Claims for Patent: 8,226,610

Summary for Patent: 8,226,610

Title:	Medical injector with compliance tracking and monitoring
Abstract:	A system includes a medicament delivery device and a container configured to receive at least a portion of the medicament delivery device. The medicament delivery device includes an actuator and a first electronic circuit system. The actuator is configured to initiate delivery of a medicament into a body when the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position. The first electronic circuit system is configured to output a first electronic signal when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. The container includes a second electronic circuit system configured to receive the first electronic signal. The second electronic circuit system is configured to output a second electronic signal associated with the first electronic signal.
Inventor(s):	Edwards; Eric S. (Midlothian, VA), Edwards; Evan T. (Fredericksburg, VA), Licata; Mark J. (Doswell, VA), Meyers; Paul F. (Fishers, IN), Weinzierl; David A. (Andover, MN), Williamson, IV; T. Spencer (Richmond, VA)
Assignee:	Intelliject, Inc. (Richmond, VA)
Application Number:	12/017,405
Patent Claims:	1. A system, comprising: a medicament delivery device including an actuator and a first electronic circuit system, the actuator configured to initiate delivery of a medicament when the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position, the first electronic circuit system including a switch and a printed circuit board, the first electronic circuit system configured to output a first electronic signal when the switch is actuated, a portion of the actuator configured to disrupt a portion of the printed circuit board to irreversibly actuate the switch when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position; and a container configured to receive at least a portion of the medicament delivery device, the container including a second electronic circuit system configured to receive the first electronic signal and to output a second electronic signal associated with the first electronic signal. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic signal is a short-range radio frequency signal having a range of approximately 100 meters or less. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic signal circuit is a short-range radio frequency signal having a frequency between approximately 2400 MHz and 2480 MHz. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second electronic signal is associated with an audible output associated with at least one of a use of the medicament delivery device, a use of the container, a post-use procedure, or a compliance tracking procedure. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein: the second electronic circuit system is configured to be operatively coupled to a communications network; and the second electronic signal is configured to be transmitted to a device operatively coupled to the communications network and located remotely from the container. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second electronic signal includes a communications signal configured to be received by an emergency response system. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second electronic circuit system includes a memory device configured to store the first electronic signal. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein: the portion of the actuator is a first portion; the medicament delivery device includes a spring configured to initiate delivery of the medicament; and a second portion of the actuator is configured to release the spring when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein: the portion of the printed circuit board defines an opening, the opening configured to receive the portion of the actuator such that when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position the portion of the actuator tears the portion of the printed circuit board. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein: the medicament delivery device is a medical injector having a needle through which the medicament is delivered; and the actuator is configured to initiate movement the needle between a first needle position and a second needle position, in the first needle position the second end of the needle is within the housing, in the second needle position the second end of the needle is outside the housing. 11. An apparatus, comprising: a medical injector including: a housing; a medicament container disposed within an internal volume defined by the housing; an actuator having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion configured to each move in a first direction when the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position; a spring configured to initiate delivery of a medicament from the medicament container, the first portion of the actuator is configured to release the spring when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position; and an electronic circuit system coupled to the housing, the electronic circuit system including a switch disposed outside of the internal volume, the electronic circuit system configured to output an electronic signal when the switch is moved from a first state to a second state, the second portion of the actuator configured to move the switch from the first state to the second state when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second portion of the actuator is configured to disrupt at least a portion of a circuit board of the electronic circuit system to move the switch from the first state to the second state when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic signal is a first electronic signal, the apparatus further comprising: an isolation member configured to selectively couple a power source to the electronic circuit system when the isolation member is moved. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a container configured to removably receive at least a portion of the medical injector, the container including an electronic circuit system configured to receive the electronic signal, the electronic circuit system of the container configured to output a compliance electronic signal associated with the electronic signal. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the medical injector is a single-use medical injector, the medical injector including a label configured to be coupled to an outer surface of the housing, at least a portion of the electronic circuit system is incorporated into the label. 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic signal is a radio frequency signal. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic signal is a short-range radio frequency signal having a range of approximately 100 meters or less. 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit system includes a light emitting diode configured to produce a visual output when the switch is moved from the first state to the second state. 19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit system includes a speaker configured to produce a recorded speech output when the switch is moved from the first state to the second state. 20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a third portion of the actuator is configured to contact a target location of the body when the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position. 21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the medicament includes epinephrine. 22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the actuator and the second portion of the actuator are monolithically constructed. 23. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the medical injector includes a needle configured to move in a second direction from a first needle position to a second needle position when the spring is released, the second direction opposite the first direction. 24. An apparatus, comprising: a housing; a medicament container disposed within the housing; a delivery mechanism configured to deliver a medicament within the medicament container to a target location, the delivery mechanism including an actuator, a first portion of the actuator configured to engage the target location to move the actuator from a first position to a second position to initiate delivery of the medicament; a lock member removably coupled to the housing to limit movement of the actuator such that the actuator is configured to move from the first position to the second position when the lock member is removed from the housing; and an electronic circuit system configured to be coupled to the housing, the electronic circuit system including a switch, the electronic circuit system configured to output an electronic signal when the switch is moved from a first state to a second state, a second portion of the actuator configured to move the switch from the first state to the second state when the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the electronic signal is a short-range radio frequency signal having a range of approximately 100 meters or less. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the electronic circuit system is a first electronic circuit system, the electronic signal is a first electronic signal, the apparatus further comprising: a container configured to removably receive at least a portion of the housing, the container including a second electronic circuit system configured to receive the first electronic signal, the second electronic circuit system configured to output a second electronic signal associated with the first electronic signal. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein delivery mechanism includes a non-electronic energy storage member configured to produce a force to deliver the medicament independently from the operation of electronic circuit system. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the electronic signal is a radio frequency signal. 29. A method, comprising: moving an actuator of a medical injector in a first direction such that a first portion of the actuator initiates delivery of a medicament from a medicament container disposed within an internal volume of the medical injector via a needle and a second portion of the actuator moves a switch, the switch disposed outside of the internal volume; and outputting, from an electronic circuit system, an electronic signal in response to the movement of the switch, the electronic signal being a short-range radio frequency signal having a range of approximately 100 meters or less. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein: the electronic circuit system includes an electrical conductor, the electronic circuit system configured to output the electronic signal when the electrical conductor is disrupted; and the moving includes disrupting the electrical conductor.