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EP-4285959-B1 - BATTERY-FREE SENSING SOLUTION FOR DRUG DELIVERY DEVICES

EP4285959B1EP 4285959 B1EP4285959 B1EP 4285959B1EP-4285959-B1

Inventors

  • ALBENGE, Olivier

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220601

Claims (13)

  1. A drug delivery device (100) comprising: a syringe (115) barrel comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall arranged between the proximal end and the distal end defining an interior configured to hold a composition; a plunger rod (118) received at least partially within the interior of the syringe (115), the plunger rod (118) comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a stopper arranged at the distal end; a sensor assembly (160), comprising: a capacitive element (150); and a short-range communication device (140) in electrical communication with the capacitive element (150), wherein the short-range communication device (140) is capable of measuring capacitance at the capacitive element (150), characterized in that the drug delivery device further comprises: a displaceable needle shield (110); and a spring (120) having a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, the spring (120) configured to displace the needle shield from a first, proximal position in which the displaceable needle shield (110) does not surround a needle (116) of the syringe (115) to a second, distal position in which the displaceable needle shield (110) at least partially surrounds the needle (116) of the syringe (115). and in that the capacitive element (150) is arranged adjacent to the spring (120), such that a change in state of the spring from the compressed configuration to the expanded configuration affects the capacitance of capacitive element (150).
  2. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly (160) does not include a power source.
  3. The drug delivery device of claim 2, wherein the short-range communication device (140) is an NFC device.
  4. The drug delivery device of claim 3, wherein the sensor assembly (160) is powered by an external NFC-enabled device.
  5. The drug delivery device of claim 4, wherein the external NFC-enabled device is a mobile device.
  6. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive element (150) comprises a pair of capacitor electrodes.
  7. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive element (150) is arranged at the distal end of the syringe barrel.
  8. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly (160) comprises a label arranged on an exterior of the syringe sidewall.
  9. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the short-range communication device (140) is a passive RFID chip.
  10. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly (160) is arranged on the displaceable needle shield (110).
  11. The drug delivery device of claim 10, wherein the capacitive element (150) is arranged on the displaceable needle shield (110) adjacent the spring (120).
  12. A system, comprising: the drug delivery device of claim 1; and an NFC-enabled mobile device.
  13. A method of monitoring drug delivery status, comprising: providing the drug delivery device of claim 1; powering, with a mobile device, the sensor assembly to obtain first capacitance data; and transmitting, with the short-range communication device and to the mobile device, the first capacitance data.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to drug delivery devices and components therefor, and in particular, to components allowing for detection and communication of the injection status of drug delivery devices. Description of Related Art Drug delivery devices have traditionally lacked features that would allow a healthcare provider to confirm appropriate administration of medicaments. Ensuring timely, appropriate administration of some medicaments can be critical, particularly, for example, in the instance of the evaluation of new drugs in clinical trials, where accurate information is essential. While some devices provide the ability to communicate certain types of information, for example as described in International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 2013/116873, WO 2016/087512, WO 2017/070391, WO 2018/111969, WO 2018/213837, and WO 2021/094797, and in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2021/085879, 2019/0083708, 2019/0321555, and 2019/0344019, a need exists in the art for a cost-effective device that accurately detects injection status, and can communicate this drug delivery information to appropriate stakeholders. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Provided herein is a drug delivery device including a syringe barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall arranged between the proximal end and the distal end defining an interior configured to hold a composition, a plunger rod received at least partially within the interior of the syringe, the plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, and a stopper arranged at the distal end, and a sensor assembly, including a capacitive element and a short-range communication device in electrical communication with the capacitive element, wherein the short-range communication device is capable of measuring capacitance at the capacitive element, and where the drug delivery device is as further defined in claim 1. Also provided herein is a system including a drug delivery device including a syringe barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall arranged between the proximal end and the distal end defining an interior configured to hold a composition, a plunger rod received at least partially within the interior of the syringe, the plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, and a stopper arranged at the distal end, and a sensor assembly, including a capacitive element and a short-range communication device in electrical communication with the capacitive element, wherein the short-range communication device is capable of measuring capacitance at the capacitive element, and where the drug delivery device is as further defined in claim 1. The system also includes an NFC-enabled mobile device. Also provided herein is a method of monitoring drug delivery status, including steps of providing a drug delivery device including a syringe barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, a needle arranged at the distal end, and a sidewall arranged between the proximal end and the distal end defining an interior configured to hold a composition, a plunger rod received at least partially within the interior of the syringe, the plunger rod having a proximal end, a distal end, and a stopper arranged at the distal end, and a sensor assembly, including a capacitive element and a short-range communication device in electrical communication with the capacitive element, wherein the short-range communication device is capable of measuring capacitance at the capacitive element, and where the drug delivery device is as further defined in claim 1, powering, with a mobile device, the sensor assembly to obtain first capacitance data, and transmitting, with the short-range communication device and to the mobile device, the first capacitance data. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1Aand1B are perspective and cross-sectional views of a drug delivery device according to non-limiting embodiments described herein;FIGS. 2Aand2B are perspective and cross-sectional views of a drug delivery device according to non-limiting embodiments described herein;FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of a drug delivery device according to non-limiting embodiments described herein;FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system according to non-limiting embodiments described herein;FIG. 5 is a diagram of a non-limiting embodiment of an environment in which systems, devices, and/or methods described herein may be implemented; andFIG. 6 is a diagram of a non-limiting embodiment of components of one or more devices of FIG. 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the