IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,524,122
Granted Patent B2
US 11,524,122 · App. 16/480,840 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Flexible modules for injection devices

Inventors: Dietmar Hammen (Frankfurt am Main, DE); Thomas Klemm (Frankfurt am Main, DE)
Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
A61M5/31593A61M5/24A61M5/31585A61M5/31525A61M5/31568A61M2005/3126A61M2205/50A61M2205/58
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,524,122
App. No.
16/480,840
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a module for attachment to an injection device that includes a flexible carrier foil configured to be attached to a surface of the injection device independent of a geometry of the surface, at least one light emitting diode attached to the flexible carrier foil in a first position and configured to emit a light signal in a direction based on the first position through a transparent wall of the injection device, at least one photodiode attached to the flexible carrier foil in a second position relative to the first position, the at least one photodiode being configured to detect at least a portion of the light signal from a direction based on the second position and being configured to emit an electrical signal based on the light signal to a microprocessor, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive the electrical signal emitted by the photodiode and to determine the position of a stopper and the amount of the fluid within the injection device based at least in part on the electrical signal.

Claims (36)

1. A module for attachment to an injection device, the module comprising:

a flexible carrier layer configured to be attached to at least one portion of a surface of the injection device independent of a geometry of the at least one portion of the surface;

an adhesive layer configured to attach the flexible carrier layer to the at least one portion of the surface of the injection device;

at least one light emitting diode attached to the flexible carrier layer in a first position and configured to emit a light signal in a direction based on the first position through a transparent wall of the injection device;

at least one photodiode attached to the flexible carrier layer in a second position relative to the first position, the at least one photodiode being configured to detect at least a portion of the light signal from a direction based on the second position and being configured to emit an electrical signal based on the light signal to a microprocessor; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive the electrical signal emitted by the photodiode and to determine a position of a stopper and the amount of the fluid within the injection device based at least in part on the electrical signal.

2. The module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photodiode is configured to detect a portion of the light signal reflected by the stopper of the injection device in a direction of the second position, and wherein the stopper is configured to shift to expel a portion of a fluid, such that a position of the stopper is associated with an amount of the fluid within the injection device.

3. The module of claim 1 , wherein the position of the stopper is determined based on whether or not a light signal emitted from the at least one light emitting diode is detected by the at least one photodiode.

4. The module of claim 1 , wherein the position of the stopper is determined based on whether or not a light signal emitted from the at least one light emitting diode and reflected from the stopper is detected by the at least one photodiode.

5. The module of claim 1 , wherein the module is flexible.

6. The module of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is attached to the carrier layer.

7. The module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the surface defines a non-planar geometry.

8. The module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the surface is substantially curved.

9. The module of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is silicon based and configured to maintain an elasticity of the module.

10. The module of claim 1 , wherein the first position and the second position are located on opposite sides of the injection device.

11. The module claim 1 , wherein the first position and the second position define a line that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the injection device.

12. The module of claim 1 , wherein the stopper is configured to reflect the light signal.

13. The module of claim 1 , wherein the module is flexible and comprises a power source configured to maintain an elasticity of the flexible module.

14. The module of claim 1 , wherein the module is a flexible module and comprises a near-field communication (NFC) antenna having a structure configured to maintain an elasticity of the flexible module, the NFC antenna being configured to harvest energy for a power source of the flexible module and to transmit data representing the amount of the fluid to an external processor.

15. The module of claim 1 , wherein the module is a flexible module and comprises a temperature sensor configured to maintain an elasticity of the flexible module.

16. The module of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical protection layer.

17. The module of claim 1 , further comprising a digital display configured to display the amount of the fluid within the injection device.

18. A fluid delivery system, comprising:

an injection device configured to store and dispense a fluid, the injection device having light transparent walls and comprising a stopper configured to expel a portion of the fluid, such that a position of the stopper is associated with an amount of the fluid within the injection device; and

a flexible module configured to attach to a surface of the injection device independent of a geometry of the surface, the flexible module comprising:

a carrier layer configured to be attached to the surface,

an adhesive layer configured to attach the carrier layer to the surface of the injection device,

at least one light emitting diode attached to the carrier layer in a first position and configured to emit a light signal in a direction based on the first position,

at least one photodiode attached to the carrier layer in a second position relative to the first position, the at least one photodiode being configured to detect the light signal from a direction based on the second position and being configured to emit an electrical signal based on the light signal, and

a microprocessor configured to determine the amount of the fluid within the injection device based on the electrical signal.

19. A module for removable attachment to a fluid reservoir of an injection device, the module comprising:

a flexible carrier layer configured to be attached to a surface of the fluid reservoir independent of a geometry of the surface,

an adhesive layer configured to attach the flexible carrier layer to the surface of the fluid reservoir,

at least one light emitting diode attached to the carrier layer in a first position and configured to emit a light signal in a direction based on the first position through a transparent wall of the fluid reservoir,

at least one photodiode attached to the carrier layer in a second position relative to the first position, the at least one photodiode being configured to detect a portion of the light signal reflected by a stopper of the injection device in a direction of the second position and the at least one photodiode being configured to emit an electrical signal based on the reflected light signal, wherein the stopper is configured to expel a portion of the fluid, such that a stopper position is associated with an amount of the fluid within the injection device, and

a microprocessor configured to determine the amount of the fluid within the injection device based on the electrical signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2021
From: HAMMEN, DIETMAR; KLEMM, THOMAS
To: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 056122/0700 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 17153398 · Jan 26, 2017 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190388619A1 · Dec 26, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,214,177