Patent Description:
Medical devices, for example, injector devices, can be loaded with containers accommodating a pharmaceutical product. For a prescribed usage of the medical device, it is necessary to ensure that a correct container is loaded and used in the medical device. Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure that a correct pharmaceutical product is used with the medical device. For example, it has to be ensured that the medical device is not used with a pharmaceutical product that has expired.

<CIT> relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tag) are associated with containers and can be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device that is associated with a medical fluid administration device.

The invention is directed at the object of providing an improved medical device which prevents erroneous usage of the medical device.

This object is addressed by a medical device as defined in claim <NUM>, a programming device as defined in claim <NUM>, a wireless terminal as defined in claim <NUM>, and a medical system as defined in claim <NUM>.

The medical device comprises a container receiver unit configured to receive and hold a container, wherein the container accommodates a pharmaceutical product and comprises a first communication tag configured to store information regarding the pharmaceutical product, a reader unit configured to wirelessly read the information from the first communication tag, and a control unit configured to control the medical device based on the information read from the first communication tag.

The medical device may be any kind of medical equipment that is adapted to be loaded with a container or cartridge that accommodates a pharmaceutical product. According to a preferred embodiment, the medical device is an injector device that is configured to eject a skin needle and dispense via the ejected skin needle a pharmaceutical product accommodated in a container through the skin of a human or animal body. In case the medical device is implemented as an injector device, the term "pharmaceutical product" is meant to encompass any medicament-containing flowable drug configured to be passed through a hollow needle of the injector device in a controlled manner, such as a liquid, solution, gel or fine suspension.

The container receiver unit may be any kind of mechanical holding unit that is adapted to receive and hold in a fixed manner the container. For example, the container receiver unit may be a container receptacle having a door or a shutter, or a container receptacle that can moved by means of a spring at least partly out of the medical device.

The first communication tag may be any kind of storage means that is adapted to store data that can be wirelessly read by the reader unit. In a preferred embodiment, the first communication tag is a near-field communication (NFC) tag and the reader unit is an NFC initiator device. The NFC tag may be any of the NFC types defined by the NFC Forum. The NFC tag may be read-only and can only be encoded by the manufacturer of the container. Alternatively, the NFC tag may also have reading and writing capabilities. In particular, the devices may operate in an NFC passive mode in which the initiator device provides a carrier field and the target device, i.e., the first communication tag, answers by modulating the carrier field. Since NFC systems are designed as short-range wireless technologies, typically requiring a maximum separation of <NUM> or less between the initiator device and the target device, NFC systems are preferably used in the medical devices of the present disclosure in order to prevent data manipulation via the air interface. Alternatively, the first communication tag may be a barcode or an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag.

The control unit may be any kind of control device, for example, a microcontroller, which is configured to control the medical device based on the information read from the first communication tag. For example, the control unit may prevent the medical device from dispensing the pharmaceutical product accommodated in the container in case the information read from the first communication tag indicates that the pharmaceutical product has expired.

According to a preferred embodiment, the medical device comprises an opening or a transparent window allowing to at least partially see from the outside the container inserted into the container receiver unit, wherein the reader unit comprises a first antenna unit, and the container inserted into the container receiver unit is located between (i) the opening or the transparent window and (ii) the first antenna unit.

The opening or transparent window may be provided at the housing of the medical device, preferably, in proximity to the location where the container can be inserted into the container receiver unit. The arrangement of the container between the opening or transparent window and the reader unit provides a double function of allowing a user of the medical device to view the container from the outside (for example, to read a printed label provided on the container), and ensuring that the reader unit can wirelessly read the information regarding the pharmaceutical product from the first communication tag. Thus, a double check of the container by the medical device and the user of the medical device is enabled.

According to a further preferred embodiment, in case the medical device comprises the opening allowing to at least partially see from the outside the container inserted into the container receiver unit and the container receiver unit holds the container, the container receiver unit is configured to allow a user of the medical device to rotate the container around its middle axis. For example, in case a label is provided on the container having a substantially cylindrical shape, however, the container is inserted such in the container receiver unit that the label cannot be seen from the outside, the user of the medical device can rotate with his fingers through the opening the container around its middle axis until the label is visible from the outside. For allowing this rotation, the container may be held in such a manner in the container receiver unit that only the distal and proximal ends of the container are supported in the container receiver unit.

For enabling to see the container from the outside through an opening or a transparent window and at the same time ensuring that the information from the first communication tag can be read via the first antenna unit, the first antenna unit may only partially surround the container inserted into the container receiver unit. Preferably, the first antenna unit and the opening or transparent window completely surround the container, i.e., the side area of a substantially cylindrically shaped container. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, a cross section area of the first antenna unit surrounds between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of a cross section area of the container. Thus, component material and weight can be saved, which is of advantage if a handheld medical device is concerned.

In order to ensure that the information from the first communication tag can be read via the first antenna unit, the first antenna unit may comprise a first antenna part extending along a first plane and a second antenna part extending along a second plane. The first antenna part and the second antenna part may be separate antennas. Each of the first antenna part and the second antenna part may have a substantially square, circled, looped, or rectangular shape. For example, each of the first antenna part and the second antenna part may be at least one of a wire loop antenna and a stamp antenna. Each of the first antenna part and the second antenna part may also be any of the antenna classes defined in ISO/IEC <NUM>. Alternatively, the first antenna part and the second antenna part may also be parts of one flexible antenna.

Preferably, the first plane and the second plane cross each other with an angle in the range from <NUM>° to <NUM>°, wherein the angle faces the container inserted into the container receiver unit. With such an arrangement and orientation of the antenna parts, it is possible to ensure that at least one of the first antenna part and the second antenna part can detect signals from the first communication tag on the cartridge, even in case the container is rotated by the user.

The medical device comprises a second communication tag. The second communication tag is configured to wirelessly receive and store information regarding debugging of the medical device. For example, the second communication tag is readable by the reader unit, may be readable also by an external device, and is writeable by an external device. Similar to the first communication tag, the second communication tag may be an NFC tag. The second communication tag may be operated in a passive mode or an active mode. To maintain the sterility of a packaged medical device, the second communication tag allows programming the medical device from the outside without having to open the medical device. For example, by sending data to the second communication tag, it is possible to externally set run-time parameters of the medical device, e.g., an ejection speed for ejecting a skin needle from an injector device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the reader unit comprises a second antenna unit configured to read the information stored in the second communication tag, and the control unit is configured to control the medical device based on the information read from the second communication tag. For example, by means of a programming device that is configured to wirelessly write data in the second communication tag, a pharmacist may set certain parameters of the medical device at the point of sale, based on the prescription of the specific patient, but without requiring him/her to open the medical device and lose its sterility. The second communication tag may also be used for contactless transfer of information to the medical device for debua and setup purposes. The information stored in the second communication tag is used to enter the medical device into specific debug modes, the debug mode being a mode for calibrating sensors (e.g., a skin sensor) in the medical device or a mode for checking the angular detection ability of the first communication tag by the reader unit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit may be configured to control the medical device based on the information read from the second communication tag and the information read from the first communication tag.

According to a another embodiment, the medical device further comprises a switch unit connected to the reader unit, wherein the reader unit comprises three antennas, and the switch unit is configured to consecutively switch signals received from the three antennas to the control unit. Preferably, a first antenna and a second antenna are used for reading the information stored in the first communication tag. Further, preferably, a third antenna is used for reading the information stored in the third communication tag. Thus, by means of rotational switching between the first to third antennas, data can be subsequently read via each of the first to third antennas.

According to one embodiment, the medical device further comprises a communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless terminal, wherein the communication unit is further configured to send, in real-time, information regarding the status of the medical device to the wireless terminal, send debugging data concerning the medical device to the wireless terminal, and/or send data regarding usage of the medical device to the wireless terminal. For example, the communication unit may be a Bluetooth transceiver unit that is configured to communicate with a corresponding Bluetooth transceiver unit in a wireless terminal, e.g., a smartphone running a specific software or app that is programmed to process the received data. Thus, the wireless terminal receiving the data from the medical device can enable an enhanced functionality of the medical device, such as healthcare monitoring, monitoring of usage of the medical device, monitoring of adherence of the patient, tracking of past medication, ordering of new medication via the Internet, history look-up, dosage information check, providing guidance to the user on use-steps, and/or trouble-shooting. Additionally, the medical device and the wireless terminal may enter into a training mode in which the wireless terminal can track in real time the status of the medical device and show the user next steps to be executed in the form of animations, videos, or written explanations. The medical device and the wireless terminal may also enter into a debug mode in which a control software running on a processor in the medical device can be debugged using the connection between the medical device and the wireless terminal, and a corresponding app running on the wireless terminal to view internal variables of the medical device.

The invention further concerns a programming device comprising a sending unit configured to send information regarding debugging of a medical device. Preferably, the programming device sends the information wirelessly to the medical device. The programming device may be any kind of computing device that is adapted to receive, process, and send data. In a preferred embodiment, the programming device comprises an NFC initiator device which is configured to wirelessly write data in the second communication tag, which is located in the medical device. The initiator device and the target device (i.e., the second communication tag) may operate in a passive mode. However, it is also possible that the initiator device and the target device operate in an active mode.

The programming device may further comprise a user interface, for example, a touch-sensitive screen displaying an app, which is configured to enter the information regarding at least one of prescription of a pharmaceutical product, setup of the medical device, debugging of the medical device, and calibration of the medical device. Moreover, in case the initiator device and the target device operate in an active mode, the programming device may further comprise a processing device that processes the data received from the second communication tag.

The invention further concerns a wireless terminal comprising a communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with the medical device, wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive, in real-time, information regarding the status of the medical device from the medical device, receive debugging data concerning the medical device from the medical device, and/or receive data regarding usage of the medical device from the medical device. The wireless terminal may be any kind of wireless communication terminal, for example, a smartphone. The communication unit may, for example, comprise a Bluetooth transceiver unit that is configured to communicate with a corresponding Bluetooth transceiver unit in the medical device. Other wireless communication standards like Wi-Fi, LTE, WLAN, WiMAX or ZigBee may also be used for the communication between the medical device and the wireless terminal. Moreover, the wireless terminal may be configured to communicate via the Internet with an external web server that stores data related to the medical device and/or the user of the medical device.

According to one embodiment, the wireless terminal further comprises a processing unit configured to process the data received from the medical device. For example, the processing unit may receive, in real-time, information regarding the status of the medical device from the medical device, and may control a display unit in the wireless terminal to display animations, videos, and/or written explanations regarding next steps necessary to be executed by the user of the medical device.

The invention further concerns a medical system comprising a medical device, and at least one of a programming device and a wireless terminal.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:.

<FIG> schematically shows a first medical device <NUM> according to a first embodiment. The medical device <NUM> comprises a container receiver unit <NUM> configured to receive and hold a container <NUM>, a reader unit <NUM> comprising a first antenna <NUM> and a second antenna <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, an ignition button <NUM>, and a switch unit <NUM> connected to the reader unit <NUM>.

The components of the medical device <NUM> are provided in a housing <NUM>. At one side of the housing <NUM>, the medical device <NUM> comprises an opening <NUM>. Instead of the opening <NUM>, a transparent window may be provided. The opening <NUM> is provided at a location that is proximal to the container receiver unit <NUM> so that a container <NUM> inserted in the container receiver unit <NUM> can be seen from the outside by a user when looking through the opening <NUM> into the medical device <NUM>.

The container <NUM> is adapted to accommodate a pharmaceutical product <NUM> and comprises a label <NUM> which is fixed around the outer circumference of the container <NUM> and which presents information about the pharmaceutical product <NUM> accommodated in the container <NUM> (e.g., product name, batch number, expiry date, etc.). Furthermore, the container <NUM> comprises a first NFC tag <NUM> which is fixed around the outer circumference of the container <NUM> and which is configured to store information regarding the pharmaceutical product <NUM> (e.g., product name, batch number, expiry date, etc.). Thus, the opening or transparent window <NUM> may have any shape and size that allows a user to see the label <NUM>, however, does not allow the container <NUM> to fall out of the medical device <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an example of a container <NUM> with a printed label <NUM> which is fixed around the outer circumference of the container <NUM>. The container <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape. The dashed line in <FIG> indicates the middle axis of the container <NUM>. At its distal end, the container <NUM> comprises a sealed dispensing port <NUM> through which a medical drug stored in the container <NUM> may be dispensed in case a piston provided in an axially movable manner in the container <NUM> pushes the medical drug (not shown in <FIG>) through the dispensing port <NUM>.

For illustrative purposes, <FIG> shows an exemplary label <NUM> in an un-affixed and an unwound form. The label <NUM> comprises an NFC tag <NUM> which is integrated in the sheet of the label <NUM> so that it is not visible from the outside (not shown in <FIG>).

For illustrative purposes, an exemplary NFC tag <NUM> is shown in <FIG> in a form detached from the label <NUM>. The NFC tag <NUM> comprises a memory <NUM> in which information regarding the pharmaceutical product <NUM> is stored, and an RFID antenna <NUM>. In the embodiment according to <FIG>, the NFC tag <NUM> is designed to fit around the outer surface of a <NUM> container <NUM>. Moreover, the NFC tag <NUM> is designed to be able to be read from all <NUM>° angles when affixed to the container <NUM>.

Now turning back to <FIG>, the opening <NUM> provided in the housing <NUM> has such a size, and the container <NUM> inserted in the container receiver unit <NUM> is located in such proximity to the opening <NUM> that a user can touch with his fingers through the opening <NUM> the container <NUM>. Thus, in case the user cannot appropriately read the label <NUM>, he/she may rotate the container <NUM> with his/her fingers within the container receiver unit <NUM>. For this, the container receiver unit <NUM> may be structured such that it only supports the container <NUM> at is distal end and its proximal end so that it may be rotated within the container receiver unit <NUM> around its middle axis (see <FIG>). Specifically, even during the time when the container <NUM> is rotated by the user, the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> enable reading of the information stored in the first NFC tag <NUM>.

Moreover, the opening <NUM> may be included in a door or a shutter, or any other access mechanism that may be used for inserting the container <NUM> into the medical device <NUM>, i.e., into the container receiver unit <NUM>.

The reader unit <NUM> is configured to wirelessly read the information from the first NFC tag <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM> is configured to control the medical device <NUM> based on the information read from the first NFC tag <NUM>. For example, when the first NFC tag <NUM> stores data regarding the expiry date of the pharmaceutical product <NUM>, and the reader unit <NUM> reads this information from the first NFC tag <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may process the received information and control the medical device <NUM> such that a dispensing of the pharmaceutical product <NUM>, which has expired, is not possible. For this, the control unit <NUM> may control the medical device <NUM> such that when a user presses the ignition button <NUM>, the medical device <NUM> does not dispense the pharmaceutical product <NUM> from the medical device <NUM>.

To allow a user to read the label <NUM> from the outside and at the same ensure that the reader unit <NUM> can read the data from the first NFC tag <NUM>, the container receiver unit <NUM> is provided between the opening <NUM> and the reader unit <NUM>. In particular, the opening <NUM> and the reader unit <NUM> are provided directly at the container receiver unit <NUM> holding the container <NUM>.

The switch unit <NUM> is adapted to switch the input signals received via each of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> in a rotational manner to the control unit <NUM>. For this, the switch unit <NUM> is controlled by the control unit <NUM>. Accordingly, the data stored in the first NFC tag <NUM> can be read via the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows a partial cross section of a second medical device. The second medical device corresponds to the first medical device <NUM> shown in <FIG> so that the same reference numbers concern the same elements.

Contrary to the first medical device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the second medical device partly shown in <FIG> comprises at the housing <NUM> a transparent window <NUM> instead of the opening. However, similar technical effects may also be achieved with an opening.

Specifically, <FIG> shows as an exemplary embodiment illustrating how the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> may be arranged with regard to the container <NUM> so that the first NFC tag <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) can always be read via at least one the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM>, and the label <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) can be seen from the outside through the transparent window <NUM>.

The first antenna <NUM> extends along a first plane, and the second antenna <NUM> extends along a second plane. Each of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> has a substantially square shape. In its cross section shown in <FIG>, the first antenna <NUM> has a length that is smaller than the diameter of the container <NUM>. Moreover, in its cross section shown in <FIG>, the second antenna <NUM> has a length that is smaller than the diameter of the container <NUM>. The first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to each other. Thus, the first antenna <NUM> together with the second antenna <NUM> only partially surround the container <NUM>. In particular, a cross section area of the first antenna <NUM> together with the second antenna <NUM> surrounds between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of a cross section area of the container <NUM>. Thus, it can be ensured that in whatever rotational direction the container <NUM> is inserted in the container receiving unit <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>), either the first antenna <NUM> or the second antenna <NUM> can read the data stored in first NFC tag <NUM>, and the user can read the label <NUM> from the outside through the transparent window <NUM>. Thus, at any given angle, at least one of the first antenna <NUM> or the second antenna <NUM> has sufficient overlap with the container <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows a partial cross section of a third medical device. The third medical device corresponds to the first medical device <NUM> shown in <FIG> so that the same reference numbers concern the same elements.

Contrary to the first medical device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the third medical device partly shown in <FIG> comprises a transparent window <NUM> instead of the opening. However, similar technical effects may also be achieved with an opening. Moreover, contrary to the second medical device shown in <FIG>, in the third medical device shown in <FIG>, the transparent window <NUM> has a larger size. Specifically, as is indicated by the dashed lines in <FIG>, a larger area of sight through the transparent window <NUM>, which is provided in the housing <NUM>, is foreseen.

Similar to the embodiment according to <FIG>, in the embodiment according to <FIG>, the first antenna <NUM> extends along a first plane, and the second antenna <NUM> extends along a second plane. Moreover, each of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> has a substantially square shape. However, contrary to the embodiment according to <FIG>, in the embodiment according to <FIG>, the first axis and the second axis cross each other with an angle α, which is larger than <NUM>°. Preferably, the angle α is in the range from <NUM>° to <NUM>°. Thus, in its cross section, the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> are V-shaped. Further preferably, in the cross sectional view shown in <FIG>, each of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> has a length that approximately corresponds to the diameter of the container <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows a partial perspective view of a fourth medical device. The fourth medical device corresponds to the first medical device <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the third medical device shown in <FIG> so that the same reference numbers concern the same elements. From the partial perspective view shown in <FIG>, the plane areas of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> can be seen. Although each of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> shown in <FIG> has a substantially rectangular shape, each of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> may also have another shape, e.g., a substantially square, circled, or looped shape.

<FIG> schematically shows a partial perspective view of a fourth medical device. The medical device shown in <FIG> may be the medical device <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The medical device shown in <FIG> is similar to the medical device shown in <FIG>, however, differs from the medical device shown in <FIG> in that only one flexible antenna having a first antenna part 142a and a second antenna part 144a is provided. The flexible antenna may consist of a flexible substrate onto which an antenna circuit is printed. The medical device shown in <FIG> has a substantially rectangular shape and is bent with an angle of <NUM>°. However, other shapes and other bending angles are possible, e.g., the shapes and angles described with regard to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> schematically shows a medical system comprising a medical device 100a and a programming device <NUM> according to a second embodiment. The medical device 100a shown in <FIG> is based on the medical device <NUM> shown in <FIG> so that the same reference numbers concern the same elements and any repeated explanation thereof is omitted.

In addition to the medical device <NUM> according to the first embodiment shown in <FIG>, the medical device 100a according to the second embodiment shown in <FIG> comprises a second NFC tag <NUM>, and the receiver unit <NUM> comprises a third antenna <NUM>.

The second NFC tag <NUM> is provided in a fixed manner in the medical device 100a. Preferably, the second NFC tag <NUM> is provided at a location in proximity to the third antenna <NUM> so that the data stored in the second NFC tag <NUM> can be read via the third antenna <NUM>. Based on the information read via the third antenna <NUM> from the second NFC tag <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> can control the medical device 100a. For example, the control unit <NUM> can obtain and process the information from both the first NFC tag <NUM> and the second NFC tag <NUM> before allowing the medical device 100a to dispense the pharmaceutical product <NUM> from the container <NUM>.

The second NFC tag <NUM> is configured to wirelessly receive and store information regarding at least one of prescription of the pharmaceutical product <NUM>, setup of the medical device 100a, debugging of the medical device 100a, and calibration of the medical device 100a. Thus, based on any of this information, the control unit <NUM> may control the medical device 100a, i.e., components of the medical device 100a. The switch unit <NUM> is adapted to switch the input signals received via each of the first antenna <NUM>, the second antenna <NUM>, and the third antenna <NUM> in a rotational manner to the control unit <NUM>. For this, the switch unit <NUM> is controlled by the control unit <NUM>. Accordingly, the data stored in the first NFC tag <NUM> can be read via the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM>, and the data stored in the second NFC tag <NUM> can be read via the third antenna <NUM>.

The medical system 100a shown in <FIG> further comprises a programming device <NUM>. The programming device <NUM> comprises a sending unit <NUM> and a user interface <NUM>.

The sending unit <NUM> is configured to send information regarding debugging of the medical device 100a, and may be in addition be configured to send information regarding at least one of prescription of pharmaceutical product <NUM>, setup of the medical device 100a, and calibration of the medical device 100a to the medical device 100a. Specifically, the sending unit <NUM> is configured to send any of this information to the second NFC tag <NUM>, which stores the received information in its memory. The sending unit <NUM> may, for example, be an NFC initiator device. The sending unit <NUM> and the second NFC tag <NUM> may operate in a passive mode. However, the sending unit <NUM> and the second NFC tag <NUM> may also operate in an active mode. In this case, the programming device <NUM> additionally comprises a processing unit (not shown in <FIG>) configured to process the data received from the second NFC tag <NUM>.

The user interface <NUM> is configured to enter the information regarding at least one of prescription of a pharmaceutical product <NUM>, setup of the medical device 100a, debugging of the medical device 100a and calibration of the medical device 100a into the programming device <NUM>. Accordingly, a pharmacist may use the programming device <NUM> to set certain parameters of the medical device 100a at the point of sale without requiring him/her to open the medical device 100a and lose its sterility.

Moreover, the programming device <NUM> may be used for transferring information to the second NFC tag <NUM>, which may be used by the control unit <NUM> to enter the medical device <NUM> into specific debug modes, such as a mode for calibrating sensors in the medical device 100a (e.g., a skin sensor in an injector device), a mode for checking the angular detection ability of the first NFC tag <NUM> by the reader unit <NUM>, and a system setup mode to modify parameters such as needle injection speed and/or skin sensor detection threshold when the medical device 100a is implemented as an injector device, the system setup mode not falling under the scope of protection of the claims.

Data received from the second NFC tag <NUM> operating in an active mode and processed by the processing unit may also be displayed in a display of the user interface <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows an example of a receiving unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with a switch unit <NUM>. The receiving unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the switch unit <NUM> may be the units shown in <FIG>. Thus, the same reference numbers concern the same elements.

As can be seen from <FIG>, an RFID reader/writer integrated circuit <NUM> is connected to the switch unit <NUM>. The switch unit <NUM> is adapted to split four input signals into four channels, as indicated by the four arrows originating from switch unit <NUM>. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, up to four antennas can be connected to the switch unit <NUM>. However, only the first antenna <NUM>, the second antenna <NUM>, and the third antenna <NUM> are connected to the switch unit <NUM>, whereas the fourth input is not used. Thus, the switch unit <NUM> can read each of the first antenna <NUM>, the second antenna <NUM>, and the third antenna <NUM> in a rotational manner. Accordingly, it can be ensured that at least one of the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> detects the first NFC tag <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) provided on the container <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows a medical system comprising a medical device 100b and a wireless terminal <NUM> according to a third embodiment.

The medical device 100b according to the third embodiment shown in <FIG> is based on the medical device <NUM> according to the first embodiment shown in <FIG>.

Thus, the same reference numbers concern the same components and any repeated explanation thereof is omitted.

Moreover, the third embodiment according to <FIG> may be combined with the second embodiment according to <FIG>, i.e., the elements additionally shown in the medical device 100a of <FIG> may be included in the medical device 100b shown in <FIG>. Moreover, the programming device <NUM> shown in <FIG> may additionally be provided in the medical system of the third embodiment according to <FIG>.

The medical device 100b according to the third embodiment shown in <FIG> differs from the medical device <NUM> according to the first embodiment shown in <FIG> in that a communication unit <NUM> is additionally provided in the medical device 100b. The communication unit <NUM> is a Bluetooth transceiver unit which is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless terminal <NUM>.

The wireless terminal <NUM> comprises a first communication unit <NUM> implemented as a Bluetooth transceiver unit which is configured to wirelessly communicate with the communication unit <NUM> in the medical device 100b. Furthermore, the wireless terminal <NUM> comprises a processing unit <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, and a second communication unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> of the medical device 100b is connected to the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls the sending of data from the communication unit <NUM> via an air interface to the first communication unit <NUM>. Specifically, the control unit <NUM> controls the communication unit <NUM> to send to the first communication unit <NUM> in the wireless terminal <NUM>, in real-time, information regarding the status of the medical device 100b. The communication unit <NUM> may also or additionally send debugging data concerning the medical device 100b, and/or data regarding usage of the medical device 100b to the first communication unit <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> in the wireless terminal <NUM> is configured to process the data received from the medical device 100b. For example, the processing unit <NUM> receives, in real-time, information regarding the status of the medical device 100b and controls the display unit <NUM> to display animations, videos, and/or written explanations regarding next steps necessary to be executed by the user of the medical device 100b.

The second communication unit <NUM> is configured to setup a connection to the Internet. For this, the second communication unit <NUM> is realized as a wireless local area network (WLAN) module. Alternatively, the second communication unit <NUM> may also be realized as a long-term evolution (LTE) module or any other wireless module that is configured to setup a connection to the Internet. Via a WLAN router <NUM>, the WLAN module <NUM> is configured to setup a connection to the Internet and communicate with a web server <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A medical device (<NUM>; 100a, 100b), comprising
a container receiver unit (<NUM>) configured to receive and hold a container (<NUM>), the container (<NUM>) accommodating a pharmaceutical product (<NUM>) and comprising a first communication tag (<NUM>) configured to store information regarding the pharmaceutical product (<NUM>);
a reader unit (<NUM>) configured to wirelessly read the information from the first communication tag (<NUM>);
a control unit (<NUM>) configured to control the medical device (<NUM>) based on the information read from the first communication tag (<NUM>); and
a second communication tag (<NUM>) provided in a fixed manner in the medical device (100a) and configured to wirelessly receive and store information regarding debugging of the medical device (<NUM>), wherein
the reader unit (<NUM>) is configured to wirelessly read the information stored in the second communication tag (<NUM>), and
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to control the medical device (<NUM>; 100a, 100b) based on the information read from the second communication tag (<NUM>), wherein the information is used to enter the medical device (<NUM>; 100a, 100b) into a debug mode,
characterized in that
the debug mode is a mode for calibrating sensors in the medical device (<NUM>) or a mode for checking an angular detection ability of the first communication tag (<NUM>) by the reader unit (<NUM>).