Administration device having a button with touch sensor

Technical Field

0001The present invention relates to an administration device for supplying an injectable or infusible product into an organism, in particular a patient, according to the preamble in claim 1. In particular, the invention relates to an infusion device for therapeutic applications, for example a portable infusion device, which can be adapted for self-administering medicines such as insulin over an extended period of time. The invention is further directed to controlling operation of such an administration device.

Background Art and Technical Background

0002Administration devices or self-administration devices comparable to the device in accordance with the present invention are used in particular to serve diabetes patients. An example of a typical device which forms part of the background art is referred to in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2006114288A"><text>WO 2006/114288</text></patcit>, which is incorporated into the present disclosure by reference for the purpose of disclosing in principle the basic constructive portions which the basic purpose of the device.

0003Often, an administration device for the self-administration of medicines such as insulin is placed in a patient's pocket and connected to the patient's organism to supply a suitable dose of medicine, in particular insulin, to the patient. The user interface which is provided for the patient usually consists of a display and keys or buttons for entering instructions for a control circuit included in the device. Via the user interface, the administration device may be programmed, information such as the administration history or the remaining medicine amount in a medicine reservoir may be recalled and the administration of medicine boli may be initiated.

0004Since the administration device usually works automatically through the control of a control device such as a micro controller, it is not necessary for the display to be constantly active. The display requires a lot of electrical energy, hence if the display is in operation for a long time, it is necessary to include large batteries or accumulators in the device. Accordingly, an attempt should be made to activate a display only when it is needed.

0005In some state of the art devices, the function of activating the display is performed via a dedicated button, wherein providing the additional button is an obstacle to minimize the size of the overall device. Alternatively, the display is activated whenever a button or key is pressed, thus increasing the power consumption.

0006Administration devices are, for example in diabetes therapy, often carried concealed from view, for example in a trousers pocket, and are often programmed and/or manipulated by pressing keys or buttons through the trousers fabric based on audible and/or tactile feedback signals provided by the administration device. This allows the patient to operate the device and in particular to initiate the administration of medicine boli with the device being concealed from view. If the device is operated in this way, activating the display is unnecessary and undesired due to its energy consumption.

0007A further problem occurs in case of prior art administration devices which require keys or buttons for programming. Since the administration device is often carried in a clothes pocket, such as a trousers pocket, as described above, it is possible that the keys or buttons are activated arbitrarily and unintended which may result, among others, in an unintended administration of medicine doses. In this context, it has to be taken into account that an administration device in accordance with the prior art, like an administration device in accordance with the invention, has to administer a number of pre-adjustable doses, so called basal doses, which have to be administered in accordance with the therapeutic needs of the patient according to a predefined schedule in a substantially continuous way. In addition, the patient typically needs additional doses, so called bolus doses, depending on particular circumstances and events which will vary from day to day, such that as the correction of high blood glucose values or food intake. It is generally desired to allow administration of such additional doses in an easy and discrete way, using the buttons or keys which are provided in order to operate the device. To prevent the unintended administration of medicine doses which may cause severe medical consequences due to buttons or keys being pressed unintentionally, for example by a key carried in the same pocket as the device, prior-art administration devices are provided with at least two keys or buttons which have to be operated in sequence and within a particular time in order to administer a bolus dose. This means, however, increases the operation complexity and decreases the user comfort in particular if the administration device is operated concealed from view.

0008A related problem occurs if a button becomes instable due to a defect, e.g. has a loose connection or contact element since this again may cause a large number of unintended operations of a the unstable button, resulting in the administration of a large unintended dose with all its negative consequences. Occurrence of this situation is prevented in prior art devices by providing at least too buttons which have to be operated in sequence as described above.

0009It is the object of the present invention to improve prior-art administration devices. In particular, the administration device of the present invention should be miniaturised while being safe and convenient to use or should be enabled to consume less energy.

0010The document <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US20020133113A1"><text>US 2002/0133113 A1</text></patcit> discloses a medication delivery device, in particular an injection device, comprising a touch sensitive switch in order to sense if the device is in held in the hand of a user. The document <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO2007088444A1"><text>WO 2007/088444 A1</text></patcit> discloses an injection device with a capacitive proximity sensor to detect a skin contact. A similar device is disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="WO2005077441A2"><text>WO 2005/077441 A2</text></patcit>.

0011The document <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="WO9907425A"><text>WO 99/07425</text></patcit> discloses a delivery device with a proximity sensor between a moveable part and a stationary part of a housing of the device. The switch is mechanically actuated by movement of the moveable part relative to the stationary part, in particular a needle-cover is sliding into the housing. A change of state, e. g. an on/off signal, is provided when the cover is displaced by an object to a rear position in the housing. The switch is located on a side portion of the moveable part and is not getting in touch with the object. The document <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US20070186923A1"><text>US 2007/0186923 A1</text></patcit> discloses a drug dispensing device for dispensing a drug dosage to a patient, which may comprise a patient identification reader in form of an electronic fingerprint sensor system on one side of a housing and a dispensing button on an other side of the housing. The document <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="EP1847287A1"><text>EP 1847287 A1</text></patcit> discloses a liquid ejection device which uses two separate sensors for controlling the inhalation intention of a user. The sensors are represented by a contact detection sensor in form of a mouth switch provided at an inhaling port portion and a hold detection sensor in form of a grip switch provided on an opposite side of the inhaling port portion.

Disclosure of Invention

0012In accordance with the present invention, the benefits of the administration device of the present invention are based on a device which is characterised by a touch sensor for generating an activation signal, wherein the touch sensor is incorporated into a button. Four a touch sensor which is arranged in this way, the activation signal is generated if a patient's finger physically touches the button or is close enough to the button such that it can be assumed that the patient intends to operate the button. That is, the same movement of the patient's finger may first cause the touch sensor to generate the activation signal, followed by pressing the button. By discontinuing the motion, the patient may further cause the activation signal to be generated without subsequently pressing the button. The activation signal is not generated if the administration device, in particular a preferably present housing of the administration device, is touched at a position remote from the button.

0013The term 'key' and 'button' are used in their meaning of an electro-mechanical switching element, wherein a operation element of the key or button must be pressed with a certain fore and/or travel distance for changing the state of the switching element. For this action, the terms 'operating' and 'pressing' are used synonymously. The term 'touch sensor' is used in the meaning of a sensor that may need to be touched to be activated or requires an activation object, such as a finger, in its near proximity, of e.g., about 1mm or below. A touch sensor is referred to as being 'activated' if it generates an activation signal, analogue to a button which is pressed. In contact to a button, operation of a touch-sensor does not involve a mechanical contact and accordingly requires no travel distance to be operated

0014The present invention is based on the insight that a button of an administration device being pressed directly by an operator or patient, typically by a finger which comes into contact with the button, is representative for a different situation as compared to the button being pressed by a different object, such as a cloths fabric or a key which is stored in the same pocket as the infusion device, and should therefore result in different reactions of the administration device upon the button being pressed.

0015By means of such a touch sensor which generates an activation signal, it is, in preferred embodiments, possible to activate a display of the device. It is therefore possible to both initiate a device action, such as the administration of a medicine bolus, and to active the display, if the button is operated by a finger, and to initiate the same or a different device action if the button is operated in a different way than by a finger. For this type of preferred embodiment, it is assumed that activating the display is desired if the patient directly accesses the device with a finger while activating the display is not desired if the button is operated by the patient in a different way, for example through clothes. Since most of the energy is not consumed by the display as such in many cases but by a display backlight, the display as such may alternatively be constantly activated, that is, show information, while the display backlight is activated as described above. For this type of embodiment, the term 'activation' in the context of a display refers to the display backlight. This type of embodiment is especially focussed on small energy consumption since the display is only activated when actually needed.

0016Since there may be situations in which activation of the display is desirable even though the button has been pressed with an object different from the finger, for example with a glove, an additional button for manually activating the display may be present.

0017In another type of preferred embodiment, the button initiates an action of the device, such as the administration of a medicine bolus, only if the button is pressed by a finger, that is, with the activation signal being generated, and does not initiate this action if the button is operated in a different way, that is, with the activation signal not being generated. This is the case if the button is pressed by further object such as a key carried in the same pocket as the administration device or the button is instable due to a defect. This allows maintaining the safety requirements of prior art devices while allowing actions such as initiating a medicine bolus administration with a single button. In this type of embodiment, the button is enabled by the activation signal. A button is referred to as being 'enabled' if pressing or operating the button results in an action being conducted by the device. In contrast, a button is referred to as being 'disabled' if pressing or operating the button does not result in this action being conducted by the device. This type of embodiment is especially focussed on the device safety with respect to unintended medicine bolus administration in combination with user convenience and discrete oepration.

0018For clarity reasons, it is assumed here and in the following that the administration of a medicine bolus may be directly initiated by pressing a button of the device. This is the case if medicine boli of fixed amount have to be administered. In some embodiments, however, the button may be pressed repeatedly with each pressing of the button the medicine amount is increased by a given increment. Actual administration of the medicine is only performed if the button has not been pressed for a predefined time. In addition, it may be possible to cancel the administration of a drug bolus before or during administration, e.g., by pressing a further button. Those features are known in the art.

0019Besides the bolus administration, the button may be used for other instructions, such as general programming or requesting status information of the device, which are also to be conducted only when the button is enabled by the activation signal outputted by the touch sensor.

0020In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible to incorporate the touch sensor into the button itself, such that it is not necessary to provide an additional area on the housing for the touch sensor. In addition, the touch sensor is unlikely to be activated for this design mistakenly by the user touching another region of the housing. The housing of the administration device is preferably made of a soft material portion in order on the one hand to enable it to be water-proof, and also for generating an electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic field which can interact with an earthed object, such as an operator's or patient's finger approaching the button. The touch sensor can be a capacitive or inductive sensor arrangement, as available from companies such as ANALOG DEVICE, CYPRESS, MAXIM and others. Furthermore, it is possible to use sensors which work on the basis of changes in resistance or in a conduction value. Another option would be to use light-sensitive sensors for outputting the activation signal.

0021However, an especially favourable option in accordance with the invention appears to be the capacitive or inductive sensor. This is because it is unlikely in for this design that objects other than the earthed finger of an operator could activate the touch sensor. Further advantages can be achieved by using a control device which enables and/or disables functions of the device within a predetermined time after receiving the activation signal. For instance, if an activation signal is generated by the touch sensor and the button is not operated within a predetermined period of time, the button is disabled because it is very likely that the operator or patient activated the touch sensor unintentionally. On the other hand, if the button has not been operated for a predetermined period of time, it is very likely that the activated display can for example be deactivated, since the patient no longer seems to be currently interested in the information displayed.

0022According to the invention, a button can be provided with an incorporated touch sensor such that a first action of the device is activated by the non-contact-sensor or touch sensor generating the activation signal while a second action of the device is activated through the button.

0023For example, the first action may be the activation of a display, screen or backlight of the device and the second action may be administering a medicine dose, such as a medicine bolus. Alternatively, the first action may be the activation of the button and the second action may be the administration of a medicine bolus.

0024The device according to the invention can also be configured to have a set of multiple buttons and a touch sensor may be incorporated into one or multiple of those buttons. Accordingly, this embodiment of the device may comprise more than one touch sensor.

0025Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the activation and/or deactivation of the touch sensor and/or button and/or display is communicated to a user or operator of the device, i.e. the patient. For example, it is possible to output a sound signal, for instance when the touch sensor is activated and outputs the activation signal.

0026It is of course also possible to output signals other than sound signals, for instance visible signals, vibration signals, buzzer signals or the like, which the user or operator will notice even when the device in accordance with the invention is placed in a pocket of the patient's clothing. Furthermore, it might be advantageous if the type of activation is communicated to the operator or patient. For instance, the type of signal outputted in the event of activation may be different for an activation signal which is within a predetermined range of values. If the touch sensor detects a detectable event which is not within a predetermined range, it is possible for a recognisable signal to be outputted in order to inform the operator or patient that something has happened which was close to activating the device to accept instructions inputted using the button. If the event detected by the touch sensor is suitable to allow a signal which is within the predetermined range, the activation signal is outputted and another type of recognisable signal can be brought to the patient's attention. Accordingly, the patient can learn what sort of events can affect the device in an arbitrary manner and should be avoided. Thus, for example, events such as putting keys into the pocket could be identified as actions which should be avoided because the keys could activate the button which is suitable for administering bolus doses.

0027It is of course also possible to program the controller such that a particular code has to be inputted via the touch sensor first, in order to activate the button or the display or other parts or functions of the device of the invention. For instance, one touch on the touch sensor could activate the display and two touches could activate the button itself, if the touches are applied to the sensor in sequence and within a certain time interval or time period. Any type of "touch codes" could of course be used, providing they are not too complicated for the operator or patient.

0028It is also possible to use a "touch code" to activate the administration device or a function of the administration device and to then enter data or request data, also by touching or otherwise interacting with the touch sensor.

0029A method for controlling operation of an administration device comprises the steps of: <ol id="ol0001" compact="compact"><li>a) detecting if a touch sensor is activated, the touch sensor being incorporated into a button, wherein activating the touch sensor generates an activation signal,</li><li>b) detecting if the button is being pressed,</li><li>c) initiating an action of the device in dependence of the touch sensor being activated or not activated and the button being pressed or not pressed.</li></ol>

0030In some preferred embodiments of the method, the method comprises the step of administering a medicine bolus if the button is pressed with the activation signal being generated and not administering the medicine bolus if the button is operated in a different way.

0031In alternatively preferred embodiments of the method, the method comprises the step of activating a display upon the activation signal being generated and of administering a drug bolus upon the button being pressed.

0032Further aspects as well as preferred and exemplary embodiments of administration devices as well as methods for controlling operation of such devices are given by the dependent claims as well as by the embodiments described below in greater detail.

Brief Description of Drawings

0033<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Figure 1</dt><dd>shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the present invention;</dd><dt>Figures 2a and 2b</dt><dd>show a second embodiment, which is not part of the invention, in a plan view (<figref idref="f0001">Figure 2a</figref>) and in a partial sectional view (<figref idref="f0001">Figure 2b</figref>);</dd><dt>Figure 3</dt><dd>shows functional parts of a third embodiment;</dd><dt>Figure 4</dt><dd>shows functional parts of a fourth embodiment;</dd><dt>Figure 5</dt><dd>shows functional parts of a fifth embodiment; and</dd><dt>Figure 6</dt><dd>shows functional parts of a sixth embodiment;</dd><dt>Figure 7a and 7b</dt><dd>show exemplary control flows for embodiments of the invention.</dd></dl>

0034In the drawings, the same reference numbers have been assigned to identical parts or parts which have at least substantially the same function. Accordingly, the respective parts need not be explained anew in connection with each figure, since the explanation of a part in one figure can be applied to other figures.

Modes for Carrying out the invention

0035In the following, the administration device in accordance with the different embodiments of the present invention is called an "infusion device" for short.

0036In accordance with <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, an infusion device 10 includes an infusion section 12 which usually consists of a reservoir for a medicine, for example insulin. A supply means, such as a pump, is also provided in order to supply predetermined doses of the medicine through a conduit into the patient's body (not shown). The supply means usually comprises a piston which is accommodated in the reservoir, wherein the reservoir can be replenished. Furthermore, a motor is coupled via a gear to the piston by a piston rod, in order to move the piston in the direction of the centre axis of the reservoir, which usually has a cylindrical shape, to push the medicine out of the reservoir. However, other types of supply means and/or reservoirs may be used as well. For example, the supply means may comprise a micro membrane pump or a peristaltic pump head and/or the reservoir may be formed by a flexible bag, a pouch, or the like.

0037A power source is usually also included, for supplying power to the motor and other parts of the infusion device 10, such as a controller 14, a display 16, a button 18, a touch sensor 20 incorporated into the button 18 and a printed circuit board 24. The controller 14 also of course includes a processor, a memory portion including a part where non-erasable control data are stored, for instance a ROM memory, and a RAM and/or a reprogrammable memory such as an EEPROM, a flash memory or the like. The controller 14 can be accessed via the button 18, and data or information inputted via the button or requested from the controller can be indicated on the display 16.

0038A vibrator, a buzzer or loudspeaker or a combination of these can be used to provide a recognisable signal to the operator or patient. Instead of a loudspeaker or buzzer 26, it is of course also possible to use a visual signal which can be emitted by an LED or other device which provides a signal which can be recognised by a person such as a user or patient. The housing 22 of the infusion device 10 accommodates all the different components of the infusion device 10. It can be formed from different materials, for instance plastics or metal, but in the vicinity of the button 18 it is formed from a soft material which does not shield or deflect electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic fields.

0039In accordance with the invention, the touch sensor 20 is either directly coupled to the button 18 in order to enable or disable the push button 18. In this case, the touch sensor 20 can be considered as being in series with the button 18. Alternatively, the touch sensor 20 is coupled to the controller 14 in order to enable or disable the button 18 via the controller 14. Additionally or alternatively, to enabling or disabling the button 18, the touch sensor 20 can also activate or deactivate the display 16.

0040When the touch sensor 20 is activated by an object, in particular the earthed finger of an operator or patient, the controller 14 can control the loudspeaker, buzzer, LED 26 or the like to output a recognisable signal. This signal can be used to inform the operator or patient that the button 18 has been enabled in order to input data, request data, or the like, or and/or that the display 16 has been activated to display information, respectively.

0041<figref idref="f0001">Figures 2a and 2b</figref> show a second embodiment which is not part of the invention. The top view in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 2a</figref> shows the housing 22, which is made from a hard plastic material, metal or other suitable material or materials which are resistant to mechanical shocks. A soft material portion 18a is provided, which allows an operator to push the button 18 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 2b</figref>, and which also enables an electrical field to extend through the soft material portion 18a, such that a person's finger can interact with the electrical field generated by the sensor 20 which, in the present case, can be a capacitive sensor. Accordingly, if an earthed portion of a person's body, for example a finger, approaches the sensor 20 of the infusion device 10', and the interaction is strong enough, the sensor 20 outputs an activation signal which enables the button 18. Both the button 18 and the sensor 20 can be mounted on a printed circuit board which can also support the electrical circuits of the controller 14.

0042The touch sensor 20 may further be used to input control data, such as an administration schedule, or request the display of data. This could be achieved using a particular code which is inputted by the operator or patient. For instance, the patient approaches the soft material portion two or three times, which is a code for activation, and if the code is accepted, the controller outputs a recognisable signal via the loudspeaker, buzzer or LED 26 shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, in order to inform the patient that the input state has been activated.

0043It is also for example possible to activate different input states or initiate different actions of the infusion pump using different codes. For example, entering a code may be required for safety-critical operations such as reprogramming or modifying the basal administration schedule.

0044<figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> shows only a part of the infusion device 10a, namely the controller 14, the touch sensor 20 and the button or push button 18. In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, if the sensor 20 outputs an activation signal, the controller 14 enables the button 18 or accepts signals inputted via the button 18 for causing the device to conduct an action, for example a medicine bolus administration. Again, it is possible for the controller 14 to enable the button 18 only for a predetermined but advantageously adjustable period of time of for instance several seconds, in order to prevent an unintended activation of the sensor 20 leading to signals being accepted from the button 18 over a long period of time, which could cause a bolus dose to be unintentionally administered.

0045In accordance with the embodiment of the device 10b in accordance with <figref idref="f0002">Figure 4</figref>, an activation signal generated by the sensor 20 directly enables the button or push button 18, thus allowing an operator or patient to input data or requests into the controller 14 via the button 18 and/or to cause the device to conduct an action, for example a medicine bolus administration. Here, the touch sensor 20 and the button 18 can be considered as being electrically arranged in series.

0046<figref idref="f0003">Figure 7a</figref> schematically shows a control flow for embodiments according to <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3 or Figure 4</figref>, respectively. As indicated by the arrows 150 to other parts of the control flow, the steps shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 7a</figref> are carried out repeatedly or substantially continuously in the framework of the overall control flow as controlled by the controller 14. In step 105, it is checked if the touch sensor 20 is activated, that is, if it generates the activation signal. If this is not the case, the general control flow is continued. If the activation signal is generated in step 105, a timer such as a countdown timer is started to enable the button 18 for a predefined period of time, only. In step 110, the display 16 may optionally be activated in addition. In step 115, it is checked if the button 18 is pressed with the activation signal still being generated. If this is not the case, it is checked in step 125 if the timer indicates the predefined period of time for pressing the button 18 has elapsed. If this the case, the general control flow is continued. Otherwise, the step 115 is repeated. If the button 18 is detected to be pressed in step 115, the step of a medicine bolus administration is carried out in step 120 before the general control flow is continued. If the display 16 has been activated in step 110, it preferably switched off or deactivated some time after the medicine bolus administration. In similar embodiments, the steps 110 and 125 may not be present. In this example, the touch sensor 20 is used as a safety frature for enabling the button 18.

0047In accordance with the embodiment of the device 10c illustrated in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 5</figref>, the sensor 20 can generate an activation signal which is received by the controller 14. Upon receiving the activation signal from the touch sensor 20, the controller 14 activates a display 16. As also shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref>, the controller 14 can simultaneously also enable the button 18. In accordance with the embodiment in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 5</figref>, however, this is merely an option, and it is also possible for the display 16 to be activated only by the activation signal 3 outputted by the touch sensor 20.

0048<figref idref="f0004">Figure 7b</figref> schematically shows a control flow for embodiments according to <figref idref="f0002">Figure 5</figref>. In step 105', it is checked if the touch sensor 20 is activated, that is, if it generates the activation signal. If this is the case, the display 16 is activated in step 130. Independent of weather the display 16 has been activated or not, it is checked in step 115' if the button 18 is pressed. If this is not the case, the general control flow is continued. If the button 18 is pressed, the step of a medicine bolus administration is carried out in step 120 before the general control flow is continued. In this example, the touch sensor 20 is used to activate the display only if required without having influence on the initiation of a medicine bolus administration via the button 18.

0049The embodiment in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 6</figref> relates to an infusion device 10d in which the touch sensor 20 directly activates the display 16. One or more buttons 18 can be used separately, without influencing the activation signal outputted by the sensor 20. On the other hand, it is of course also possible for the activation signal from the touch sensor 20 to also enable the button or buttons 18 for inputting information or data into the controller 14.