Device and method for determining the fill level of a flexible medicine reservoir

1. A device for determining a fill level of an inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir as a source for medicine, the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir having a monotonically decreasing fill level, comprising:

an elastic wall and a rigid wall connected such that a volume intended to contain the medicine is formed;

an outflow formed in the rigid wall for disbursement of the medicine;

a stop surface designed and arranged such that the stop surface contacts the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir while the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir is filled above a predetermined level;

a release detector that generates an output signal indicative of contact between the stop surface and the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir being released; and

a processing unit that determines the fill level of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir from an output signal of the release detector, wherein the processing unit takes into account information on an amount of medicine pumped from the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir by a pump.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the release detector is a capacitive sensor that includes a plurality of electrodes.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes includes at least one of the following: a plurality of fingers and a meandering conductor, and wherein the plurality of electrodes are intertwined.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the release detector includes at least one of the following: a pressure sensor and a force sensor.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the release detector includes an optical detector.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the release detector includes a switch.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is located on a ram that pushes against the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir as long as the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir is filled above the predetermined level.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is a part of a housing that houses the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir.

9. The device of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of release detectors.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit determines whether the fill level has fallen to or below a threshold.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit determines the fill level of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir.

12. A device for determining a fill level of an inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir as a source for liquid medicament, the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir having a monotonically decreasing fill level, comprising:

a wall comprising two sheets of flexible material sealed together such that a storage volume intended to contain the liquid medicament is defined;

an access opening located at the longitudinal end of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir which provides a fluid connection with the storage volume;

a stop surface designed and arranged such that the stop surface contacts the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir while the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir is filled above a predetermined level;

a release detector that generates an output signal indicative of contact between the stop surface and the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir being released; and

a processing unit that determines the fill level of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir from an output signal of the release detector, wherein the processing unit takes into account information on an amount of medicine pumped from the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir by a pump.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the release detector is a capacitive sensor that includes a plurality of electrodes.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes includes at least one of the following: a plurality of fingers and a meandering conductor, and wherein the plurality of electrodes are intertwined.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the release detector includes at least one of the following: a pressure sensor and a force sensor.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the release detector includes an optical detector.

17. The device of claim 12 , wherein the release detector includes a switch.

18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the stop surface is located on a ram that pushes against the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir as long as the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir is filled above the predetermined level.

19. The device of claim 12 , wherein the stop surface is a part of a housing that houses the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir.

20. The device of claim 12 , comprising a plurality of release detectors.

21. The device of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit determines whether the fill level has fallen to or below a threshold.

22. The device of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit determines the fill level of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir.

23. A device for determining a fill level of an inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir as a source for medicine, the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir having a monotonically decreasing fill level, comprising:

a top flexible wall having a port arranged in the center of the top flexible wall;

a bottom flexible wall sealed to the top flexible wall along a circumferential sealing rim so as to form an inner storage volume between the top flexible wall and the bottom flexible wall;

an adapter for connecting the port to an infusion pump device;

a stop surface designed and arranged such that the stop surface contacts the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir while the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir is filled above a predetermined level;

a release detector that generates an output signal indicative of contact between the stop surface and the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir being released; and

a processing unit that determines the fill level of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir from an output signal of the release detector, wherein the processing unit takes into account information on an amount of medicine pumped from the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir by a pump.

24. The device of claim 23 , wherein the release detector is a capacitive sensor that includes a plurality of electrodes.

25. The device of claim 24 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes includes at least one of the following: a plurality of fingers and a meandering conductor, and wherein the plurality of electrodes are intertwined.

26. The device of claim 23 , wherein the release detector includes at least one of the following: a pressure sensor and a force sensor.

27. The device of claim 23 , wherein the release detector includes an optical detector.

28. The device of claim 23 , wherein the release detector includes a switch.

29. The device of claim 23 , wherein the stop surface is located on a ram that pushes against the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir as long as the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir is filled above the predetermined level.

30. The device of claim 23 , wherein the stop surface is a part of a housing that houses the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir.

31. The device of claim 23 , comprising a plurality of release detectors.

32. The device of claim 23 , wherein the processing unit determines whether the fill level has fallen to or below a threshold.

33. The device of claim 23 , wherein the processing unit determines the fill level of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir.