Patents by Inventor Michael Helmer

Michael Helmer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250135120
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a drug delivery device including a reservoir, a stopper, and a light emitting-detecting system. A reservoir includes a wall defining a proximal end and a distal end. A stopper includes an optically reflecting element. The stopper is configured to expel a portion of a medicament stored within the reservoir by moving within the reservoir in a direction from the distal end to the proximal end, such that a stopper position is indicative of an amount of the medicament within the reservoir. A light emitting system is configured to provide a light signal towards the stopper from the distal end. A light detection system is configured to detect a reflected light signal provided by a reflection of the light signal on the optically reflecting element of the stopper and to provide an electric signal in response to detecting the reflected light signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventor: Michael Helmer
  • Publication number: 20250121140
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a drug delivery device including a reservoir, a stopper, and a light emitting-detecting system. A reservoir includes a wall defining a proximal end and a distal end. A stopper includes an optically reflecting element. The stopper is configured to expel a portion of a medicament stored within the reservoir by moving within the reservoir in a direction from the distal end to the proximal end, such that a stopper position is indicative of an amount of the medicament within the reservoir. A light emitting system is configured to provide a light signal towards the stopper from the distal end. A light detection system is configured to detect a reflected light signal provided by a reflection of the light signal on the optically reflecting element of the stopper and to provide an electric signal in response to detecting the reflected light signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventor: Michael Helmer
  • Patent number: 12274870
    Abstract: Implementations of a present disclosure are directed to a drug delivery device including a reservoir, a stopper, and a light emitting-detecting system. The reservoir includes a wall defining a proximal end and a distal end. The stopper includes an optically reflecting element. The stopper is configured to expel a portion of a medicament stored within the reservoir by moving within the reservoir in a direction from the distal end to the proximal end, such that a stopper position is indicative of an amount of the medicament within the reservoir. A light emitting system of the light emitting-detecting system is configured to provide a light signal towards the stopper from the distal end. A light detecting system of the light emitting-detecting system is configured to detect a reflected light signal provided by a reflection of the light signal on the optically reflecting element of the stopper and to provide an electric signal in response to detecting the reflected light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventor: Michael Helmer
  • Patent number: 12251542
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a medicament delivery device including a cartridge holder to which an injection needle holder can be fixed, the injection needle holder holding an injection needle having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being protected by an inner injection needle cap detachably connected to the injection needle holder, the cartridge holder being mounted in a housing and configured to receive a cartridge of medicament, a cap assembly detachably connected to the housing, and a gripping mechanism configured to remove the inner injection needle cap from the injection needle holder when the cap assembly is pulled away from the cartridge holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Schader, Michael Helmer, Winfried Huthmacher
  • Patent number: 12233247
    Abstract: An injection device includes an elongated housing extending along a longitudinal axis, a piston rod to operably engage with a piston of a cartridge filled with the medicament, a dose tracker selectively operably engageable with the piston rod, wherein the dose tracker is longitudinally displaceable relative to the housing from an initial position in a proximal direction towards at least a first activation position for setting of the dose and wherein the dose tracker is longitudinally displaceable relative to the housing in a distal direction from the at least first activation position towards the initial position for dispensing of the dose, a spring to urge the dose tracker in the proximal direction relative to the housing, an interlock to lock the dose tracker in the initial position relative to the housing, and a release member to release the interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Helmer, Michael Schabbach, Julian Kersting
  • Patent number: 12230063
    Abstract: A device comprising at least one camera, a display, a memory and a processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to: display, using the display of the device, a content to be reviewed by the user; detect, using the camera of the device, user's eyes; detect, using the camera of the device, user's eye movements; determine, based on the detected user's eye movements, whether the user has reviewed the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventors: Michael Helmer, Martin Vitt
  • Publication number: 20250032723
    Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a mechanism unit with a housing element, a first movable element that is movable with respect to the housing element, and an electromechanical actuator that, when operated, moves an actuator element between a first position and a second position. The mechanism unit is configured to: operatively couple with a drug reservoir unit, enable a dispense process for dispensing a drug dose, and enable setting a drug dose to be dispensed. Setting a drug dose involves movement of the first movable element in a first direction. The mechanism unit is configured to block movement of the first movable element in the first direction when the actuator element is in the first position to prevent setting a drug dose and to allow movement of the first movable element in the first direction when the actuator element is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Tim Glässer, Michael Helmer, Stephan Mücke, Peter Nober, Michael Schabbach, Martin Vitt
  • Publication number: 20250032724
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of unlocking operation of an injection device. The injection device includes a housing configured to accommodate a medicament container, and a drive mechanism operably engageable with the medicament container for expelling or withdrawing a dose of medicament from the medicament container. The drive mechanism includes at least one interlock configured to disable at least one of setting of the dose and dispensing of the dose. The injection device further includes an identifier provided on or associated with the medicament container, and an electronic unit operable to control the at least one interlock. The electronic unit includes a NFC (NFC) interface for obtaining information indicative of the identifier. The electronic unit is configured to process signals of the NFC interface to at least temporarily deactivate the at least one interlock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Michael Helmer, Michael Schabbach, Martin Vitt
  • Patent number: 12211604
    Abstract: This application relates to medical devices having cameras. According to a first aspect, this specification describes an electronic device comprising: a display; and a stereoscopic camera, in which the electronic device is configured to: capture a stereoscopic image using the stereoscopic camera; determine if the captured stereoscopic image comprises one or more items of food; in the event of a positive determination, determine an estimate of nutritional content of the one or more items of food in dependence on the captured stereoscopic image; and display information relating to the estimate of nutritional content via the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Sanofi
    Inventor: Michael Helmer
  • Publication number: 20250025634
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates unlocking operation of an injection device. The injection device includes a housing configured to accommodate a medicament container and a drive mechanism operably engageable with the medicament container for expelling or withdrawing the dose of the medicament, where the drive mechanism includes at least one interlock configured to disable at least one of setting of the dose and dispensing of the dose. The injection device further includes an identifier provided on or associated with the medicament container and an electronic unit operably engaged with the at least one interlock, the electronic unit including a short-range communication interface to communicate with a corresponding short range communication interface of an external electronic device to obtain information indicative of the identifier. The electronic unit is configured to process signals of the short-range communication interface to at least temporally deactivate the at least one interlock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Michael Helmer, Michael Schabbach, Martin Vitt
  • Publication number: 20250018124
    Abstract: A user equipment is proposed comprising an electronic control unit (42) and a wireless communication unit (44) operatively connected to the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit (42) being configured to control operation of the wireless communication unit (44), the wireless communication unit being operable to determine at least one characteristic associated with at least one component of a drug delivery device (10). Furthermore, an electronic system, a drug delivery device, a method, a machine-readable code, a data storage medium, and a set are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Michael Helmer
  • Publication number: 20250009978
    Abstract: A method performable with an electronic device in order to communicate with a drug delivery device is described. The method includes determining whether a user of the electronic device is authorized to operate the drug delivery device based on first information and second information. The first information is indicative for a prescription of the drug to a patient and the second information is indicative for the drug the drug delivery device is foreseen to dispense. The method further includes a step of generating an output signal if the user is authorized to use the drug delivery device, wherein the output signal is foreseen to be communicated to the drug delivery device in order to enable changing an operational state of the drug delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Michael Helmer
  • Publication number: 20250009979
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an add-on device for attachment to an injection device, wherein the injection device comprises a first housing component and a second housing component, wherein the first housing component is configured to accommodate a medicament container filled with a medicament and wherein the second housing component is configured to support or to house a drive mechanism configured to operably engage with the medicament container for dispensing of a dose of the medicament, the add-on device comprising a mounting adapter comprising a first connecting interface and a second connecting interface, wherein the first connecting interface is connectable to the first housing component and wherein the second connecting interface is connectable to the second housing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Beate Franke, Tim Glässer, Michael Helmer, Stephan Mücke, Peter Nober
  • Publication number: 20250001087
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drive unit of a drug delivery device configured for setting and dispensing of a dose of a medicament, the drive unit comprising: a drive unit housing extending along a longitudinal axis, a drive unit component movably arranged in or on the drive unit housing for at least one of setting of the dose and dispensing of the dose of the medicament, a locking mechanism comprising a mechanical locking element transferable between a release position and a locking position and configured to mechanically engage with the drive unit component when in the locking position to impede at least one of setting of the dose and dispensing of the dose of the medicament, wherein the mechanical locking element is transferable from the locking position into the release position through interaction with an electrically controlled release mechanism of a supplementary device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Tim Glasser, Michael Helmer, Stephan Mücke, Peter Nober, Michael Schabbach, Martin Vitt
  • Publication number: 20250001086
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the drug delivery device comprises a mechanism unit with a second element, a first movable element arranged movable with respect to the second element and an electromechanical actuator which, when operated, moves an actuator element between a first position and a second position. The mechanism unit is configured to be operatively coupled with a drug reservoir unit and to enable a dispense process for dispensing a drug dose, wherein the dispense process is associated with a movement of the first movable element relative to the second element in a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Tim Glasser, Michael Helmer, Stephan Mücke, Peter Nober, Michael Schabbach, Martin Vitt
  • Publication number: 20240424217
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrical power supply device for an electronic unit of a drug delivery device. The electrical power supply device includes: a body extending along a longitudinal direction and comprising a distal end and a proximal end, a rechargeable energy reservoir arranged inside or on the body, a supply interface electrically connected to the rechargeable energy reservoir, the supply interface being configured to electrically couple with a electrical interface of the drug delivery device, wherein the electrical interface is electrically connected to the electronic unit and wherein the supply interface is operable to transfer electric energy from the rechargeable energy reservoir via the electrical interface to the electronic unit, and a charging interface electrically connected to the rechargeable energy reservoir and operable to connect to an external power supply for charging the rechargeable energy reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan Alt, Tim Glasser, Michael Helmer, Stephan Mücke, Peter Nober, Michael Schabbach, Martin Vitt
  • Publication number: 20240424221
    Abstract: The application relates to a data collection device for mounting on a rotatable dose setting dial of a medicament administration device. A system comprising the data collection device and the medicament administration device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Helmer, Christian Rehbein
  • Publication number: 20240424228
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a disposable drug delivery device for selecting and dispensing a number of user variable doses of a medicament. The device comprises an outer housing, an inner housing, a cartridge holder for retaining a cartridge containing the medicament, a piston rod displaceable relative to the cartridge holder, a driver coupled to the piston rod, a display member for indicating a set dose and being coupled to the housing and to the driver, and a button coupled to the display member and to the driver. Engagement of the inner housing in the outer housing may be improved by the inner housing is axially retained in the outer housing by an interface comprising at least one radially deflectable arm with a lateral protrusion, at least one recess adapted for engagement with the protrusion and at least one locking member adapted for hindering disengagement of the at least one protrusion from the at least one recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Helmer
  • Publication number: 20240424215
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an add-on device for attachment to an injection device. The injection device includes a device housing and a drive mechanism. The device housing accommodates a medicament container filled with a medicament. The drive mechanism operably engages with the medicament container to dispense a dose of the medicament. The injection device includes at least one code. The add-on device includes: a fastener, a code recognition unit, a logic circuit, a processor and a communication interface. The fastener attaches the add-on device to the device housing. The a code recognition unit detects and/or captures the at least one code of the injection device. The logic circuit, the processor and the communication interface execute at least one electronically implemented function of the add-on device for assisting a user in operating the injection device and/or for monitoring operation of the injection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Beate Franke, Tim Glässer, Michael Helmer, Stephan Mücke, Peter Nober
  • Patent number: 12171990
    Abstract: A supplementary device is configured to be releasably attached to an auto injector type device. The supplementary device is suitable for use with disposable one-shot auto injectors and re-usable one-shot auto injectors. The supplementary device has at least one inductive proximity sensor which outputs signals indicative of the position moveable components within the auto injector. The supplementary device is configured to determine based on the outputted signals the moment at which the auto injector changes from a pre-ejection state to a post-ejection state. In response to determining that the auto injector has changed from the pre-ejection state to the post ejection state, the supplementary device displays a visual indication that a user should hold the auto injector in its current position for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SANOFI
    Inventors: Michael Helmer, Christian Rehbein