Patent Description:
A variety of diseases can be treated by injection of a medicament. Such injections can be performed using drug delivery devices, which can be applied either by medical personnel or by patients themselves. As an example, type-<NUM> and type-<NUM> diabetes can be treated by patients themselves by injection of drug doses, for example once or several times per day. For instance, a pre-filled disposable drug pen or autoinjector can be used as a drug delivery device. Alternatively, a re-usable pen or autoinjector may be used. A re-usable pen or autoinjector allows replacement of an empty medicament cartridge (or any other kind of medicament container) by a new one. Either type of pen or autoinjector may come with a set of one-way needles that are replaced before each use. The medicament dose may vary individually, therefore a user (e.g., a patient or health care professional) may select the amount of medicament required (e.g. dial a dose) by operating a dose setting mechanism of the drug delivery device prior to use.

Drug delivery devices may be able to communicate information to external devices. For example, <CIT> discloses a communication device as part of a drug delivery device that detects rotation of a physical part of the drug delivery device and transmits information of such detection to an external device. <CIT> discloses an injection pen including an internal antenna for transmitting and receiving data. <CIT> discloses a smart dose monitoring device that includes a communication module for transmitting data to an external device.

This disclosure relates to drug delivery devices having RFID electronics capable of being switched on and off (i.e., pulsed) in order to track a set or delivered dose of a medicament from the drug delivery device. This principle is based on using an RFID chip, which typically includes a memory and an antenna formed by an electric circuit. In operation, when the RFID chip is in the reach of a reader device such as a smart phone with an RFID reader, the antenna receives a signal from the smart phone and sends a wireless response signal according to the information encoded in the memory of the chip. In a representative example, the electric circuit of the antenna is open in a default state and is closed (e.g., completing the circuit and enabling the antenna to transmit the response signal) in synchronization with the movements of a dose setting or dispensing operating of the drug delivery device. In this manner, repetitive opening and closing of the RFID antenna results in a countably pulses of the wireless response signal (i.e., an RFID signal), which are synchronized such that the number of pulses indicates an amount of movement of a dose setting or dose dispensing mechanism of the drug delivery device. Where, for example, if <NUM> units of a medicament is delivered from a drug delivery device with a corresponding movement of a dose delivery mechanism, <NUM> pulses of the RFID signal are created. Aspects of this system can be implemented in a drug delivery device in a number of ways. In one example, a mechanical clicker is configured to operate the closing of the circuit of the antenna at each click, where a dose delivery mechanism is arranged to actuate the clicker during a dose delivery operation. Thus, the RFID signal is sent in a pulsed manner, where the number of pulses is proportional to the number of clicks, and where the mechanical clicker and dose delivery mechanism are arranged such that the number of clicks represents an amount of medicament that is dispensed. Finally, an external device counts the number of detected RFID pulses and computes the amount of medicament delivered during the dose dispensing operation.

In addition, a medicament and/or dose information can be transmitted with the encoded information of the RFID chip. In some instances, this may be only a unique tag serial number, or may be product-related information such as a stock number, lot or batch number, production date, or other specific information. Because RFID chips can have individual serial numbers, aspects of the present RFID tracking mechanism can discriminate among several tags that might be within the range of the RFID reader (i.e., an external device) and read several tags simultaneously. In this manner, it can be ensured that only the correct device is interrogated and the respective response is captured by the RFID reader.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure result in several advantages beyond the ability to easily track a set and/or dispensed dose from a drug delivery device. For example, a drug delivery device often includes a serial, stock, batch number, or production date in addition to information regarding the medicament, such as expiration, drug name, drug type, and concentration. Because an RFID chip is able to store specific data stored in a local memory, including any of the aforementioned information, and transmit this data in the RFID signal itself. This data can also be centrally tracked by the manufacturer to assist in recalls, track and analyze patient behavior, and monitor product usage. The use of a passive RFID chip has the advantage of being simple, reliable, and cost-effective. Additionally, with existing drug delivery devices, there are only minor modifications required to the dose delivery or setting mechanism to integrate the RFID chip, due to the small size and thickness of typical RFID chips. For example, an existing pen injector with a feedback clicker only needs to have an RFID chip and switch into the housing such that the switch in the electronic circuit that is operated by the existing feedback clicker. Optionally, the clicker itself can be modified to serve as a switch.

An example embodiment of the present disclosure is a drug delivery device having An dose tracking mechanism including a housing and an RFID device. The RFID device includes an electric circuit including an antenna and a switch operable to open and close the electric circuit, where the antenna is configured to transmit a wireless signal to a receiving device when the electric circuit is closed by the switch. The switch is configured to open and close in response to operation of a dose setting mechanism of the drug delivery device to set a dose of a medicament and/or a dose dispensing mechanism of the drug delivery device to dispense a dose of medicament. Closing and opening of the electric circuit generates a pulse of the wireless signal the pulse is usable to identify a quantity of medicament administered by the drug delivery device.

In some instances, the switch is configured to close and subsequently open the electric circuit periodically during a dose setting operation to set the dose and/or a dose dispensing operation to dispense to dose.

In some instances, each pulse corresponds to an amount of the medicament set by the dose setting mechanism and/or dispensed by the dose dispensing mechanism such that a total number of pulses indicates a total amount of the medicament.

In some instances, the switch is operationally coupled to a clicker mechanism, where the clicker mechanism is operated during the dose setting operation and/or the dose dispensing operation.

In some instances, the clicker mechanism includes a feedback mechanism configured to produce an audible or tactile feedback during the dose setting operation or the dose delivery operation, and where the switch arranged to be actuated by the feedback mechanism.

In some instances, the switch is integrally formed with the clicker mechanism.

In some instances, the dose setting mechanism or the dose dispensing mechanism includes a one or more actuation features configured to engage the switch of the RFID device in succession during the dose setting operation or the dose dispensing operation such that the switch closes and subsequently opens the electric circuit to generate one pulse for each of the one or more of actuation features that engaged the switch.

In some instances, the dose setting mechanism is configured to move proportionally to the dose set during the dose setting operation and/or the dose dispensing mechanism is configured to move proportionally to the dose dispensed during the dose dispensing operation, and where the one or more actuation features are configured to operate the switch such that the switch generates one pulse for each step of movement of the dose setting mechanism and/or the dose dispensing mechanism such that a number of the pulses indicates the amount of the dose set or dispensed.

In some instances, the dose setting mechanism includes a dose dial sleeve configured to rotate helically with respect to the housing.

In some instances, dose dial sleeve includes one or more actuation features configured to engage the switch, each of the one or more of actuation features corresponding to a set dose indicated by the dose dial sleeve during the dose setting operation.

In some instances, the dose dispensing mechanism includes a piston rod configured to move with respect to the housing during a dose dispensing operation, and where the dose dispensing mechanism includes the one or more actuation features configured to engage the switch, each of the one or more of actuation features corresponding to an amount of movement of the piston rod.

In some instances, the RFID device is a passive RFID device configured to transmit the wireless signal when RF energy is received from an external RFID reader.

In some instances, the dose tracking mechanism includes a power source, and where the RFID device is an active RFID device configured to receive power from the power source and to transmit the wireless signal using the received power when the switch closes the electric circuit.

In some instances, the wireless signal includes identification information related to the drug delivery device or a medicament contained therein.

Another example of the present disclosure is a method for wirelessly tracking an indication of a dose injected by a drug delivery device. The method includes opening and then closing an electric circuit of an RFID device once for each unit of movement of a dose dispensing mechanism of the drug delivery device during a dose dispensing operation or for each unit of movement of a dose setting mechanism of the drug delivery device during a dose setting operation by toggling a switch in the electric circuit and transmitting a pulse of a wireless signal via an antenna of the RFID device for each closing of the electric circuit, the RFID device transmitting a number of pulses proportional to a quantity of a dose of medicament set during the does setting operating or dispensed during the dose dispensing operation.

In some instances, the wireless signal includes information a medicament delivered by the dose dispensing mechanism during the dose dispensing operation and/or the drug delivery device, where the information is sufficient to enable calculation of the amount of medicament that has been delivered by the drug delivery device based on the number of pulses transmitted.

In some instances, the method includes receiving an RF energy from an external device with the antenna of the electric circuit and transmitting the wireless signal with the antenna of the RFID device using the received RF energy.

In some instances, the method includes receiving electric energy from an internal power storage device with the RFID device when the electric circuit is closed and transmitting the wireless signal with the antenna of the RFID device using the received electric energy.

In some instances, the dose dial is a dose dial sleeve, and where moving the dose dial sleeve one unit for each unit of the dose including rotating the dose dial sleeve with respect to a housing of the drug delivery device.

In some instances, rotating the dose dial sleeve with respect to a housing of the drug delivery device including moving the dose dial sleeve helically with respect to the housing.

In some instances, moving the dose dial one unit includes engaging and disengaging an actuation feature of the dose dial with the switch to open and close the switch.

In some instances, the method includes producing an audible or tactile feedback for each unit of movement of the dose dial.

In some instances, the opening and the closing of the switch operating a feedback mechanism producing the audible or tactile feedback for each unit of movement of the dose dial.

In some instances, the RFID transmits the wireless signal at a first frequency in response to the movement of the dose dial, and the method includes opening and then closing a second switch of the electric circuit of the RFID device when a trigger button the drug delivery device is activated and transmitting the wireless signal at a second frequency when the second switch closes the electric circuit.

Yet another example is a method for wirelessly transmitting an indication of a dose of a medicament delivered by a drug delivery device. The method includes moving a dose setting mechanism of the drug delivery device to set the dose, actuating a drug dispensing mechanism, the drug dispensing mechanism moving one unit for each unit of the dose, the moving of the dose dispensing mechanism opening and then closing a switch of an electric circuit of an RFID device once for each unit of movement of the dose dispensing mechanism, the RFID device transmitting a wireless signal when the electric circuit is closed such that the RFID device pulses the transmission of the wireless signal with a number of pulses equal to the units of the dose, receiving the indication of the dose by receiving and counting the pulses of the wireless signal from the RFID device with an external device, and deriving an amount of the medicament delivered by counting the number of pulses.

Cartridge-based injection and medical syringe systems can include integrated electronics that enable detection of a dose set by the user, or a measurement of the medicament delivered by the device (e.g., a position sensor), along with some feature for presenting this information to the user. For example, a digital display arranged to display a dose or a wireless connection to transmit the dose data. However, the above examples typically require an internal source of power, either to run the sensor(s) or the wireless transmission. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a drug delivery device with a dose tracking mechanism generating a wireless RFID signal that encodes one or more of a dose set and a dose delivered by the drug delivery device without the need for an internal power source. Certain aspects also relate to a dose tracking mechanism that generates the wireless RFID signal using an active (e.g., battery powered) RFID transmitter. In certain aspects, a switch is provided in the drug delivery device to close a close a circuit of an RFID chip, such that the dose tracking mechanism transmits a pulse of an RFID signal each time the circuit closes. In some example, the switch is provided as an addition component of a drug delivery device. In another example, the switch is operated by a clicker or feedback mechanism of the drug delivery device. In yet another example, the switch in integrated into the clicker or feedback mechanism.

In a representative embodiment, an RFID circuit in a drug delivery device includes a switch that opens and closes multiple times during the movement of a dose setting operation or a dose delivery operation. Each closing of the switch completes the RFID circuit such that the RFID circuit is able to transmit a wireless signal in response to a received signal only with the switch closing the circuit. In operation, the received signal is transmitted from some external device, such as a smart phone or an RFID reader, and the RFID circuit of the drug delivery device transmits a pulse of the RFID signal each time the switch closes the RFID circuit. In this manner, for example, during a drug delivery operation, a dose dispensing mechanism moves an amount corresponding to the amount of medicament delivered. During this movement, the dose dispending mechanism repeatedly actuates the switch, which closes the RFID circuit a number of times corresponding to the amount of medicament delivered. Finally, because this closing of the switch completes the RFID circuit, a number of pulses of the RFID signal are generated (in response to a received signal during the dose delivery operation). The number of pulses are then easily counted by an external device, and the amount of medicament delivered is determined based on a known relationship between the movement of the dose dispensing mechanism (e.g., the number of pulses) and an amount of medicament delivered for each pulse. In an alternative configuration, the switch is nominally closed, and opens during the dose dispensing or dose setting operation such that pulses generated are the inverse of the earlier configuration, and there resultant gaps in the signal are counted to determine the amount of medicament delivered, or the dose set.

While the above description includes a passive RFID system (i.e., no internal power source), passive RFID signals are often limited in this transmission distance. Alternatively, an active RFID chip could be used, where active RFID chips are generally understood to require a source of power beyond any received RF energy in order to generate the wireless response signal with more power. The design is similar in function compared to the above passive system, with the addition of a battery to boost the transmission power of the RFID signal. The power is only required to feed the system when in use. In some examples, an air-zinc battery is used to ensure that the drug delivery device is disposable, if necessary. In this instance, the air-zinc battery is arranged such that a protective latch is removed automatically when using the drug delivery device the first time at dial up. In some instances, the battery is located in the dose release button and the latch is fixed to a pen housing. Then the RFID chip is ready, but does not initially transmit the RFID signal, as the circuit is open in default state, as mentioned above. In some instances, the switch is integrated with an existing clicker that provides a tactile or audible feedback of the operation, and, during a dose dispense operation, the switch is closed synchronously to the clicker noise, and thus the RFID signal is pulsed. In the active RFID system, similar to the passive system, an external device counts the number of pulses and computes the amount of medicament from that. In some instances, the actual data that is being sent from the RFID chip in the wireless signal comprises information on the medicament/device and this can be by the reader to interpret the data. For example, the external device can assign the captured number of pulses to the "right" device and store it appropriately in a separate storage for this device/medicament.

<FIG> is an exploded view of a drug delivery device <NUM>, which may be a disposable or reusable drug delivery device. The drug delivery device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, covered by a replaceable cap <NUM>, where the housing <NUM> contains a cartridge <NUM> and a cartridge housing <NUM> in which the cartridge <NUM> is disposed. A stopper <NUM> is disposed in the body of the cartridge <NUM> and can be advanced within the cartridge <NUM> during use to expel medicament from the cartridge <NUM>. A needle assembly can be affixed to the cartridge housing <NUM> or the cartridge <NUM> to deliver the medicament. To drive the stopper <NUM> into the cartridge <NUM>, the drug delivery device <NUM> includes a piston rod <NUM>, a drive sleeve <NUM>, and a trigger button <NUM> (e.g., a dose dispensing mechanism <NUM>), which act together to drive a pressure plate <NUM> against the stopper <NUM> and into the cartridge <NUM>. A medicament or drug dose to be ejected from the drug delivery device <NUM> is selected by turning a dosage knob <NUM>, which is connected by a threaded insert <NUM> a dose dial sleeve <NUM>, where rotation of the dose dial sleeve <NUM> by the dosage knob <NUM> causes the selected dose to be displayed in a dosage window <NUM> in the housing <NUM> and causes a clicker <NUM> to interact with the drive sleeve <NUM> via a spring clutch <NUM>. Together, the dosage knob <NUM>, dose dial sleeve <NUM>, and clicker 250are a dose setting mechanism <NUM>. The dose dial sleeve <NUM> is arranged around a clicker <NUM>, which includes a feedback mechanism <NUM> that generates a tactile or audible feedback with rotation of the dose dial sleeve <NUM>. The clicker <NUM> is coupled to the drive sleeve <NUM> with a metal clutch spring <NUM>, and a last dose nut <NUM> is provided on the drive sleeve <NUM>. The last dose nut <NUM> advances with each dose dispensing operation to track the total medicament remaining in the cartridge <NUM>. Finally, an injection button <NUM> is included, and depression injection button <NUM> activates a dose dispensing operation of the drug delivery device <NUM>.

While the dose setting mechanism <NUM> is illustrated as the dosage knob <NUM>, dose dial sleeve <NUM>, and the clicker <NUM>, as described above, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of different dose setting mechanisms are route in the art for the purposes of setting a dose of a drug delivery device and aspects of the present disclosure are compatible with other such dose setting mechanisms. Similarly, while the dose dispensing mechanism <NUM> is illustrated as a includes the piston rod <NUM>, drive sleeve <NUM>, trigger button <NUM>, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of different dose dispensing mechanisms (e.g., drive mechanisms) are route in the art for the purposes of delivering or dispensing a dose of a drug delivery device and aspects of the present disclosure are compatible with other such dose dispensing mechanisms.

Continuing with the operation of the drug delivery device <NUM>, turning the dosage knob <NUM> causes a mechanical click sound to provide acoustical feedback to a user by rotating the dose dial sleeve <NUM> with respect to the clicker <NUM>. The numbers displayed in the dosage display <NUM> are printed on the dose dial sleeve <NUM> that is contained in the housing <NUM> and mechanically interacts with the drive sleeve <NUM> via the metal spring clutch <NUM> to interact with the cartridge <NUM>. When the injection button <NUM> is pushed, the drug dose displayed in the display <NUM> will be ejected from the drug delivery device <NUM>. During a dose setting operation, the drive sleeve is helically rotated with the dose dial sleeve <NUM> in the distal direction D. When the injection button <NUM> is pushed, the drive sleeve <NUM> is released and advanced proximally, which causes rotation of the piston rod <NUM>. The rotation of the piston rod <NUM> drives the pressure plate <NUM> against the stopper <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>, which drives the stopper <NUM> into the cartridge <NUM> to expel the medicament from the cartridge <NUM>. A more detailed description of a representative drug delivery device is described in <CIT>.

<FIG> is a cross sectional view of a portion of the drug delivery device <NUM> of <FIG>. <FIG> shows the drug delivery device <NUM> at the end of a dose setting operation and prior to a dose dispensing operation, where the dose dial sleeve <NUM> and the drive sleeve <NUM> have been helically rotated with respect to the housing <NUM> and a threaded end <NUM> of the piston rod <NUM> to set the dose. The last dose nut <NUM> is shown advanced along the drive sleeve <NUM> from an initial position. Upon activation of the injection button <NUM>, the drive sleeve advances into the housing <NUM>, and a set of inner threads <NUM> induce rotation of the piston rod <NUM>. Rotation of the piston <NUM> drives the piston rod <NUM> and the pressure plate <NUM> proximally to drive the stopper <NUM> into the cartridge <NUM> (<FIG>).

<FIG> are illustration of a dose dial sleeve and clicker, respectively. <FIG> shows the helical outer thread of the dose dial sleeve <NUM>, and <FIG> shows the clicker <NUM> and feedback mechanism <NUM>, where feedback mechanism <NUM> includes a resilient arm <NUM> configured to be deformed periodically during a dose dispensing operation of the drug delivery device <NUM>, such that the resilient arm produces a click upon returning to a non-deformed state. The feedback mechanism is, in some instances, a dispense clicker configured to be moved over ribs or splines disposed on an inner surface of the dial sleeve <NUM> during a dose delivery operation. The clicker <NUM> is, in some instances, a dose setting clicker, having teeth disposed on the proximal ends of the clicker <NUM>, which are configured to engage the metal spring <NUM> during a dose setting operation (e.g., the action when selecting a dose size before actually injecting the medicament). In some instances, the metal spring <NUM> has two splines that engage with ribs at the inner surface of housing part <NUM> to prevent spring <NUM> from rotating against housing part <NUM>. When setting a dose, sleeves <NUM> and <NUM> rotate unison and as the metal spring <NUM> does not rotate teeth move over the splines of the metal spring <NUM> and produce a click sound. In one example, as shown in <CIT>, an inner surface of the housing <NUM> includes splines configured to deflect the resilient arm <NUM> as the clicker mechanism <NUM> rotates with respect to the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> is an illustration of a passive a RFID circuit <NUM>, which may be a printed RFID circuit. The RFID circuit includes an RFID chip <NUM> and an antenna <NUM>, where the antenna is coiled around the RFID circuit <NUM>. In operation, the antenna <NUM> absorbs an incoming wireless reader signal from an external device and forms a weak magnetic field, which creates a current in the antenna to provide power to the RFID chip <NUM>. The RFID chip <NUM> includes a memory, which stores, for example, information related to the drug delivery device <NUM> or a medicament contained therein. Upon power being provided to the RFID chip <NUM>, the RFID generates a response signal in the antenna <NUM>, which transmits the information from the RFID chip's <NUM> memory as a wireless signal. This wireless signal can be received by the external device that sent the reader signal, or by another device close by.

<FIG> is a schematic of the operation of a RFID dose tracking mechanism <NUM> in the drug delivery device <NUM> further comprising a dose tracking assembly with an RFID device and a switch configured to open and close the circuitry of the RFID device. The switch is configured to open and close while the dose setting and/or dose dispensing mechanism is operated. The RFID dose tracking mechanism <NUM> includes a RFID circuit <NUM>, a switch <NUM> in the RFID circuit <NUM>, and a resilient arm <NUM> arranged to engage the switch <NUM> during operation of the drug delivery device <NUM>. In some instances, the RFID dose tracking mechanism <NUM> includes a battery <NUM> configured to provide power to the RFID circuit <NUM> when the switch <NUM> is engaged, but as described above, the RFID dose tracking mechanism <NUM> can also be a passive RFID system, and <FIG> shows an external device <NUM> providing a wireless reader signal <NUM> to the antenna <NUM> of the RFID circuit in order to generate power for the RFID chip <NUM>.

In operation, either passive or active, a mechanism of the drug delivery device <NUM> is configured to operate the switch <NUM> during a dose setting operation or a dose dispensing operation. For example, <FIG> shows a portion of the dose dial sleeve <NUM> having actuation features <NUM> that engage the resilient arm <NUM> of the clicker during a dose setting operation (which is shown as movement of the dose dial sleeve in the direction of arrow <NUM>). Similarly, a component of the dose dispensing mechanism (e.g., the drive sleeve <NUM>) could have actuation features arranged to engage the switch <NUM> during a dose delivery operation. In both cases, movement of the dose dispensing mechanism or dose setting mechanism <NUM> causes the actuation features <NUM> to engage the resilient arm <NUM> and deflect it (e.g., position <NUM>') to operate the switch <NUM> once as each actuation feature passes across the resilient arm <NUM>. The dose setting and/or the dispensing action may involve rotational movement; alternatively, linear movement of a component of the drug delivery device <NUM> may also be used to operate the switch.

The switch <NUM> is configured to open and close the RFID circuit <NUM>, specifically the antenna <NUM>, such that, with the switch <NUM> open, the antenna <NUM> does not receive the reader signal <NUM> or provide power from the battery <NUM> to the RFID chip <NUM>. In some instances, the battery <NUM> is a zinc-air battery. Similarly, with the switch <NUM> open, the antenna <NUM> does not transmit the response signal <NUM>.

The switch <NUM> and the RFID antenna <NUM> are electrically connected via wires. The RFID circuit <NUM> could be placed on a housing component, preferably as a label (plastic, paper, adhesive RFID chip). Alternatively, the RFID circuit <NUM> could be located inside the housing <NUM>, for example, at the inner surface of the injection button <NUM> or between injection button <NUM> and another inner component such as the dose dial sleeve <NUM>.

Generally speaking, the switch <NUM> registers operation of the mechanism (e.g., during a dial and/or dispense operation) and correlates this to modulate the RFID response signal <NUM>. The modulation is a pulse of, detectable by the external device <NUM> as, for example, amplitude modulation of a signal at a specific frequency. When the switch <NUM> is closed, the RFID circuit <NUM> is completed and the response signal <NUM> is transmitted, which indicates that one toggling of the switch <NUM> occurred, and the actuation features <NUM> can be configured to generate one pulse of the response signal <NUM> for any amount of medicament. The number of pulses of the response signal <NUM> is proportional to the amount of medicament that has been dispensed when the resilient arm <NUM> is actuated by the dose dispensing mechanism. In a more complicated example, the number of pulses can also be correlated to the dose that has been dialed or set. However, in this example, the drug delivery device includes a mechanism that can distinguish between up and down dialing and must "know" when a setting operation is ended (e.g., by sensing the start of the dose dispensing operation).

In an alternative dose tracking mechanism <NUM> configuration, the switch <NUM> is arranged to be contacted or operated by contact by any adjacent components of the drug delivery device <NUM> that move relative to one another during operation (dose setting and/or dose dispensing). For example, movement between the dose dial knob <NUM> and housing <NUM>, between the dose dial sleeve <NUM> and the window <NUM>, or between the dose dial sleeve <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. Additionally, more than one clicker mechanism <NUM> may be present, where one is arranged for triggering during the dose setting operation, and another is arranged for triggering during the dose dispensing operation.

<FIG> is a graph of the strength <NUM> of the RFID response signal over <NUM> time <NUM> during a dose dispensing operation of a drug delivery device <NUM> having the dose tracking mechanism <NUM>. <FIG> shows the RFID response signal <NUM> has an approximately square-wave pattern during dose dispensing operation, where each pulse of the response signal <NUM> corresponds to a time when the switch <NUM> is closed periodically by actuation features <NUM> on a component of a dose dispensing mechanism. Each pulse of the response signal <NUM> has approximately amplitude <NUM>, and each pulse of the response signal <NUM> includes the information stored in the RFID chip <NUM>. The pulses of the response signal <NUM> continue until the end of the dose dispensing operation, at time <NUM>, where <NUM> pulses of the response signal <NUM> has occurred. In some instances, each pulse of the response signal <NUM> represents a predefined amount of the medicament dispensed from the drug delivery device <NUM> by the dose dispensing mechanism.

<FIG> is an illustration of a clicker cylinder assembly of a drug delivery device <NUM>. <FIG> shows another design of the dose tracking mechanism, using electrically conductive components. In <FIG>, a two-part clicker cylinder <NUM>, <NUM> is made from an electrically conducting material or alternatively coated with such a material, e.g., copper, nickel, silver, or gold. The two-part clicker cylinder <NUM>, <NUM> includes an inner cylinder <NUM> and an outer cylinder <NUM>. The outer cylinder <NUM> includes a clicker arm <NUM> that run along the outer surface of inner cylinder <NUM>, wherein inner cylinder <NUM> has ribs or splines. Alternatively, the inner cylinder <NUM> has teeth on its outer surface that run across a resilient rib or arm producing a click sound. Continuing to refer to <FIG>, a toothed member <NUM> of the clicker arm <NUM> is also furnished as electrically conducting element, and the clicker arm <NUM> runs along the outer surface of the clicker cylinder <NUM>. When the clicker cylinder <NUM> rotates relative to the clicker arm <NUM>, click sounds are generated. For each clicker arm <NUM>, a particularly toothed member <NUM> runs along an inclined surface of a longitudinal spline <NUM> and the falls down in a trough between the splines <NUM>, making a click sound. During each fall, there is no contact between toothed member <NUM> and cylinder <NUM> and thus an electrical contact between the two-part clicker cylinder <NUM>, <NUM> is interrupted. An RFID circuit <NUM> is in electrical connection with the two-part clicker cylinder <NUM>, <NUM> and interrupting the contact leads to opening the circuit of the RFID chip <NUM> and thus the RFID response signal <NUM> is pulsed.

In some instances, the clicker arm <NUM> could additionally be configured as a switch <NUM>. For example, the tip (outer surface) of toothed member <NUM> could comprise a dome switch, where the dome switch is closed when the toothed member <NUM> runs across the top of the splines <NUM> of outer surface of cylinder <NUM>. Alternatively, the inner surface of toothed member <NUM> could comprise a dome switch. The dome switch is closed when the toothed member <NUM> is pushed radially inwards and about a surface before crossing the top of a spline <NUM>. In other instances, the abutting surface (e.g., inner surface of housing <NUM>) carries a dome switch, which is activated upon the toothed member being forced radially outward towards the housing <NUM> when moving across each spline <NUM>.

Aspects of the systems disclose above enable medical injectors to employ 'smart' technologies by way of an attached of the included electronic components (e.g. RFID, sensor) to give a certain features to a cartridge of a drug delivery device (e.g. of a pen-type injector). When integrating electronics into drug delivery device, a one or more components may be active (e.g., a sensor to measure certain properties of the injector or cartridge) and require an energy source, which typically could be a battery. One alternative is to use a means of energy harvesting as a power source replacement for a battery.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can also apply to prefilled single and double chamber syringes that may not use a cartridge. In some instances, the dose tracking mechanism is contained in the cartridge or in the drug delivery device in a manner enabling the dose tracking mechanism assembly to sense a change in the fill level of the cartridge or syringe after an injection. In some instances, components of the electronics assembly are located outside of the cartridge or in different parts of the cartridge or drug delivery device.

Some of the features described can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. The apparatus can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device, for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the described embodiments by operating on input data and generating output. The described features can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used, directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result.

The term "drug delivery device" shall encompass any type of device or system configured to dispense a volume of a drug into a human or animal body. The volume can typically range from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. Without limitation, the drug delivery device may include a syringe, needle safety system, pen injector, auto injector, large-volume device (LVD), pump, perfusion system, or other device configured for subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravascular delivery of the drug. Such devices often include a needle, wherein the needle can include a small gauge needle (e.g., greater than about <NUM> gauge, and including <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> gauge).

In combination with a specific drug, the presently described devices may also be customized in order to operate within required parameters. For example, within a certain time period (e.g., about <NUM> to about <NUM> seconds for injectors, and about <NUM> minutes to about <NUM> minutes for an LVD), with a low or minimal level of discomfort, or within certain conditions related to human factors, shelf-life, expiry, biocompatibility, environmental considerations, etc. Such variations can arise due to various factors, such as, for example, a drug ranging in viscosity from about <NUM> cP to about <NUM> cP.

The drug or medicament may be contained in a primary package, cartridge, or "drug container" adapted for use with a drug delivery device. The drug container may be, for example, a cartridge, syringe, reservoir, or other vessel configured to provide a suitable chamber for storage (e.g., short- or long-term storage) of one or more pharmaceutically active compounds. For example, in some embodiments, the chamber may be designed to store a drug for at least one day (e.g., <NUM> to at least <NUM> days). In some embodiments, the chamber may be designed to store a drug for about <NUM> month to about <NUM> years. In some embodiments, the drug container may be or may include a dual-chamber cartridge configured to store two or more components of a drug formulation (e.g., a drug and a diluent, or two different types of drugs) separately, one in each chamber. In such embodiments, the two chambers of the dual-chamber cartridge may be configured to allow mixing between the two or more components of the drug or medicament prior to and/or during dispensing into the human or animal body.

As used herein, the term "derivative" refers to any substance that is sufficiently structurally similar to the original substance so as to have substantially similar functionality or activity (e.g., therapeutic effectiveness).

Exemplary insulin derivatives are, for example, B29-N-myristoyl-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-palmitoyl-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-myristoyl human insulin; B29-N-palmitoyl human insulin; B28-N-myristoyl LysB28ProB29 human insulin; B28-N-palmitoyl-LysB28ProB29 human insulin; B30-N-myristoyl-ThrB29LysB30 human insulin; B30-N-palmitoyl- ThrB29LysB30 human insulin; B29-N-(N-palmitoyl-gamma-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-(N-lithocholyl-gamma-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-(w-carboxyheptadecanoyl)-des(B30) human insulin and B29-N-(ω-carboxyhepta¬decanoyl) human insulin. Exemplary GLP-<NUM>, GLP-<NUM> analogues and GLP-<NUM> receptor agonists are, for example: Lixisenatide / AVE0010 / ZP10 / Lyxumia, Exenatide / Exendin-<NUM> / Byetta / Bydureon / ITCA <NUM> / AC-<NUM> (a <NUM> amino acid peptide which is produced by the salivary glands of the Gila monster), Liraglutide / Victoza, Semaglutide, Taspoglutide, Syncria / Albiglutide, Dulaglutide, rExendin-<NUM>, CJC-<NUM>-PC, PB-<NUM>, TTP-<NUM>, Langlenatide / HM-11260C, CM-<NUM>, GLP-<NUM> Eligen, ORMD-<NUM>, NN-<NUM>, NN-<NUM>, NN-<NUM>, Nodexen, Viador-GLP-<NUM>, CVX-<NUM>, ZYOG-<NUM>, ZYD-<NUM>, GSK-<NUM>, DA-<NUM>, MAR-<NUM>, MAR709, ZP-<NUM>, ZP-<NUM>, TT-<NUM>, BHM-<NUM>. MOD-<NUM>, CAM-<NUM>, DA-<NUM>, ARI-<NUM>, ARI-<NUM>, Exenatide-XTEN and Glucagon-Xten.

Antibody fragments that are useful in the present disclosure include, for example, Fab fragments, F(ab')<NUM> fragments, scFv (single-chain Fv) fragments, linear antibodies, monospecific or multispecific antibody fragments such as bispecific, trispecific, and multispecific antibodies (e.g., diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies), minibodies, chelating recombinant antibodies, tribodies or bibodies, intrabodies, nanobodies, small modular immunopharmaceuticals (SMIP), binding-domain immunoglobulin fusion proteins, camelized antibodies, and VHH containing antibodies.

Acid addition salts are e.g. HCI or HBr salts.

The term "drug delivery device" according to instant disclosure shall mean a single-dose or multi-dose, disposable or re-useable device designed to dispense a selected dose of a medicinal product, preferably multiple selected doses, e.g. insulin, growth hormones, low molecular weight heparins, and their analogues and/or derivatives etc. Said device may be of any shape, e.g. compact or pen-type. Dose delivery may be provided through a mechanical (optionally manual) or electrical drive mechanism or stored energy drive mechanism, such as a spring, etc. Dose selection may be provided through a manual mechanism or electronic mechanism. Additionally, said device may contain components designed to monitor physiological properties such as blood glucose levels, etc. Furthermore, the said device may comprise a needle or may be needle-free. In particular, the term "drug delivery device" shall mean a disposable multi-dose pen-type device having mechanical and manual dose delivery and dose selection mechanisms, which is designed for regular use by persons without formal medical training such as patients. In some instances, the drug delivery device is of the injector-type.

The term "housing" according to instant disclosure shall preferably mean any exterior housing ("main housing", "body", "shell") or interior housing ("insert", "inner body") having a helical thread. The housing may be designed to enable the safe, correct, and comfortable handling of the drug delivery device or any of its mechanism. Usually, it is designed to house, fix, protect, guide, and/or engage with any of the inner components of the drug delivery device (e.g., the drive mechanism, cartridge, plunger, piston rod) by limiting the exposure to contaminants, such as liquid, dust, dirt etc. In general, the housing may be unitary or a multipart component of tubular or non-tubular shape. Usually, the exterior housing serves to house a cartridge from which a number of doses of a medicinal product may by dispensed.

Those of skill in the art will understand that modifications (such as, for example, adjustments, additions, or removals) of various components of the substances, formulations, apparatuses, methods, systems, devices, and embodiments described herein may be made.

A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described.

Claim 1:
A dose tracking mechanism for use in a drug delivery device (<NUM>), comprising:
an RFID device (<NUM>) comprising:
an electric circuit (<NUM>) comprising an antenna (<NUM>), the electric circuit (<NUM>) being in form of a label placed on a housing (<NUM>), on a surface of an injection button (<NUM>), or between the injection button (<NUM>) and another inner component of the drug delivery device (<NUM>), and
a switch (<NUM>) operable to open and close the electric circuit (<NUM>),
wherein the antenna (<NUM>) is configured to transmit a wireless signal (<NUM>) to a receiving device (<NUM>) when the electric circuit (<NUM>) is closed by the switch (<NUM>),
wherein the switch (<NUM>) is configured to open and close in response to operation of a dose setting mechanism (<NUM>) of the drug delivery device (<NUM>) to set a dose of a medicament and/or a dose dispensing mechanism (<NUM>) of the drug delivery device (<NUM>) to dispense a dose of medicament,
wherein a closing and /or opening of the electric circuit (<NUM>) generates a pulse (<NUM>) of the wireless signal, and
wherein the switch (<NUM>) is configured to close and subsequently open the electric circuit (<NUM>) periodically to cause generation of multiple pulses (<NUM>)during the dose setting operation and/or during the dose dispensing operation,
wherein the switch (<NUM>) is arranged to be actuated by a clicker mechanism (<NUM>) of the drug delivery device (<NUM>) when the clicker mechanism (<NUM>) is deflected during the dose setting operation and/or the dose dispensing operation, and
wherein each pulse (<NUM>) in the transmitted pulses corresponds to an amount of the medicament set by the dose setting mechanism (<NUM>) and/or dispensed by the dose dispensing mechanism (<NUM>) such that a total number of pulses (<NUM>) indicates a total amount of medicament.