of the number 80 can be seen. The housing 10 is further provided with a helical rib at an inside sidewall portion of an insert piece 62, which helical rib is to be seated in the helical groove 81 of the number sleeve 80. The tubular shaped insert piece 62 is inserted into the proximal end of the housing 10. It is rotationally and axially fixed to the housing 10. There are provided first and second stops on the housing 10 to limit a dose setting procedure during which the number sleeve 80 is rotated in a helical motion relative to the housing 10.
[0182] The dose dial 12 in form of a dose dial grip is disposed about an outer surface of the proximal end of the number sleeve 80. An outer diameter of the dose dial 12 typically corresponds to and matches with the outer diameter of the housing 10. The dose dial 12 is secured to the number 80 to prevent relative movement there between. The dose dial 12 is provided with a central opening.
[0183] The trigger 11, also denoted as dose button is substantially T-shaped. It is provided at a proximal end of the injection device 10. A stem 64 of the trigger 11 extends through the opening in the dose dial 12, through an inner diameter of extensions of the drive sleeve 30 and into a receiving recess at the proximal end of the piston rod 20. The stem 64 is retained for limited axial movement in the drive sleeve 30 and against rotation with respect thereto. A head of the trigger 11 is generally circular. The trigger side wall or skirt extends from a periphery of the head and is further adapted to be seated in a proximally accessible annular recess of the dose dial 12.
[0184] To dial a dose a user rotates the dose dial 12. With the spring 40 also acting as a clicker and the clutch 60 engaged, the drive sleeve 30, the spring or clicker 40, the clutch 60 and the number sleeve 80 rotate with the dose dial 12. Audible and tactile feedback of the dose being dialed is provided by the spring 40 and by the clutch 60. Torque is transmitted through saw teeth between the spring 40 and the clutch 60. The helical groove 81 on the number sleeve 80 and a helical groove in the drive sleeve 30 have the same lead. This allows the number sleeve 80 to extend from the housing 10 and the drive sleeve 30 to climb the piston rod 20 at the same rate. At a limit of travel a radial stop on the number sleeve 80 engages either with a first stop or a second stop provided on the housing 10 to prevent further movement in a first sense of rotation, e.g. in a dose incrementing direction 4. Rotation of the piston rod 20 is prevented due to the opposing directions of the overall and driven threads on the piston rod 20.
[0185] The last dose limiter 35 keyed to the housing 10 or body is advanced along the threaded section 31 by the rotation of the drive sleeve 30. When a final dose dispensed position is reached, a radial stop formed on a surface of the last dose limiter 35 abuts a radial stop on the flange portion 33 of the drive sleeve 30, preventing both, the last dose limiter 35 and the drive sleeve 30 from rotating further.
[0186] Should a user inadvertently dial beyond the desired dosage, the injection device 1, configured as a pen-injector allows the dosage to be dialed down without dispense of the medicament from the cartridge 6. For this the dose dial 12 is simply counter-rotated. This causes the system to act in reverse. A flexible arm of the spring or clicker 40 then acts as a ratchet preventing the spring 40 from rotating. The torque transmitted through the clutch 60 causes the saw teeth to ride over one another to create the clicks corresponding to dialed dose reduction. Typically, the saw teeth are so disposed that a circumferential extent of each saw tooth corresponds to a unit dose. Here, the clutch may serve as a ratchet mechanism.
[0187] As an alternative or in addition the ratchet mechanism 90 may include at least one ratchet feature 91, such as a flexible arm on the sidewall of the tubular-shaped clutch 60. The at least one ratchet feature 91 may include a radially outwardly extending protrusion e.g. on a free end of the flexible arm. The protrusion is configured to engage with a correspondingly shaped counter ratchet structure on an inside of the number sleeve 80. The inside of the number sleeve 80 may include longitudinally shaped grooves or protrusions featuring a saw-tooth profile. During dialing or setting of a dose the ratchet mechanism 90 allows and supports a rotation of the number sleeve 80 relative to the clutch 60 along a second sense of rotation 5, which rotation is accompanied by a regular clicking of the flexible arm of the clutch 60. An angular momentum applied to the number sleeve 80 along the first sense of rotation for is unalterably transferred to the clutch 60. Here, the mutually corresponding ratchet features of the ratchet mechanism 90 provide a torque transmission from the number sleeve 80 to the clutch 60.
[0188] When the desired dose has been dialed the user may simply dispense the set dose by depressing the trigger 11. This displaces the clutch 60 axially with respect to the number sleeve 80 causing dog teeth thereof to disengage. However, the clutch 60 remains keyed in rotation to the drive sleeve 30. The number sleeve 80 and the dose dial 12 are now free to rotate in accordance with the helical groove 81.
[0189] The axial movement deforms the flexible arm of the spring 40 to ensure the saw teeth cannot be overhauled during dispense. This prevents the drive sleeve 30 from rotating with respect to the housing 10 though it is still free to move axially with respect thereto. The deformation is subsequently used to urge the spring 40 and the clutch 60 back along the drive sleeve 30 to restore the connection between the clutch 60 and the number sleeve 80 when the distally directed dispensing pressure is removed from the trigger 11.
[0190] The longitudinal axial movement of the drive sleeve 30 causes the piston rod 20 to rotate through the through opening of the support of the housing 10, thereby to advance the bung 7 in the cartridge 6. Once the dialed dose has been dispensed, the number sleeve 80 is prevented from further rotation by contact of at least one stop extending from the dose dial 12 with at least one corresponding stop of the housing 10. A zero dose position may be determined by the abutment of one of axially extending edges or stops of the number sleeve 80 with at least one or several corresponding stops of the housing 10.
[0191] In the presently illustrated example, the number sleeve 80 represents a dose tracker 50 being indicative of a size of a dose currently set. Here, the longitudinal and/or rotational position of the dose tracker 50 relative to the housing 10 or body of the injection device 1 is indicative of a size of a currently set. The dose tracker 50 includes a tracking stop feature 51 that is operable to engage with a counter stop of the housing 10, e.g. when a zero-dose configuration or when a maximum dose configuration has been reached.
[0192] The number sleeve 80 is only one example of a dose tracker 50. Likewise, also the piston rod 20 may act as or may be used as a dose tracker 50.
[0193] The expelling mechanism or drive mechanism 8 as described above is only exemplary for one of a plurality of differently configured drive mechanisms that are generally implementable in a disposable pen-injector. The drive mechanism as described above is explained in more detail e.g. in WO2004/078239A1, WO 2004/078240A1 or WO 2004/078241A1 the entirety of which being incorporated herein by reference.
[0194] The dose setting mechanism 9 as illustrated in
[0195] During dose setting and when the drive mechanism 8 or the dose setting mechanism 9 is in the dose setting mode the drive sleeve 30 rotates in unison with the dose dial 12 and with the number sleeve 80. The drive sleeve 30 is threadedly engaged with the piston rod 20, which during dose setting is stationary with regard to the housing 10. Accordingly, the drive sleeve 30 is subject to a screwing or helical motion during dose setting. The drive sleeve 30 starts to travel in proximal direction as the dose dial is rotated in a first sense or rotation or in a dose incrementing direction 4, e.g. in a clockwise direction. For adjusting of or correcting a size of a dose the dose dial 12 is rotatable in an opposite second sense of rotation, hence in a dose decrementing direction 5, e.g. counterclockwise.
[0196] In
[0197] For this the adapter 200 includes a counter fastening feature 216 correspondingly or complementary shaped to the fastening feature 96.
[0198] The label 100 includes a flexible substrate 101 as illustrated in
[0199] The second label area 120 is configured to display or to provide a second information content 121. The first information content 111 and the second information content 121 are different. The second label area 120 includes an electronic display 122. The electronic display 122 is configured to display the second information content 121. The label 100 further includes a processor 140 as schematically illustrated in the block diagram of the label 100 of
[0200] Typically, the first and second label areas 110, 120 are located on an upper side of the substrate 101. The label 100, at least the electronic display 122 of the label 100 includes a multilayer structure as indicated in
[0201] The flexible substrate 101 or base substrate may be any material known for producing printed electronic labels, such as PET film or office paper. Other plastic materials are also feasible, e.g. PVC. The base substrate has an adhesive on one side to fix the label to a pen body, e.g. either permanently or removeably, depending on the choice of adhesive.
[0202] The label 100 includes a mechanically flexible structure. The label 100 is bendable or wrappable around an outer circumference or outside surface of the body 10 of the injection device and/or of a rigid body 210 of the adapter 200, the latter one of which being illustrated in
[0203] Hence, the electronic display 122 is a flexible electronic display. It may include one of an electroluminescent display, an electrophoretic display, a liquid crystal display and a light emitting diode display, in particular an organic light emitting diode display (OLED). Such displays are known to be flexible as well as bendable.
[0204] Optionally, the label 100, e.g. the second label area 120 may be provided with an input 128, e.g. implemented as a touch sensitive area of the second label area 120. The touch sensitive area or the input 128 may be implemented as a portion of the second label area 120. With some examples the entirety of the electronic display 122 may be implemented as a touch sensitive area 128. Hence, the touch sensitive area 128 may overlap with the electronic display 122. In other words, the electronic display 122 may be implemented as a touch sensitive electronic display.
[0205] The input 128 is connected to the processor 140. By mechanically engaging, e.g. by touching the input 128 the processor 140 can be prompted to modify or to alter the second information content 121 on the second label area 120. With some examples the input 128 or the touch sensitive area of the electronic display 122 includes capacitive switches produced in printing electronics technology. The input 128 can be implemented as an electrode, which is part of a capacitor. The capacitor can be detuned when an object, such as a finger approaches and comes in close vicinity to the capacitor. This approach has an influence on a measurable property of the capacitor, e.g. on the capacitance thereof. This modification of the capacitor is measurable as/or detectable by the processor 140.
[0206] With some embodiments as for instance illustrated in
[0207] Typically and with the examples as illustrated in
[0208] When printed or imprinted on the first label area 110 the first information content 111 is persistent and durable. It is non-erasably or non-modifiably provided on the first label area 110. In this way, the label 100 may fulfill regulatory requirements in terms of labeling of medicaments.
[0209] The second information content 121 illustrated and provided in the second label area 120 is modifiable by the processor 140. The electronic display 122 is typically configured to visualize or to illustrate at least one visual sign 124. The visual sign 124 may include an instruction to a user, such as dial, set, inject, hold, injection completed, due date or due time. In addition or alternative the electronic display 122 may visually illustrate a size of a dose, e.g. a sequence of digits or numbers being indicative of e.g. international units of a size of a dose of the medicament to be set, to be dialed and/or to be injected. In addition, the second information content 121 may include a date or a point of time indicating to a user at which time the next event or the next use of the injection device is currently due. Moreover, the second information content 121 may include a time interval or a duration, e.g. indicating a holding time or a remaining holding time during which an injection needle should remain in the injection site of a patient after a dose injection process has completed.
[0210] As it becomes apparent from a comparison of
[0211] In the configuration of
[0212] Moreover or alternatively, the information content 121 may blink in order to visually indicate to a user, that a prescribed size of a dose has been correctly set. In
[0213] After termination of the injection procedure the information content 121 may switch or alter again. It may indicate to a user, that the injection needle should remain inside the pierced skin by a holding time. The holding time of e.g. 5 seconds or 10 seconds may be visually illustrated in the information content 121. The illustrated holding time may be dynamically illustrated to a user of the label 100. The holding time may include a countdown scheme and may visualize the currently remaining holding time until the injection needle can be withdrawn from the injection site of the patient.
[0214] Thereafter the information content 121 may be modified again and may indicate to a user, that the injection has been completed. Thereafter the information content 121 may switch into a configuration as illustrated in
[0215] In
[0216] Typically, the first electronic display 112 and the second electronic display 122 are of different display type. The first electronic display 112 is of a first display type and the second electronic display 122 is of a second display type. The first display type and the second display type are different display types. The first display 112 is one of an electroluminescent display, an electrophoretic display, a liquid crystal display and a light emitting diode display, in particular an organic light emitting diode display. Also the second display 122 is one of an electroluminescent display, an electrophoretic display, a liquid crystal display and a light emitting diode display, in particular an organic light emitting diode display. With some examples the first display 112 and hence the first display type is an electrophoretic display and the second display 122 or the second display type is a light emitting diode display, in particular an organic light emitting diode display.
[0217] The electrophoretic display of the first display 112 is particularly configured to consistently provide medicament related information in order to conform with regulatory requirements in terms of medicament labeling. For this, the electrophoretic display is of particular advantage. Even if the label should be void of electric energy the first information content 111 is still and persistently visible in the first label area 110. The electrophoretic display of the first electronic display 112 provides excellent readability with high contrast even when subject to a rather direct illumination of a bright light source, such as sunlight.
[0218] When the first label area 110 is provided with a first electronic display 112 the electronic display 112 may be also connected to the processor 140. In this way also the first information content 111 of the first label area may be modified by the processor 140. Modification of first and/or second information contents 111, 121 may be triggered quasi-automatically, e.g. after lapse of a predefined time interval. The modification of the first and/or second information contents 111, 121 may be triggered by a user input, e.g. by activating the input 128.
[0219] Moreover, a modification of the information content 111, 121 may be triggered by at least one of a device sensor 170 and an ambient sensor 190 connected to the processor 140. Here, at least one of the first and the second information contents 111, 121 is modifiable in response to signals received from at least one of the device sensor 170 and the ambient sensor 190. In this way, the label 100 dynamically reacts to a variety of ambient conditions or to varying configurations of the injection device 1.
[0220] The ambient sensor 190 integrated into the label 100 and/or arranged on the flexible substrate 101 is one of an ambient brightness sensor, and acceleration sensor, an orientation sensor, a temperature sensor or an air pressure sensor. When implemented as an orientation sensor, acceleration sensor or ambient air pressure sensor, the ambient sensor 190 is configured to generate at least one electrical signal when the label is subject to an acceleration, a movement or reorientation with regard to the field of gravity.
[0221] In response to the generation of such sensor signals the processor 140 may be configured wake up and may activate or switch on the second electronic display 122. In this way, a quasi-automated wake-up or quasi-automated activation of the label 100 can be implemented.
[0222] In response to sensor signals obtained from the ambient sensor 190 at least one of the first electronic display 112 and the second electronic display 122 may change its appearance. In an idle or sleep mode the label 100 may provide basic information about the medicament in the first label area 110. Here, the first information content 111 may provide basic medicament-related information in the first label area 110, which medicament information being conform with regulatory provisions. Upon wake up and/or activation of the label through signals generated and/or provided by the ambient sensor 190 the processor 140 may be configured to alter or to change the first information content 111 and/or the second information content 121. As it is for instance apparent by a comparison of the first information content 111 as illustrated in
[0223] Upon wake up or activation of the label 100 also the second information content 121 may be subject to a respective modification.
[0224] Moreover and as illustrated by a comparison of
[0225] In this way, and when the label 100 is attached in a predefined way to the injection device 1 the label 100 and the injection device 1 are likewise usable by right-handed and left-handed persons. When used by left-handed persons the information content 111, 121 of the label 100 is turned upside down compared to configurations of the label 100 when the respective injection device 1 is used by right-handed persons or patients.
[0226] The example of an electronic circuit 130 of
[0227] The input 128 or touch sensitive area may be visually indicated on the electronic display 112, 122 or on a separate portion outside the electronic displays 112, 122. The input 128 and the electronic display 112, 122 are configured to interact in such a way, that upon touching or depressing of the input 128, i.e. the touch sensitive area at least the second electronic display 122 changes its visual appearance. The electronic displays 112, 122 may be switchable between a default mode or idle mode and an activated mode.
[0228] In a further example and upon touching depressing of input 128 the processor 140 may be configured to record a user activity and/or a point of time of a user activity in the electronic storage 144 or memory of the electronic circuit. The electronic storage 144 may include capacity to store data relating to a plurality of events including time stamps, e.g. 30, 100, 1000 events.
[0229] In a further example the electronic circuit includes an antenna providing a data transmission element, e.g. enabling NFC, WIFI or RF data transmission. This way data stored in the memory can be read out by an external device using a respective wireless communication protocol. NFC or RF communication could be implemented in passive or active way, wherein the latter requires an energy source, e.g. battery, powering the electronics. The battery may be implemented in printing technology.
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[0231] The electronic circuit 130 includes a battery 150 typically equipped with numerous battery cells 152. The individual battery cells 152 are electrically connected. They may be connected in series or parallel depending on the voltage provided by the individual battery cells 152 and depending on the voltage required by the processor 140. The battery 150 and/or its battery cells 152 may include a printed electronic structure. Hence, the battery 150 and/or the battery cells 152 our printed batteries or battery cells and may be arranged on the substrate 101 by way of printing.
[0232] The processor 140 is connected to the battery 150 as well as to the electronic display 122. The interconnection between the battery 150 and the processor 140 may be interrupted by the switch 154 coinciding with the input 128. Depressing of the switch 154 may either connect or disconnect the electrical connection between the battery 150 and the processor 140.
[0233] The processor 140 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 142 and a storage 144. In the storage 144 numerous predefined information contents 111, 121 for illustration with at least one of the electronic display 112, 122 may be stored. Upon registration of a closing or opening of the switch 154 the respective information content 121 might be illustrated or displayed on the electronic display 122. When equipped with a data storage 144 the processor 140 may be further configured to count a number of touch operations of the touch sensitive area. If the processor 140 is further equipped with a clock every input or touch instant can be further assigned with a timestamp thus allowing to record a dosing history or to record the points in time at which the input 128 was appropriately touched by the user of the injection device 1.
[0234] The electronic circuit 130 may further include an antenna 160 connected to the processor 140. The antenna 160 may be configured for wireless data transmission. The antenna 160 may be configured as a receiving antenna and/or as a broadcasting antenna. The antenna 160 may be configured to transmit electromagnetic signals in the RF frequency band. The antenna 160 may include an RFID antenna. The antenna 160 may be configured in accordance to conventional wireless communication standards, such as Bluetooth, NFC or IEEE 802.11 (WLAN). The antenna 160 is configured to exchange data with an external electronic device 300, such as a smart watch, a smartphone, a tablet computer or a personal computer.
[0235] The processor 140 may be reconfigurable by signals obtained from the external electronic device 300 via the antenna 160. In this way the external electronic device 300 can be used to modify or to reconfigure the processor 140 and hence to modify and to reconfigure the content of at least one of the first and second electronic displays 112, 122. In addition or alternative the external electronic device 300 may be further configured to read out the data storage 144 of the electronic circuit 130. In this way the dosing history and the use of the label 100 can be precisely monitored and transmitted to the external electronic device 300 for further processing and/or evaluation.
[0236] The entirety of the electronic components of the electronic circuit 130, e.g. the wired connections between the battery 150 and the battery cells 152, the switch 154 or the touch sensitive area forming the input 128, the antenna 160 as well as the processor 140 may include or may be formed by a printing process on the substrate 101. In this way a separate assembly and arrangement of numerous electronic components on the substrate 101 becomes substantially superfluous. This enables a costefficient mass manufacturing of the touch sensitive label 100.
[0237] A lower side of the substrate 101 may be provided with an adhesive. The adhesive may be provided on an adhesive layer 102 entirely or at least partially covering the lower side of the substrate 101 located opposite to the conductive layer 103 on which the electronic circuit 130 is located. In
[0238] A segment of the display consists of two overlaid electrodes that act as a capacitor. The oppositely located electrodes are provided in the conductive layer 103 and in the transparent electrode layer 106. Between these layers 103, 106 there is provided a dielectric layer 104 and an electroluminescent layer 105, e.g. in form of a phosphor layer. If a suitable voltage and a suitable current AC signal is applied the electroluminescent layer 105 emits photons.
[0239] The stack of layers 103, 104, 105, 106 may add only 100-150 pm of thickness to the substrate 101. In this way the electronic display 110 can be extraordinarily thin.
[0240] With other examples the flexible electronic display 110 is implemented as an electrophoretic display that is based on rearranging charged pigment particles by means of an applied electric field. There, titanium dioxide particles of appropriately 1 μm in diameter may be dispersed in a hydrocarbon oil. A dark colored dye is added to the oil along with surfactants and charging agents that cause the particles to take on an electric charge. This mixture is placed between two parallel, conductive plates separated by a gap of 10-100 μm. When a voltage is applied across the two plates the particles migrate electrophoretically to the plate that bears the opposite charge from that on the particles.
[0241] When the particles are located at the front or a viewing side of the display, it appears white because light is scattered back to the viewer by the high index titania particles. When the particles are located at the rear side of the display it appears dark because the incident light is absorbed by the colored dye. If the rear electrode is divided into a number of small picture elements or pixels, an image can be formed by applying the appropriate voltage to each region of the display to create a pattern of reflecting and absorbing regions. Electrophoretic displays are considered prime examples of an electronic paper category because of their paperlike appearance and lower power consumption.
[0242] The label 100 may only be optionally equipped with an antenna 160. With one implementation the label 100 may be void of an antenna 160 and may be operable to illustrate a well-defined or predefined information content 111 and to provide a switching between a sleep mode or activated mode.
[0243] In
[0244] The device sensor 170 is configured to allocate or to determine a position and/or a rotational state of a dose tracker 176 of the injection device 1 when the label 100 is attached to the housing 10 in a predefined manner. Here, the dose tracker 176 may coincide or may represent the dose tracker 50 as described above in connection with
[0245] For arranging the label 100 to the housing 10 the housing 10 may include at least one or several position marks 180 illustrated in
[0246] The position mark 180 may protrude from the sidewall of the housing 10 or may include a recess in the housing 10. Alternative, the position mark 180 may be void of protrusions or recesses in the outside surface of the housing 10. The position mark 180 may simply include a visual indication, such as a border region inside which the label 100 should be fastened, e.g. adhesively attached.
[0247] In one example the device sensor 170 includes numerous discrete sensor segments 171, 172, 173 that are separated along a moving direction of the indicator 175 and/or of the dose tracker 176 relative to the housing 10. As the dose tracker 176 is subject to a rotational and/or sliding movement relative to the housing 10 the indicator 175, e.g. initially overlapping with a first sensor segment 171 moves towards a second sensor segment 172 and, e.g. further towards the third sensor segment 173. The movement of the indicator 175 relative to the numerous sensor segments 171, 172, 173 is detectable by the device sensor 170 that is electrically connected to the processor 140. In this way, the processor 140 and the device sensor 170 are configured to determine and to detect an actual position and/or rotational state of the indicator 175 and hence of the dose tracker 176 relative to the housing 10.
[0248] The position or rotational state of the dose tracker 176 unequivocally coincides with a size of a dose actually set by the injection device 1. In this way, the processor 140 may be configured to determine or to measure a size of a dose actually set with the injection device 1 when the label 100 is appropriately connected to the housing 10. The determined longitudinal or rotational position of the dose tracker 176 may be thus compared with a predefined position, e.g. indicated by the second information content 111 on the electronic display 112. The dose actually set with the injection device may be further illustrated through the dosage window 13.
[0249] The specific implementation of the device sensor 170 and the indicator 175 may vary. As illustrated in
[0250] With other examples the indicator 175 may be magnetically encoded and the sensor segments 171, 172, 173 may be configured to detect a magnetic field of the indicator 175 as the indicator 175 is subject to a longitudinal and/or rotational movement. With a further example the indicator 175 and the sensor segments 171, 172, 173 may be implemented electrostatically. Here, the numerous sensor segments 171, 172, 173 may be configured to allocate or to detect a modification of an electric field induced by the indicator 175. Furthermore, the sensor segments 171, 172, 173 may include capacity measuring elements configured to measure a modification of an electric field or electric capacitance in the vicinity of the respective sensor segments 171, 172, 173. Magnetic, electrostatic and capacitive measurement procedures may be of particular benefit because they may not require a through opening 178 or recess in the sidewall of the housing 10. With such implementations the label 100 may be simply adhesively attached within the given position marks on the outside surface of the housing 10.
[0251] With the example as illustrated in
[0252] With further examples the electrode structure 174 may be configured to determine a longitudinal position of the piston rod 20 and/or the longitudinal position of the bung 7 or piston of the cartridge 6 with regards to a barrel of the cartridge 6 and/or with regards to the housing or body 10 of the injection device 1.
[0253] At least one or both of the conductive layer 103 and the transparent electrode layer 106 include(s) an electrically conductive grid electrode at least partially spatially overlapping with the electrode structure 174 of the device sensor 170. Here, and due to the spatial overlap of the conductive grid electrode 103, 106 with the electrode structure 174 of the device sensor 170 the electrically conductive grid electrode 103, 106 provides an electromagnetic shield 107 for the device sensor 170. In this way, the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the label 100 can be increased and the position or orientation of the at least one dose tracker 176 can be measured and defined with high precision.
[0254] As illustrated in
[0255] In
[0256] The adapter 200 and its body 210 includes at least one counter fastening feature 216 to engage with a fastening feature 96 of the housing 10 of the injection device 1. As illustrated in
[0257] Now and for fastening the adapter 200 to the housing 10 of the injection device the adapter 210 includes the counter fastening feature 216 on an inside of its hollow sleeve. The counter fastening feature 216 is typically arranged at or near the distal end of the rigid body 210. The counter fastening feature 216 may include a recess or a groove on the inside surface of the elongated sleeve of the rigid body 210. In this way the counter fastening feature 216 and the fastening feature 96 may engage by way of a snap fit engagement. They may engage frictionally or by way of a form fit. In this way, the body 210 of the adapter 200 can be fastened in a well-defined and precise manner on the outside of the housing 10 of the injection device 1. The body 210 includes an outside surface 211 on which the label 100 as described above is rigidly or detachably fastened. Typically, the label 100 is adhesively attached to the outside surface 211.
[0258] Since the adapter 200 is engageable with the fastening feature 96 of the injection device 1, which is originally intended for fastening of the protective cap 18 as illustrated in
[0259] At least one of the cap fastener 220 and the counter cap fastener 228 includes a radial protrusion complementary shaped to a respective radial recess of the other one of the cap fastener 220 and the counter cap fastener 228. In this way, the replacement protective cap 218 can be mounted and fastened to a distal portion or distal end of the adapter 200 when the adapter 200 occupies the original fastening feature 96 of the housing 10 of the injection device 1.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0260] 1 injection device
[0261] 2 distal direction
[0262] 3 proximal direction
[0263] 4 dose incrementing direction
[0264] 5 dose decrementing direction
[0265] 6 cartridge
[0266] 7 bung
[0267] 8 drive mechanism
[0268] 9 dose setting mechanism
[0269] 10 housing
[0270] 11 trigger
[0271] 12 dose dial
[0272] 13 dosage window
[0273] 14 cartridge holder
[0274] 15 injection needle
[0275] 16 inner needle cap
[0276] 17 outer needle cap
[0277] 18 protective cap
[0278] 19 protrusion
[0279] 20 piston rod
[0280] 21 bearing
[0281] 22 first thread
[0282] 23 pressure foot
[0283] 24 second thread
[0284] 25 barrel
[0285] 26 seal
[0286] 28 threaded socket
[0287] 30 drive sleeve
[0288] 31 threaded section
[0289] 32 flange
[0290] 33 flange
[0291] 35 last dose limiter
[0292] 36 shoulder
[0293] 40 spring
[0294] 41 recess
[0295] 50 dose tracker
[0296] 51 tracking stop feature
[0297] 60 clutch
[0298] 62 insert piece
[0299] 64 stem
[0300] 80 number sleeve
[0301] 81 groove
[0302] 90 ratchet mechanism
[0303] 91 ratchet feature
[0304] 95 preselector
[0305] 96 fastening feature
[0306] 100 label
[0307] 101 substrate
[0308] 102 adhesive layer
[0309] 103 conductive layer
[0310] 104 dielectric layer
[0311] 105 electroluminescent layer
[0312] 106 transparent electrode layer
[0313] 107 electromagnetic shield
[0314] 108 recess
[0315] 110 label area
[0316] 111 information content
[0317] 112 electronic display
[0318] 114 visual sign
[0319] 120 label area
[0320] 121 information content
[0321] 122 electronic display
[0322] 124 visual sign
[0323] 125 information background
[0324] 126 color display
[0325] 128 input
[0326] 130 electronic circuit
[0327] 140 processor
[0328] 142 CPU
[0329] 144 storage
[0330] 150 battery
[0331] 152 battery cell
[0332] 154 switch
[0333] 160 antenna
[0334] 170 device sensor
[0335] 171 sensor segment
[0336] 172 sensor segment
[0337] 173 sensor segment
[0338] 174 electrode structure
[0339] 175 indicator
[0340] 176 dose tracker
[0341] 178 through opening
[0342] 180 position mark
[0343] 190 ambient sensor
[0344] 200 adapter
[0345] 210 body
[0346] 211 outside surface
[0347] 216 counter fastening feature
[0348] 218 protective cap
[0349] 220 cap fastener
[0350] 228 counter cap fastener
[0351] 300 electronic device