Abstract: A system and a method detects blockage of an actuating assembly in a drug delivery device with a brushless DC or stepper motor. The Back EMF voltage is periodically measured at the driving contacts of the motor. A blockage indication value is periodically calculated based on the divergence of voltages measured at different driving contacts, and an alarming and/or mitigation action is initiated if the blockage indication value meets a predefined criterion such as exceeding a minimum or maximum value.

Abstract: The safety and reliability of drug delivery systems are improved by the use of smartphones for calculating safety critical delivery parameters. A drug delivery device is adapted to perform a drug delivery operation based on an unconfirmed drug delivery instructions determined by a processing unit of a control device by applying a basic mathematic operation to control device input data. The drug delivery device comprises a communication module to receive, from the control device, the basic mathematic operation and the control device input data, and a redundancy module to determine a redundant drug delivery instructions by applying the basic mathematic operation to the control device input data received from the control device. The drug delivery device is adapted to prevent execution of the drug delivery operation if the unconfirmed drug delivery instructions and the redundant drug delivery instructions are found, by a comparator module, to conflict.

Abstract: A drug delivery device including a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be delivered by advancing a piston in the reservoir at an advancement speed defining a delivery rate for the medicament. The device further includes an electric motor configured to drive the delivery mechanism by rotation to advance the piston at the advancement speed. The device further includes a control unit that controls a rotational speed and an on state/off state of the electric motor. The control unit determines rotational speed of the electric motor based on a back-electromagnetic force signal provided from the electric motor while operating in a monitoring mode. The control unit controls the rotational speed of the electric motor such that a back-emf signal can be detected in the monitoring mode. The control unit modulates the on state/off state of the electric motor to adjust the delivery rate of the medicament.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic add-on module which is fitted releasably onto an automatic injection appliance before the start of injection. The add-on module comprises a force sensor for measuring a time-variable axial force component exerted on or transmitted to the attached add-on module by the injection appliance during an injection procedure. The add-on module also comprises a grip or a preferred grip position for gripping and holding the add-on module and the inserted injection appliance. The add-on module can additionally have a microphone for detection of acoustic signals. A state of the injection appliance can be determined by the add-on module solely on the basis of measurements of the axial force sensor, optionally supplemented by microphone measurements. The invention thus affords a straightforward and cost-effective way of monitoring or controlling the correct performance of an injection procedure carried out with an automatic injection appliance.

Abstract: A patch delivery device includes a bottom housing part, a delivery element for subcutaneous delivery of a liquid to a patient, an adhesive patch for attaching the bottom housing part to the skin of the patient, a capacitive sensor with an electrode configuration including a plurality of skin contact sensitive electrodes, and a release liner covering a patient-side adhesive layer of the adhesive patch prior to adhering to the patient's skin. The release liner includes an electrically conductive area extending over at least a portion of the electrode configuration of the capacitive sensor before being removed from the adhesive patch. Providing the release liner with a conductive area gives rise to a discernible change in capacitive response of the sensor electrodes upon release liner removal that enables sensing a removal of a release liner covering a patient-side adhesive layer prior to attachment to the skin of a patient.

Abstract: The safety and reliability of drug delivery systems are improved by the use of smartphones for calculating safety critical delivery parameters. A drug delivery device is adapted to perform a drug delivery operation based on an unconfirmed drug delivery instructions determined by a processing unit of a control device by applying a basic mathematic operation to control device input data. The drug delivery device comprises a communication module to receive, from the control device, the basic mathematic operation and the control device input data, and a redundancy module to determine a redundant drug delivery instructions by applying the basic mathematic operation to the control device input data received from the control device. The drug delivery device is adapted to prevent execution of the drug delivery operation if the unconfirmed drug delivery instructions and the redundant drug delivery instructions are found, by a comparator module, to conflict.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic add-on module which is fitted releasably onto an automatic injection appliance before the start of injection. The add-on module comprises a force sensor for measuring a time-variable axial force component exerted on or transmitted to the attached add-on module by the injection appliance during an injection procedure. The add-on module also comprises a grip or a preferred grip position for gripping and holding the add-on module and the inserted injection appliance. The add-on module can additionally have a microphone for detection of acoustic signals. A state of the injection appliance can be determined by the add-on module solely on the basis of measurements of the axial force sensor, optionally supplemented by microphone measurements. The invention thus affords a straightforward and cost-effective way of monitoring or controlling the correct performance of an injection procedure carried out with an automatic injection appliance.