Multiple cavity carrier apparatuses for detecting removal of items from cavities and their replacement

Inventors

West, Robert

Assignees

Insulet Corp

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are provided to detect when items are removed from a multiple cavity carrier (MCC) that stores items (e.g., pen needle assemblies) in respective cavities. A separate, reusable data collection unit (DCU) can be mounted to the MCC and has sensors for detecting cavity status (e.g., empty or filled with an item). The DCU stores data related to time stamps, optional dates, and cavity locations of item removal from and optional used item return to respective ones of the MCC cavities to help users track item usage (e.g., pen needle assemblies) to improve medication delivery management such as insulin injections with an injection pen and pen needle assemblies. Indicators can be generated to indicate from which cavity the next item should be extracted to encourage injection site rotation.

Core Innovation

The reusable data collection unit is detachably connected to a dispenser having cavities configured to enclose respective items or house a plurality of sterile medical instruments for storage and subsequent removal. Plural sensors on the base housing detect presence and absence of the items or instruments in the respective cavities and generate corresponding sensor data, which is stored in a memory device and analyzed by a processor to determine a time stamp of removal or a dataset that characterizes removal or return.

The processor determines which of proposed injection sites or proposed use sites have been used based on detection of absence of items or instruments from their corresponding cavities. The processor selects a next proposed injection site or use site based on a designated pattern for using the items on the patient and generates an indication that indicates which of the items or medical instruments in the cavities to remove from the dispenser and use next on a patient.

In particular embodiments, the dispenser is configured as a pen needle magazine dispenser with pen needle assemblies as the items to be stored and removed. The cavities are arranged within an anthropomorphic outer shape and mapped to proposed injection sites on a patient's arms, thighs, abdomen, and buttock by the dispenser outer perimeter geometry and wall structure, and sensors aligned with cavities detect ambient light entering through transparent areas when an item is removed.

Claims Coverage

The independent claims cover a reusable data collection unit detachably connected to a dispenser, where plural sensors detect presence and absence in cavities, and a processor analyzes sensor data to timestamp or characterize removal, determine used proposed sites, and select a next site according to a designated pattern while generating an indication for what to remove next. The coverage centers on cavity-based presence and absence sensing, time-stamped or dataset output, and pattern-based selection of the next proposed injection or use site.

Across the independent claims, the invention is directed to a detachably connected reusable data collection unit that uses plural cavity-aligned sensors to detect presence and absence, stores and analyzes the sensor data to produce removal-characterizing outputs including a time stamp or dataset, determines which proposed injection or use sites have been used from absence detection, and selects a next proposed site according to a designated pattern while generating an indication of which item or instrument to remove next for use on a patient.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications