WO2017153477A1

WO2017153477A1 - Sensing device for sensing a value representing a dose of a dosing device and method for operating said dosing device

Info

Publication number: WO2017153477A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/055454
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabian Utermoehlen; Andreas Merz; Stefan Leidich
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-03-10
Filing date: 2017-03-08
Publication date: 2017-09-14
Also published as: DE102016203902A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensing device (100) for sensing a value (114) representing a dose of a dosing device (102), wherein the sensing device (100) has a stroke sensor (108) and an evaluating device (110). The stroke sensor (108) has a coil unit (116) and an electrically conducting interference unit (118) that is coupled to a piston (107) of the dosing device (102). The coil unit (116) comprises a first coil and at least one second coil. The coils are arranged distributed over a range of motion of the interference unit (118). The stroke sensor (108) is designed to represent a stroke of the piston (107) in a stroke signal (112), which stroke of the piston represents the dose. The evaluating device (110) is designed to determine the value (114) of the dose by using the stroke signal (112).

Description

Description title

Detection device for detecting a value representing a dose of a dosing device and method for operating the same

State of the art

The invention is based on a device or a method according to the preamble of the independent claims. The subject of the present invention is also a computer program.

For the treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, a patient may self-inject a drug such as insulin. For this purpose, the patient can use an injection device which allows a preselection of the dose to be dispensed.

WO 2015/074979 A2 shows a spring-assisted

Drug delivery device.

Disclosure of the invention

Against this background, the approach presented here becomes one

Detecting device for detecting a value representing a dose of a metering device, a metering device, furthermore a method for operating a detection device, and finally a corresponding one

Computer program presented according to the main claims. The measures listed in the dependent claims are advantageous

Further developments and improvements of the device specified in the independent claim possible. The dose to be dispensed can be adjusted via a rotary knob on the device. By pressing the rotary knob, the delivery of the dose can be started. The dose is proportional to a stroke of a piston of the dosing device between a start position and an end position. Therefore, a conclusion on the dose can be drawn by the stroke is detected.

There is a detection means for detecting a one dose of a

Doser representing value, wherein the

Detection device comprising the following features: a stroke sensor comprising a coil unit and one with a piston of

Dosing device coupled electrically conductive interference unit, wherein the coil unit has a first coil and at least one second coil, wherein the coils are distributed over a range of movement of the interference unit, wherein the stroke sensor is adapted to a dose

represent representative stroke of the piston in a stroke signal,

in particular wherein the stroke sensor is formed, the lifting signal below

Using an inductance of the coil unit to determine; and an evaluation device configured to determine the value of the dose using the stroke signal.

By shifting the interference unit in relation to the coil unit, an inductance in the coil unit can thus be changed. This change in the inductance can then be controlled by the stroke sensor or an electronic

Detect the circuit, for example, by applying a voltage to the coil unit and the detection of a resulting resonant frequency and in a corresponding inductance change signal of

Map stroke sensor. The inductance signal can then be understood as a measure or the degree of movement or displacement of the interference unit with respect to the coil unit, from which in turn, for example, known volume of the metering in the region of the current position of the piston or the interference unit a conclusion on the stroke of the Stamp and thereby can be deduced on the delivered or delivered fluid quantity or dose. In this way can be technically very simple and proven Means are determined by detecting a change in inductance in at least one turn of the coil unit a detection of a dispensed or delivered fluid quantity or dose of the dosing device in the form of the stroke signal.

A dosing device can be understood as a drug delivery device, in particular an insulin injection device. A dose may be a quantity of fluid. The dose may be a volume of fluid or a quantity of fluid, such as a liquid drug, such as insulin, to be dispensed or dispensed by the dispenser. A stamp can press on a piston of the dosing device. The stroke may be a distance between a start position and an end position of the punch or piston. One

Lift signal can be an electrical signal.

The coils of the coil unit can be arranged in a row next to each other. The row may be aligned substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the piston. By linearly arranged coils high accuracy can be achieved.

The stroke sensor may be designed to image an inductance of at least one of the coils in the stroke signal. The evaluation device can be designed to determine the value using the inductance. Using the inductance accurate measurement results can be achieved.

The detection device may comprise a display device which is designed to display the value or a parameter representing the value. By a display device, the value can be read directly on the dosing device.

The detection device may comprise a communication device which is designed to represent the value or a value representing the value

Provide parameters. By a communication device, the value can be further processed in other devices. The stroke sensor may be configured to enter upon delivery of the dose

To provide output signal. A dispensing signal confirms dispensing.

Furthermore, a metering device is presented with the following features: a piston for expressing a dose, wherein the dose is represented by a stroke of the piston; and a detection device according to the approach presented herein, wherein the stroke sensor is coupled to the piston to detect the stroke.

Furthermore, a method for operating a detection device for detecting a dose of a dosing device is presented. The method comprises the following steps:

Reading in a stroke signal of a stroke sensor, coupled to a piston of the dosing device, of the detection device, the lifting signal representing a stroke of the piston representing the dose; and

Determining a value of the dose using the stroke signal.

This method can be implemented, for example, in software or hardware or in a mixed form of software and hardware, for example in a control unit.

Also of advantage is a computer program product or computer program with program code which can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and for carrying out, implementing and / or controlling the steps of the method according to one of the above

described embodiments, in particular when the program product or program is executed on a computer or a device. Embodiments of the approach presented here are shown in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a detection device according to a

Embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a metering device according to a

Embodiment; 3 shows an illustration of a coil unit of a detection device according to an exemplary embodiment;

4 shows an illustration of an individual coil according to an embodiment; 5 is a circuit diagram of a resonant circuit for evaluating a coil unit according to an embodiment; and

6 is a flowchart of a method according to a

Embodiment.

In the following description of favorable embodiments of the present invention are for the in the various figures

represented and similar elements acting the same or similar

Reference numeral used, wherein a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

1 shows a block diagram of a detection device 100 according to one exemplary embodiment. The detection device 100 is part of a dosing device 102 with a dosing button 104 for setting a dose to be dispensed. The dosing button 104 is rotatable relative to a handle 106 of the dosing device 102. The amount of fluid is adjustable via a rotation angle of Dosierknopfs 104 to the handle 106. The dosing device 102 may, for example, a

Drug delivery device, such as an insulin pen. About the Dosierknopf 104 then the amount to be dispensed or single dose of the drug or insulin can be adjusted. For example, the dosing button 104 is coupled with a thread within the handle 106, over which by turning the Dosierknopfs 104 a stroke of a piston 107 is preset. The stroke determines the dose. The stroke can be triggered by an axial pressure on the Dosierknopf to dose the fluid.

Detector 100 is configured to dose one

or to detect the amount of fluid to be dispensed. For this purpose, the detection device 100 has a stroke sensor 108 and an evaluation device 110. The stroke sensor 108 provides a stroke signal 112 depicting the stroke. The evaluation device 110 determines the value 114 of the dose using the stroke signal 112.

The stroke sensor 108 has a coil unit 116 and an electrically conductive interference unit 118 coupled to the piston 107 of the metering device 102. When the piston 107 is moved into the dosing device 102, the perturbation unit 118 moves in front of the coil unit 116.

The coil unit 116 is connected to a sensor electronics unit 120 and is acted upon by this with an AC voltage 122. As a result, an alternating electromagnetic field 124 is built up on coils of the coil unit 116. When the interference unit 118 is arranged in front of the coil unit 116, an inductance 126 of the coils changes depending on a position of the interference unit 118.

The coil unit 116 is part of a resonant circuit of

Sensor electronics unit 120. A resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is dependent on the inductance 126 of each integrated in the resonant circuit coil. To operate the resonant circuit in resonance, the fits

Sensor electronics unit 120 a frequency of the AC voltage 122 to the resonant frequency. The frequency of the AC voltage 122 is thus dependent on a relative position between the interference unit 118 and the integrated coil. Since the physical relationship is known forms the Lifting signal 112 from a position of the interference unit 118 and the piston 107 from.

The evaluation device 110 reads in the lift signal 112 and provides the value 114 of the fluid quantity using a relationship between the stroke of the piston 107 and a cross-sectional area of the piston 107.

In other words, FIG. 1 shows an injection device 102, in particular an insulin pen 102, which has an integrated linear displacement sensor 108

Contains eddy current base. About a position of the punch 107, the injected amount of insulin can be determined. The injection device 102 comprises, in addition to the coil device 116, a microcontroller 110 for measuring data acquisition as well as electronic components for communication with external devices, such as

for example, a smartphone.

The lack of endogenous insulin in a diabetes mellitus disease can be treated by injecting an insulin preparation. The injection can be carried out by disposable syringes, permanent insulin pumps and disposable and reusable pens. A Injektionspen 102 may resemble a very thick pen and is equipped with Insulinkarpulen. A carpule is a cylindrical ampule with a pierceable membrane on one side. The other side is closed with a sliding stopper.

With a Dosisknopf 104, the required amount of insulin is set by turning. In this case, the dose button 104 can also perform a translational movement in addition to the rotational movement. The larger the set angle of rotation, the further the dose button 104 is screwed out of the housing 106 via a thread. The distance between dose button 104 and housing 106 then corresponds to the path length by which the insulin cartridge is emptied when pressure is applied to the dose button 104. The path length can be scaled with a translation factor. For this presses a stamp on the cartridge or carpule. This stamp is located at the end of another threaded rod, which can be rotated via a locking mechanism in one direction only. By a further mechanical component or a driver is ensured that the dose button 104 can be unscrewed maximally as far as the remaining level in the ampoule is.

The Dosisknopf 104 can only perform a rotary motion. Likewise, the dose button 104 can be made rotatable, wherein its distance from the housing

106 is not changed. By the rotation, for example, a spring is tensioned whose potential energy is transferred by a mechanism during injection into a translational movement of the punch. In the case of the insulin pen 102 presented here, the last insulin dose with the corresponding injection time is recorded continuously.

One aspect of the approach presented here is, for example, the provision of a sensor arrangement for detecting the currently injected quantity of insulin in the form of an eddy-current-based linear position sensor 108, which determines the position of the

Stamp 107 determines the can be deduced on the dose. The value is saved and displayed on an integrated display and / or transferred to an external device. This results in an increase in user security. By the

automatic collection of insulin results in a reduced

Administrative effort, since a manual protocol for the doctor can be omitted and instead the automatically detected dose value 114, for example, in a smartphone app is electronically documented and can be sent electronically. Inductive signals can be evaluated precisely.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a dosing device 102 according to a

Embodiment. The metering device 102 substantially corresponds to the metering device in FIG. 1. The detection device 100 here has a printed circuit board 200 into which the coil unit 116 and the evaluation device 110 are integrated. The circuit board 200 is disposed on an outer side of the housing 106.

In one embodiment, the detection device 100 has a

Display device 202 on. The display 202 is here a display that is designed to present information. In particular, the value is displayed on the display 202.

The interference unit 118 has a height of d. In one embodiment, a height of individual coils of the coil unit 116 corresponds to

Substantially the height of the interference unit 118.

Here, the stamp of the smartpen 102 functions as the target 118 of the

Linear displacement sensor. The target 118 is either made of a conductive material or is coated with at least one conductive material. This stamp is now passed over a plurality of sensor coils, which are placed as planar coils with a square base on a sensor circuit board 200.

Alternatively, the plug may also include an electrically conductive element 118.

Shown is the arrangement of the sensor circuit board 200 in a housing along the shaft 106 of the smartpen 102. The punch 118 has a height d, which corresponds to a diameter d of the measuring coils. Thus, a maximum resolution can be achieved.

As an alternative or in addition to the wireless transmission of the dose value, the value can also be displayed on a display 202. For example, an E-Ink Display 202 is used, which allows a very low-energy permanent display. This makes it possible to display directly on the device. Furthermore, there may be a possibility for recording the time. This may for example be part of the microcontroller and be initialized at a first radio contact.

3 shows an illustration of a coil unit 116 of a detection device according to an exemplary embodiment. The coil unit essentially corresponds to the coil units shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The coil unit 116 has n coils 300. The coils 300 are designed as spiral-shaped planar coils and arranged in a row next to each other. The row of coils 300 is aligned in a detection direction of the detector. The coils 300 are arranged on the printed circuit board 200. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board 200 is arranged along the insulin ampoule as in FIG. 2, so that the stamp sweeps over the measuring coils 300 LI to Ln. The number of measuring coils 300 is chosen so that they cover the entire possible displacement of the punch. The coils 300 can be evaluated sequentially, so that only one coil 300 always oscillates and crosstalk is prevented. Alternatively, all coils can oscillate at different frequencies at the same time, for example, by different values of the capacitors of the resonant circuits.

In addition, on the circuit board 200 further components 302, such as at least one capacitor 304 and a power supply 306 are arranged. The

Power supply 306 is embodied here, for example, as a button cell.

The underlying measurement effect of the sensor is the inductance change of a planar coil 300, if there is an electrically conductive material, such as the interference unit or a target, above it. If an alternating voltage is applied to the coil 300, an electromagnetic is produced

Alternating field, which induces an eddy current in the target. This generates a field opposite to the first field, which according to Lenz's rule leads to a reduced inductance of the sensor coil 300. If the coil 300 is connected in an electrical resonant circuit, thereby changing the

Resonant frequency thereof according to

The more the sensor coil 300 is covered by the target or the closer the target of the sensor coil 300 comes, the greater the frequency of the

Resonant circuit. At a constant distance between the sensor coil 300 and the target results in a frequency change by sweeping the sensor coil 300 through the target.

A measurement of the frequency, for example by counting or a lock-in method allows a conclusion on the target position. Thus, the entire assembly 116 is suitable as a linear path sensor. The used Capacitors 304 are selected to achieve a frequency in the range of tens of MHz, for example 25 MHz.

In other words, a schematic representation of the sensor circuit board 200 is shown, which carries the sensor coils 300, the resonance capacitors 304 for the preferred measurement of inductance on the resonant frequency of a resonant circuit, a power supply 306, such as a button cell, and other components 302. These include at least one microcontroller μθ for measuring the resonant frequencies and for calculating the dose and a module for the wireless transmission of the value. The transmission can take place for example via Bluetooth or NFC.

If the punch is above the coil 300 LI, then the frequency of the corresponding resonant circuit is maximal and all other frequencies are minimal and ideally identical. If it continues to move in the positive x-direction, the frequency fl decreases and the frequency f2 increases. When the stamp is placed over the coil 300 L2, fl is minimum and f2 is maximum and so on.

If the punch is located between two coils 300, the frequencies of the corresponding oscillating circuits assume intermediate values.

4 shows a representation of an individual coil 300 according to one

Embodiment. The single coil essentially corresponds to one of the coils in FIG. 3. The coil 300 is designed as a spiral-shaped planar coil 300 with three turns. The coil 300 has a square surface with an edge length of d.

In one embodiment, a target that is as long as the measurement path is used. In this case, a small sensor coil 300 is used.

In another embodiment, a small target and a large sensor coil 300 are used.

The two filled circles represent the two terminals of the planar coil 300. The coil 300 can be realized to increase the basic inductance in several levels of the sensor circuit board. 5 shows a circuit diagram of a resonant circuit 500 for evaluating a coil unit according to one exemplary embodiment. The resonant circuit 500 may be part of a detection device, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, be. The resonant circuit 500 is a parallel resonant circuit of a

Coil 300, as shown for example in Figures 3 and 4 and a capacitor 304. The coil 300 has due to the interference on a variable inductance. In other words, FIG. 5 shows an electrical oscillating circuit consisting of a coil 300 with variable inductance and a capacitor 304.

As an alternative to determining the inductance by measuring the resonant frequency, it is also possible, for example, to use an L-integrator. Here, a DC voltage is applied to the coil 116 and the rising current with a

Operational amplifier converted into a measuring voltage. This is measured and allows a conclusion about the inductance. Likewise, a DC-DC converter can be used. The energy of the measuring coil 116 is thereby charged to a capacitor whose voltage serves as a measuring signal. Furthermore, a determination of the parallel resistance via a semiconductor device, which the effective Resonanzparallelwiderstand and the resonance frequency of a

Oscillating circuit determined. In this case, by selecting a suitable parallel capacitance, the resonance frequency can be adjusted. Furthermore, a reactive voltage divider can be used. It is about a

Phase locked loop (PLL) the phase relationship between an exciting

Sinusoidal signal and the voltage across the LC resonant circuit determines and calculated from the inductance of the phase. The measuring coil 116 can also be in

Bridge circuits are integrated. In this case, a measurement signal is demodulated. There is at least one second reference coil.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a method 600 according to FIG

Embodiment. The method 600 may be performed on an evaluation device, as shown for example in FIG. 1. The method 600 includes a step 602 of reading in and a step 604 of determining. In step 602 of the reading, a stroke signal of one with a punch of the Dosing device coupled stroke sensor of the detection device read. The stroke signal forms a stroke representing the dose of the punch. In step 604 of determining, a value of the dose is determined using the stroke signal.

If an exemplary embodiment comprises a "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, then this is to be read so that the embodiment according to one embodiment, both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment either only first feature or only the second feature.

Claims

claims

Detection device (100) for detecting a value (114) representing a dose of a dosing device (102), wherein the

Detection device (100) has the following features: a stroke sensor (108) comprising a coil unit (116) and an electrically conductive interference unit (118) coupled to a piston (107) of the dosing device (102), the coil unit (116) having a first coil (300) and at least one second coil (300), wherein the coils (300) are distributed over a range of movement of the interference unit (118), wherein the stroke sensor (108) is adapted to a dose representing stroke of the piston (107) in a lift signal (112), in particular wherein the lift sensor (108) is adapted to determine the lift signal (112) using an inductance of the coil unit (116); and an evaluator (110) configured to determine the value (114) of the dose using the strobe signal (112).

A detection device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coils (300) of the coil unit (116) are arranged side by side in a row, the row being substantially parallel to one another

Movement direction of the piston (107) is aligned.

Detection device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stroke sensor (108) is designed to a

Inductance (126) at least one of the coils (300) in the lifting signal (112) and the evaluation device (110) is adapted to determine the value (114) using the inductance (126). Detection device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, having a display device (202) which is designed to display the value (114) or a parameter representing the value (114).

Detection device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, having a communication device which is designed to provide the value (114) or a parameter representing the value (114).

Detection device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stroke sensor (108) is adapted to provide a delivery signal upon delivery of the dose.

A dosing device (102) comprising: a piston (107) for expressing a dose represented by a stroke of the piston (107); and a detection device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the stroke sensor (108) is coupled to the piston (107) to detect the stroke.

A method (900) for operating a detection device (100) for detecting a dose of a dosing device (102), the method (900) comprising the following steps:

Reading in (902) a stroke signal (112) of a stroke sensor (108) coupled to a piston (107) of the dosing device (102)

Detecting means (100), wherein the stroke signal (112) images a stroke of the piston (107) representing the dose; and

Determining (904) a value (114) of the dose using the stroke signal (112).

A computer program adapted to carry out the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

A machine readable storage medium storing the computer program of claim 9.