Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-09
2003-12-30
Pitts, Harold I. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S472010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669090
ABSTRACT:
THE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the electronic marking of medication cartridges or the like.
The invention relates specifically to: A method of providing an electronically readable item of information on a medication cartridge.
The invention furthermore relates to: A medication cartridge with an information-providing source containing an electronically readable item of information.
The invention furthermore relates to: A support for a medication cartridge provided with an electronically readable item of information.
The invention moreover relates to: A medication delivery device having means for processing and displaying information.
The invention moreover relates to: An information carrier with an electronically readable item of information for a medication cartridge.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
The following account of the prior art relates to one of the areas of application of the present invention, cartridges containing medication for injection, infusion or inhalation by a user.
In applications of medication delivery devices for self-treatment of a disease, e.g. diabetes, cartridges containing medication for a certain number of doses are mounted in the delivery device and exchanged with a new one when empty or when another medication is to be used according to the particular situation. It is of paramount importance that the medication used is the intended one, that it is not too old, that it has the correct concentration etc. Therefore the marking of the cartridge containing the medication has to be given special attention. To aid the user in achieving a satisfactory level of security in the use of a medication delivery device, a marking of the cartridge in addition to a traditional alphanumeric inscription has been introduced. Apart from information on the contents of the cartridge, the item of information may hold technical data on the type of cartridge, outlet dimension or other information of relevance to the medication delivery process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,700 discloses a cartridge for containing a fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device that includes a cartridge housing for holding the fluid, and an information providing source. The information-providing source may be a set of wires and contacts, or contact bands that provide the predetermined information to an electronic delivery device by producing a binary code.
The possible spill of drops of the medication from the medication cartridge may typically deteriorate the readability of the optically readable or electronically readable coded information on the cartridge due to chemical reactions. This calls for a method of marking that is robust and does not allow the introduction of errors in the interpretation of the coded information in case of minor deteriorations of the code in question.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The problem of the prior art is to provide a method of marking a cartridge, which method is simple and safe and easily readable by electronic means.
Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide an alternative method of generating an electronically readable item of information on a cartridge which method is simple and improves safety in reading.
This is achieved according to the invention in that said item of information is redundantly provided. In this way, a very simple method is provided that may be implemented in a multitude of ways, customized to each specific application.
In the present context, the term ‘cartridge’ is taken to mean a container for holding a liquid or powder or other matter of a size and weight that can be handled by hand. The cartridge may e.g. be a cartridge containing medication for use with a medication delivery system for self-treatment of a disease. The medication in the cartridge may e.g. be insulin for use with a pen-type injection system for treating diabetes.
In a preferred embodiment said item of information is provided at least once in a binary true and inverted form.
In the present context, the term ‘redundantly provided in a binary true and inverted form’ is taken to mean that the information is provided in a way that may be directly translated to a binary representation (e.g. 100110) and that the same item of information is provided in its true (e.g. 100110) and inverted (011001) form, yielding a redundancy that may be used to check the validity of the electronically read code. I.e. if e.g. one or more of the (‘should be’) inverted bits equals the corresponding bits of the true representation, an error is present. This check gives a higher degree of safety in interpreting the item of information in question, which e.g. is important when the container is used for medication in connection with a person's self-treatment of a disease.
Apart from the above mentioned redundancy, each item of information (in its binary true or inverted forms) may be subject to standard error detecting measures, such as reserved bits for a parity check, a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) or the like, and/or error correcting measures.
When said item of information is provided in any one of its binary forms by forming electrically insulating and electrically conducting areas corresponding to the relevant state of each bit of information in predefined positions on the surface of the cartridge, it is ensured that a very simple, flexible and inexpensive method is provided.
When said medication cartridge has an axis of rotational symmetry, it is ensured that a reading procedure that is independent of the rotational orientation of the cartridge is possible. This makes the positioning procedure of the cartridge in the medication delivery device convenient for the user in that he or she does not have to think about its correct orientation in the circumferential direction, defined as a circumference on the surface of the cartridge in a direction perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (also termed the ‘radial direction’in the following).
When said electrically insulating or electrically conducting areas fully or partially circumfere said axis of symmetry, thus defining two or more information carrying areas, each containing said item of information in its binary true or inverted form, on said cartridge, it is ensured that the reading of the information may be made independent of the radial orientation of the cartridge.
When said electrically insulating or electrically conducting areas are positioned in one or more longitudinal areas stretching in the direction of said axis of symmetry, each longitudinal area covering only a fraction of the circumference of said cartridge, thus defining two or more information carrying areas, each containing said item of information in its binary true or inverted form, on said cartridge, it is ensured that information carrying areas may be evenly distributed in the radial direction of the cartridge, and thereby making the reading of the information independent or nearly independent of the radial orientation of the cartridge.
When said item of information is provided in any one of its binary forms by applying electrically insulating areas to predefined positions on an electrically conducting foil, said foil being positioned on said cartridge, it is ensured that a very simple and convenient method for adding an electronically readable item of information to a cartridge is provided, which method is well suited for mass production.
When said item of information is read by applying a voltage to said electrically conducting foil, said voltage corresponding to the supply voltage of one of the logic levels of a digital processing circuit, and by connecting each predefined position on the foil electrically with inputs to a digital processing circuit, it is ensured that a very simple, and inexpensive method is provided that may take a variety of forms, customized to each specific application. It further has the advantage that no additional components or extra, customized wiring on the cartridge is necessary in order to define and electronically read a specific item of information.
When said inputs to the digital processing cir
Bark, Esq. Richard H.
Began, Esq. Marc A.
Novo Nordick A/S
Pitts Harold I.
Yacen, Esq. Reza
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