Drug dispensing-tracking device, system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure present systems, methods and devices related to the tracking of drugs injected by injection devices. For example, in some embodiments, a drug dispensing-tracking device for use in combination with a drug-injection device is provided, where the device comprises a sleeve configured to connect with at least one mechanical feature provided on the injection device, a battery, at least one sensor, an electrical circuit for analog or digital short range communication, and a transmission element. In some embodiments, for each injection, the sensor is configured to automatically detect at least one of an auditory signal, movement, and optical signal, and an auditory signal is generated by at least one of the setting of the injection device for dispensing a drug, the dispensing action of the injection device, and the flow of the drug out of the injection device.

1 . A drug dispensing-tracking device for use in combination with a drug-injection device, the device comprising:
 a sleeve configured to connect with at least one mechanical feature provided on the injection device;   a battery;   at least one sensor;   an electrical circuit for analog or digital short range communication;   a transmission element;   wherein, for each injection, the sensor is configured to automatically detect at least one of an auditory signal, movement, and optical signal, and   the auditory signal is generated by at least one of the setting of the injection device for dispensing a drug, the dispensing action of the injection device, and the flow of the drug out of the injection device.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a microphone, a vibration sensor, an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a magnetic sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor and/or a memory,
 wherein the transmission element comprises a transponder, and wherein:   the sensor generates a second signal in response to the detected signal,   the processor converts the second signal to data, and   the data is wirelessly transmitted via the transponder to an external unit.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the external unit is selected from the group consisting of a glucose meter, a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, and a treatment device worn on the skin of a user to treat an injection site to improve the pharmacodynamics of the drug during a period of delivery of the drug to the user. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the external unit analyzes the data to determine the amount of drug injected. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the external unit includes a memory, and the data is stored in the memory along with time information corresponding to at least one of the date and time of a respective injection. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the data further comprises an identifier of the injection device. 
     
     
         10 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switch for enabling the sensor for sensing. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the switch comprises a magnetic switch and wherein the magnetic switch comprises a magnet and a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the switch is positioned in, on or adjacent to a rotating element of the injection device and wherein the rotating element comprises a cap of the injection device. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device includes a rotating cap adjacent a body of the injection device, and wherein the sensor is arranged with the cap, and configured to generate a signal in response to rotation of the cap. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device includes a dose window which displays dose information set for injecting into a user, and the sensor comprises a CCD configured to capture the dose information from the dose window. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23 , further comprising an optical element which is configured with the sleeve to be arranged adjacent the dose window. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a processor and/or a memory, wherein:
 the sensor generates a second signal in response to the detected signal,   the processor converts the second signal to data, and   the data is stored in the memory.   
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch that can be toggled between two or more states, wherein the states comprise at least two of: a state for turning on the device, a state indicating the direction of injection device movement as it is set by the user to the amount of the injected drug, a state indicating re-adjustment of an amount of drug before injection, a state indicating the drug is to be injected. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switch for turning on the device, wherein the switch is located adjacent a removable, cap of the injection device, and wherein upon removal of the injection device cap, the device is switched on wherein upon placing the cap back onto the injection device, the device is switched off. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the injection device includes a cap and the sleeve is configured with two sections connected together before and at the time of placement of the tracking device on the injection device, and wherein upon removal of the cap from the injection device, the two sections are separated resulting in two separate sections. 
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein each of the two sections of the sleeve is provided with at least a portion of a pin and the at least a portion of the pin is configured to operate a switch. 
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein separation of the two sections is such that their removal from the device results in two separate parts which are thereafter incapable of being connected together. 
     
     
         35 . A method for tracking dispensing of a drug from an injection device, the method comprising:
 providing a dispensing tracking device, the device comprising a sleeve configured to connect with at least one mechanical feature provided on the injection device, a battery, at least one sensor, and   detecting at least one of an auditory signal, movement, and an optical signal generated by at least one of the setting of the injection device for dispensing a drug, the dispensing action of the injection device, and the flow of the drug out of the injection device.   
     
     
         36 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A system for injecting and tracking a drug, the system comprising:
 a device for tracking the dispensing of a drug injected by an injection device, the device comprising:   a sleeve configured to connect with at least one mechanical feature provided on the an injection device;   a battery;   at least one sensor;   a transmission element;   a processor; and   a memory, wherein for each injection, the sensor is configured to automatically detect at least one of an auditory signal, movement, and optical signal generated by at least one of the setting of the injection device for dispensing a drug, the dispensing action of the injection device, and the flow of the drug out of the injection device;   and   an external unit includes a memory, wherein:   the sensor generates a second signal in response to the detected signal,   the processor converts the second signal to data, and   the data is wirelessly transmitted via the transmission element to the external unit.