Device and method for determining information related to a medical device

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mating unit for releasably attaching the apparatus to a medical device for ejecting a medicament or for releasably receiving at least a part of the medical device;

an optical sensor configured to capture an image of an information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device, the captured image comprising a character;

a wireless unit configured for transmitting the captured image of the information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device to another device; and

a processor configured to monitor a time difference between an end time of dialing a dose of the medicament and a current time.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to recognize the character from the captured image.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to recognize the character from the captured image using optical character recognition.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mating unit includes a recess or an opening, wherein the recess or the opening is configured to at least partially receive the medical device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor at least a portion of an application sequence of applying the medicament by the medical device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is a first optical sensor, and wherein a second optical sensor is configured to capture information representing a color of at least a part of the medical device or is configured to determine a color of at least a part of the medical device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is configured to recognize the color of the part of the medical device from a second image captured by the second optical sensor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more acoustical sensors, wherein the one or more acoustical sensors comprise at least one acoustical sensor configured to capture a sound produced when the medical device is used.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is configured to capture the image of the information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device or to recognize characters captured in the image only if the one or more acoustical sensors captures a sound produced when a dose for a medicament to be ejected by the medical device is dialled.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to determine that the time difference exceeds a specified period of time, and in response, recognize that a captured image corresponds to a dose selected by a user.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more light sources to illuminate a dosage window of the medical device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an interface is configured to transmit the captured image to the device via a wireless connection.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to trigger transmission of information from the apparatus to the other device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a display unit to display information to a user.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory for storing data determined from the captured image.

16. A system, comprising the medical device and the apparatus according to claim 1 .

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the medical device is an injection pen or an infusion pump.

18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein a display of the medical device is at least partially covered by the optical sensor of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus to claim 1 , further comprising another optical sensor configured to determine an optical property of a housing of the medical device, wherein the wireless unit is configured to, based on the captured image and the determined optical property of the housing, transmit data indicative of a selected dose to the another device.

20. The apparatus to claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to capture the image of the information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device based on an acoustic signal produced by the apparatus.

21. The apparatus to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect an ejection of the medicament has been performed, wherein the wireless unit is configured to, in response to a detection of the ejection of the medicament has been performed and based on the captured image, transmit data indicative of a selected dose to the another device.

22. A method of operating an apparatus comprising a mating unit for releasably attaching the apparatus to a medical device for ejecting a medicament or releasably receiving at least a part of the medical device, an optical sensor, a wireless unit, and a processor, the method comprising:

capturing, by the optical sensor of the apparatus, an image of an information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device, the captured image comprising a character;

transmitting, by the wireless unit of the apparatus, the captured image of the information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device to another device;

and monitoring, by the processor of the apparatus, a time difference between an end time of dialling a dose of the medicament and a current time.

23. A computer program, comprising instructions operable to cause a processor of an apparatus to perform operations when the computer program is executed on the processor, wherein the apparatus comprises a mating unit for releasably attaching the apparatus to a medical device for ejecting a medicament or for releasably receiving at least a part of the medical device, an optical sensor, and a wireless unit, wherein the operations comprise:

capturing, by the optical sensor of the apparatus, an image of an information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device, the captured image comprising a character;

transmitting, by the wireless unit of the apparatus, the captured image the information-bearing or information-displaying part of the medical device to another device; and

monitoring, by the processor of the apparatus, a time difference between an end time of dialling a dose of the medicament and a current time.