Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
  • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
  • G06K7/10544—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum
  • G06K7/10712—Fixed beam scanning
  • G06K7/10722—Photodetector array or CCD scanning
  • G06K7/10732—Light sources
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
  • G06V30/00—Character recognition; Recognising digital ink; Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
  • G06V30/10—Character recognition
  • G06V30/22—Character recognition characterised by the type of writing
  • G06V30/224—Character recognition characterised by the type of writing of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks

Definitions

• the invention relates to a medical device which is set up to carry out at least one medical function.
• the medical device is further configured to cooperate with at least one medical consumable for performing the medical function.
• Such medical devices are used, for example, in medical analysis, medical diagnostics or medical therapeutics.
• medical consumables plays an essential role.
• medical devices which, for example, have a diagnostic, analytical or therapeutic function or combinations of such functions and depend on one or more medical consumables for carrying out this function are.
• the medical consumables together with the medical device form a medical system.
• the medical consumables do not necessarily have to be in physical communication with the medical device.
• Examples of such medical systems and medical devices are medical analyzers which are used for the quantitative and / or qualitative detection of at least one analyte in a sample, for example for the detection of one or more metabolites in a body fluid.
• medical analyzers which are used for the quantitative and / or qualitative detection of at least one analyte in a sample, for example for the detection of one or more metabolites in a body fluid.
• glucose meters for determining a glucose content in one called, for example, in blood, interstitial fluid, saliva or urine.
• Such or Other analyzers usually use one or more test elements, by means of which the quantitative and / or qualitative detection of the analyte can take place.
• these test elements may comprise one or more test fields which, upon contact with the analyte, perform a specific chemically or physically detectable reaction or undergo a specific, measurable change.
• the analysis devices can be set up to qualitatively and / or quantitatively determine the analyte concentration optically, electrochemically or by other means with the test elements.
• the test elements can be present, for example, as test tubes, test strips, test strips, test wheels with test fields arranged on an upper side and / or on a circumference, foldable test papers with a plurality of test fields or in another form.
• the test elements can be present individually or, for example, to several in one or more magazines, in the latter case, the magazine itself can be designed as a consumable.
• Another example of such medical systems with consumables are lancet systems in which, for example, a lancing device acts as a medical device. This lancing device is usually set up to perforate a skin area of a patient by means of one or more consumables in the form of lancets, for example to generate a sample of blood or interstitial fluid.
• Such dosing devices usually work with at least one medical consumable, or even with several types of medical consumables.
• cartridges or other storage containers of a medicament can be used, which is metered by means of the metering device.
• the drug itself and / or the drug with the corresponding vessel can be regarded as a consumer article.
• An example of such metering devices are medication pumps, such as insulin pumps.
• these dosing devices typically still require other types of medical consumables, particularly catheters or similar medical consumables.
• the consumables can also be present in Komhination, so that one or more consumables of a variety with one or more consumables at least one other variety can be connected.
• Medical consumables may be present individually or as a magazine of individual elements.
• test elements may differ from batch to batch so that batch-specific information can be required for the correct evaluation of the quantitative and / or qualitative detection of the at least one analyte in the sample.
• This may be, for example, information about or how the optical luminescence or absorption properties, i. the luminescence and / or color of a test field of a test element with which analyte concentration changes.
• electrochemical evaluation information may also be included. In this case, for example, current characteristics and / or electrical potentials are measured.
• a lancing device may require information about whether a correct type of consumable was used in the lancing device, such as a lancet of a correct manufacturer or type.
• a correct type of consumable such as a lancet of a correct manufacturer or type.
• such information may also be used, for example, for counterfeit protection in this type of consumable or other types of consumables, to distinguish articles from a correct or authorized manufacturer of "counterfeit" consumables, which, in addition to avoiding economic harm, may present a risk to health Significantly reduce damage caused by counterfeit medical devices.
• a first possibility is, for example, to implement the information about the entry of a code number or a similar code into the medical device of the medical system.
• a user is subjected to the compulsion to perform an additional operation to be performed correctly. This can lead to an incorrect assignment of the code to the consumable used.
• the code used is of the lowest density and therefore does not generally contain comprehensive information about the properties of the consumable used.
• every batch of new consumables for example, each batch of new test elements to attach an information carrier.
• an information carrier for example, it may be a so-called ROM key, which, for example, each package may be attached.
• the user is required to enter this ROM key into the analyzer before using the new batch, so that the correct information can be used to evaluate the measurement.
• An advantage of this technique is that the information density can be made comparatively high.
• the ROM key must be used as an additional volume, this method is usually not very cost effective.
• an additional operation by the user is again required in this method, and a clear assignment to the consumables used is not guaranteed.
• US 4,476,149 describes a characterization of a consumable over a longitudinally readable bar code low density. If the barcode is applied directly to the consumable and at the moment the activation of the analysis or loading procedure is read out, a secure allocation to the consumable article is guaranteed.
• the consumable itself with the optical code represents the data carrier.
• the reading of a longitudinal barcode is not without problems in practice. Since a hand-carried fürzugsverfaliren, in which the consumable is guided in the form of a test strip through the bar code reader, despite the specific characteristics of modern one-dimensional bar codes is not very reliable, the consumable usually has to be read by a motor.
• the shape of the consumable must be restricted in such a way that it can be drawn into the medical device.
• the barcode allows only low to medium information densities.
• US Pat. No. 6,588,670 B2 discloses the characterization of a consumable article via a low-density one-dimensional barcode using a scanner integrated in the medical device. The barcode is located on the consumable, which reduces a mapping problem, but here too the user has to scan the consumable by an additional operation.
• a high data density and data integrity and a clear assignment of the data information should be ensured, while avoiding additional operations of a user, cost-effective implementation and high reliability. Disclosure of the invention
• a medical device for performing at least one medical function is proposed.
• this medical function may in principle be any function required in the field of medicine or medical technology, in particular a diagnostic and / or analytical function and / or a therapeutic function.
• a diagnostic function can be understood as a basically arbitrary function which aims at determining at least one medical condition of a patient.
• An analytical function can be understood to be an almost arbitrary measurement function which aims at the measurement of one or more parameters, for example a sample.
• a qualitative and / or quantitative detection of at least one analyte in a liquid, solid or gaseous sample can be mentioned here.
• a therapeutic function can be understood to mean a function which is directed to a specific influencing of a body condition of a patient. This influence is usually aimed at an improvement of the body condition, so for example a cure. However, other types of influence are possible, for example, influences from cosmetic reasons.
• medications may be mentioned, for example, administration of drugs by injection.
• other types of therapeutic functions are also possible in principle, for example acupressure or acupuncture.
• the medical device can in principle also perform several medical functions, for example combinations of diagnostic and / or therapeutic functions.
• the medical device can be designed to carry out this at least one medical function correspondingly by one or more mechanical devices and / or one or more electronic devices and / or one or more, optionally program technically equipped, data processing devices.
• the medical device is set up to interact with at least one consumable to perform the at least one medical function.
• cooperation is to be understood as a functional interaction in order to realize the at least one medical function.
• this can be an interaction for the purpose of analytics, therapeutics or diagnostics. Also combinations of the types of interaction are possible.
• the medical device may include a positioning device for positioning the medical consumable article.
• the medical device may comprise a holding device and / or a receiving and / or a positioning device, which can receive or hold or position the at least one medical consumable article.
• the medical consumable should be arranged to facilitate or at least support the medical function of the medical device.
• the medical consumable may be arranged to cooperate with the medical device to ensure, for example, the analytical and / or diagnostic and / or therapeutic function.
• the term "consumables" is generally understood to mean an article which can preferably be produced on an industrial scale.This consumable article should be exchangeable at will, whereas the medical device is generally suitable for multiple use Use or a multiple use or only for a limited number of uses.
• the medical consumable article can be configured in various ways, with reference being made in principle to the above-described types of consumables known from the prior art, which can also be used or modified according to the present invention.
• the medical device may comprise an analyzer for detecting at least one analyte in a sample, for example a liquid sample, in particular a body fluid.
• a sample for example a liquid sample, in particular a body fluid.
• metabolites in the body fluid for example glucose, cholesterol and / or similar metabolites, are suitable as the analyte.
• a coagulation detection is possible.
• the analyzer may be configured to interact with a medical consumable in the form of at least one test element.
• this test element can be designed, for example, as a test tube, test strip, test strip, test wheel with test fields arranged on top and / or on a circumference, as a foldable test paper with a plurality of test fields or in another form.
• a single test element for example a single test strip
• a medical consumable or, as stated above, also a plurality of test elements, which can be accommodated, for example, in a corresponding magazine and / or housing.
• the magazine and / or the housing preferably a replaceable housing part, considered accordingly as a consumable and, as explained in more detail below, be provided with an optical code.
• the medical consumable may also comprise one or more lancets for perforating a skin area of a patient and / or so-called microsamplers, which provide a combination of perforation and sampling via a capillary.
• lancets or micro samplers can be in magazinierter form or in multiple form, the entirety or individual lancets and / or lancet magazines can be considered as articles of consumption.
• the medical device may also comprise a dosing device for dosing at least one drug and / or another therapeutic device.
• the medical device may comprise a medication pump, for example an insulin pump.
• the consumable may comprise, for example, a catheter and / or a cannula (both terms being used essentially synonymously in the following description), with which chen the metering device cooperates.
• the medical system may, for example, be configured as a so-called "infusion set.” Since catheters are usually delivered with air, flushing with a medical fluid, such as insulin infusion, must be performed on and / or in the body prior to administration.
• the fill volume specific to the particular catheter may be information which may be included in the optical code described in more detail below, for example, on the catheter itself or a package of the catheter In this way, auto-priming, ie an automatic priming process, can be at least considerably simplified.
• the medical device is set up to perform the at least one medical function.
• the medical device can be configured as a handheld device, ie as a device which can be held by a user by hand without the aid of transport devices.
• the compact design of the medical device which will be described in more detail below, makes particularly advantageous.
• the handset may also comprise at least one energy store, in particular a battery or an accumulator.
• the handset may in particular comprise one or more operating elements for operating the handheld device by a user and / or one or more display elements.
• the handset may include one or more interfaces for communicating with other devices, such as one or more interfaces for communicating with a computer or computer system.
• the medical device has at least one code reader for reading at least one piece of information of an optical code of the medical consumable article.
• the code reader comprises an image sensor with a plurality of sensors.
• An optical code is understood to be an information carrier that can be read by means of light in the visible and / or infrared and / or ultraviolet spectral range of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular a 2- and / or 3-dimensional barcode.
• numerous other types of optical codes can also be realized, for example one-dimensional barcodes, greyscale codes or similar types of optical codes or combinations of the aforementioned and / or other types of optical codes.
• the optical code can, for example, be applied to a surface of the medical consumable and / or connected in some other way to a carrier material of the medical consumable, for example, incorporated in this carrier material.
• a surface can also be understood analogously that the optical Code is covered by at least one at least partially optically transparent coating and thus is still completely or partially optically readable.
• the optical code should be readable from the outside by means of electromagnetic radiation of a suitable wavelength.
• the code reader of the medical device comprises at least one optical multichannel evaluation unit, which is referred to below as "image sensor.”
• image sensor preferably comprises a plurality of sensors, which can be constructed, for example, in one or two dimensions, for example in a single image sensor. or two-dimensional sensor array, should be suitable for receiving optical signals.
• the medical device further comprises at least one light source, which is designed in a planar shape.
• This surface-shaped light source is designed to transmissively illuminate the optical code.
• a transmissive illumination is to be understood as an illumination in which the light emanating from the light source excitation light on its way to the optical code, a carrier material on which the optical code is applied and / or it which the optical code is introduced at least partially penetrates.
• a transmissive illumination can therefore comprise a backlighting.
• the light source may be arranged on a side of the optical code opposite the image sensor.
• the illumination by the planar light source should be such that light emitted by the planar light source penetrates the carrier material.
• the carrier material is designed substantially flat, for example, strip-shaped or in the form of a sheet-like wall of the consumption article.
• the light emitted by the planar light source which is also referred to below as an excitation light without limiting a possible type of interaction with the optical code and / or the carrier material, is perpendicular through the plane of the carrier material can also be the level of the optical code, passes through.
• the surface-shaped light source and the image sensor can be arranged on mutually opposite sides of the carrier material, so that the excitation light penetrates the carrier material and / or the optical code substantially perpendicularly.
• the excitation light obliquely or laterally coupled into the carrier material is then at least partially penetrates this support material and propagates over a certain distance within this support material and / or is reflected one or more times, and then finally to illuminate the optical code, for example, from the view of the image sensor backlight.
• the light source and the image sensor can basically also be arranged on the same side of the carrier material. Embodiments of possible arrangements will be explained in more detail below.
• a planar light source is in general, in contrast to a point light source, to be understood as meaning a light source which has a macroscopic extent in a surface, preferably an extension of at least 1 mm 2 , in particular at least 5 mm 2 .
• This area of the extent of the light source is preferably at least 50% of a lateral extent of the optical code in a plane parallel to the planar light source.
• the planar light source has a luminous surface which corresponds at least to the area of the lateral extent of the optical code in a plane parallel to the surface of the planar light source.
• the planar light source may also be composed of a plurality of individual planar light sources.
• the planar light source may in particular comprise a luminous film.
• the planar light source may have at least one electroluminescent light source, which may also be configured as an electroluminescent luminescent film.
• An electroluminescent light source is to be understood as meaning a light source which comprises at least one material which can be excited electrically to luminescence. For example, this excitation may be such that two or more electrodes inject charge carriers into the electroluminescent material or provide them to the electroluminescent material which is inside the electroluminescent material and / or another material which is connected to the electroluminescent material , recombine so that the electroluminescent material is excited to emit light.
• Such electroluminescent materials may be inorganic and / or organic.
• Organic electroluminescent materials are known, for example, from the art of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). It is particularly preferred if the planar light source comprises an electroluminescent film.
• An electroluminescent film is to be understood as meaning a sheet-like electroluminescent element which is applied to a flexible carrier, preferably a film.
• Such electroluminescent, which on organic and / or inorganic Emitter materials are commercially available in various sizes. A combination of several electroluminescent films can also be used.
• the planar light source provides a luminous surface which, as illustrated above, covers at least the surface of the optical code. Alternatively, however, as shown in more detail below, only a partial area of the optical code can be covered, for example in the case of redundant optical codes. Furthermore, it is preferred if the planar light source is at least 50% of the area of the image sensor, preferably at least 70% and particularly preferably at least 100%. In this case, the planar light source may in particular be arranged relative to the image sensor such that the luminous surface of the planar light source is arranged parallel to the sensitive surface of the image sensor and preferably covers the sensitive surface of the image sensor. The medical consumable with the optical code can thus be inserted between the image sensor or the sensitive surface of the image sensor and the sheet-like light source, introduced or introduced to another width, with a manual or an automatic introduction is possible.
• the medical device can in particular be set up in such a way that it cooperates with the medical consumable such that upon reading the information of the optical code the image sensor rests directly on the optical code or is arranged in close proximity to the optical code.
• An “immediate proximity” here means an arrangement in which the image sensor or an active surface of the image sensor is no further from the optical code than the lateral extent of the optical code itself or the lateral extent of the image sensor it, if the arrangement is such that the distance between the image sensor or its sensitive surface and the optical code is not greater than a fivefold of a lateral extent of a sensor of the image sensor, preferably not more than twice, and more preferably not more than that It is particularly preferred if the image sensor with its sensitive surface rests directly on the optical code or on a carrier material on or in which the optical code is applied or inserted ,
• the image sensor can detect the optical code without deflecting a beam path and without interposing one or more optical elements.
• optical elements may nevertheless be provided.
• optical elements are basically any optical elements which have an imaging de property and / or a beam deflection of an image can cause. Examples are lenses, prisms, optical fiber plates or the like.
• one or more light-optical fiber panels may be provided between the image sensor and the consumable or the optical code.
• a light-optical fiber plate is to be understood as meaning an element which comprises a plurality of optical fibers, which are preferably all oriented parallel or substantially parallel.
• substantially parallel may also be understood to mean alignments which deviate from a parallelism, for example by not more than 20 °, preferably not more than 5 °.
• Optical fiber in the context of the present invention is a to understand light element in the visible and / or infrared and / or ultraviolet spectral region transparent element, which acts as a light guide, in particular due to total internal reflection.
• the light-optical fiber plate may comprise such optical fibers, for example, as a bundle, wherein the optical fibers are, for example, fused, potted or glued together.
• these optical fibers are arranged in the light-optical fiber plate such that they are arranged in at least one dimension as the densest packing, so that the installation space is utilized to the highest possible degree by the light-optical fibers.
• possible embodiments of light-optical fiber plates reference may be made in principle to the prior art.
• the surface-shaped light source can, as shown above, in particular comprise at least one electroluminescent light source.
• the planar-shaped light source can in particular provide a luminous surface, which preferably perceptibly emits light homogeneously from the outside.
• the light source may comprise, in addition to one or more light emitters, also further elements which may cooperate to provide the luminous area.
• the planar light source may also comprise at least one light guide. In this way, for example, excitation light can be provided from an originally, for example point or non-planar light emitter, which illuminates a luminous surface after passing through the optical waveguide.
• a light guide is generally an element to understand, which can conduct light on the principle of total internal reflection.
• light of, for example, a point-like or line-shaped emitter can also be widened in order to illuminate a luminous area, for example, to illuminate it homogeneously.
• Homogeneous illumination is to be understood as an illumination in which the light intensities within the surface are preferably not more than 50%, in particular by not more than 20% and more preferably by not more than 10%.
• the medical device may in particular comprise at least one positioning device.
• This positioning device can be set up to position the consumable and the medical device relative to each other, for example, to allow optimal reading of the optical code.
• the consumable may be wholly or partly insertable into a receptacle of the medical device, wherein the positioning device is connected to the receptacle or is received in the receptacle.
• the positioning device can be set up in order to position the medical device and the consumable relative to one another in such a way that optimal positioning of the image sensor relative to the optical code is ensured in a reading position, for example an optimum distance and / or an optimal alignment.
• the positioning device can also be set up to always ensure a constant distance between the consumable or the optical code and the image sensor and / or other elements of the code reader, in particular in order to avoid incorrect positioning.
• the code reader can also be set up to perform a time-resolved measurement.
• the optical code and / or a carrier material which is connected to the optical code have luminescent properties, in particular fluorescent properties, for example, for the purpose of improving the detection accuracy of the optical code spectral components of the excitation light and / or the luminescence detected time-resolved can be.
• different decay times of the luminescence can be used here.
• the image sensor can detect the optical code without deflecting a beam path and without interposing optical elements.
• the medical device can be configured in one or more of the described embodiments.
• the medical device is set up to perform at least one medical function and is configured to cooperate with at least one medical consumable to perform the medical function.
• the medical device has at least one code reader for reading at least one piece of information of an optical code of the medical consumable, wherein the code reader comprises at least one image sensor with a plurality of sensors.
• the code reader in turn comprises at least one light source.
• the light source in this second aspect of the present invention may also be configured in a planar shape, but may be configured in other ways.
• the light source is arranged to transmissively illuminate the optical code.
• the light source in particular the planar light source, is again arranged on a side of the optical code opposite to the image sensor.
• this light source transmissively illuminates the optical code.
• a light source may be arranged on the same side of the medical consumable as the image sensor.
• a lateral illumination can take place, wherein preferably the consumable and / or a carrier material of the consumable article, to which the optical code is connected, is wholly or partly translucent and / or even has photoconductive properties.
• a carrier material of the consumable may have diffuse light-conducting properties, so that a laterally coupled illumination of the light source reaches the optical code and backlit it and / or excites and / or transmits on the rear side. All possibilities of rear illumination of the optical code should be covered by the term "transmissive illumination”.
• At least one deflecting element is arranged, wherein the deflecting element is arranged to deflect a beam path at least once.
• any deflection element can be used, in particular a mirror and / or a prism.
• the beam path of the detection of the optical code can be folded in order to enable a space-saving design of the medical device.
• the medical device according to this second aspect of the present invention can basically be configured according to the above description of the first aspect.
• the medical device can in turn be designed such that the light source comprises a planar light source, in particular a luminous foil and / or an electroluminescent light source and preferably an electroluminescent foil.
• the planar light source may comprise further elements, in particular at least one light guide.
• the medical device can also comprise at least one positioning device, wherein again the above description can be referenced.
• the code reader can also be set up to perform a time-resolved measurement.
• a medical system which comprises at least one medical device according to one or more of the embodiments described above, be it according to the first aspect of the invention and / or according to the second aspect of the invention, includes. Furthermore, the medical system comprises a medical consumable article with at least one optical code. With regard to the possible embodiments of this medical consumable, reference may be made to the above description.
• the optical code can in particular be connected to at least one carrier material of the medical consumable article. This bonding can take place, for example, by applying the optical code to the carrier material, for example by printing it on and / or introducing it into the carrier material, for example into a layer structure of the carrier material or in another way.
• the carrier material has light-conducting properties, in particular diffuse light-conducting properties.
• the carrier material should be at least partially transparent to excitation light of the light source of the medical device, in particular the planar light source of the medical device.
• the carrier material and / or the optical code can also comprise at least one light converter.
• Such a light converter can, for example, generate shorter-wave photons from longer-wave photons of the excitation light of the light source, for example in the context of multiphoton processes.
• a light converter means a material and / or element capable of converting light of a first wavelength into light of a second wavelength, for example a shorter wavelength or a longer wavelength.
• the light converter can comprise, for example, an up converter or a down converter, that is to say a converter which transmits light in higher-energy light or lower-energy light.
• This light converter may, for example, be in the form of a dye, a pigment, a phosphor or in a similar form.
• an excitation of the light converter can take place by means of a corresponding excitation light, for example an excitation light emitted by the light source, which can be detected by the code reader and / or the image sensor to read the information of the code.
• the readout of the at least one information can take place, for example, by absorbing excitation light of the light source from the optical code, wherein, for example, a spatially resolved absorption can be detected.
• the optical code can be set up in such a way that, as shown above, it has luminescent properties, the luminescence being excited by the excitation light. This luminescence may comprise, for example, a fluorescence and / or a phosphorescence.
• the optical code can also be configured redundantly.
• a redundant embodiment is to be understood as an embodiment in which the at least one item of information is repeatedly included in the code in the same or a similar manner, for example by the optical code, for example a barcode, comprising a plurality of identical coded areas.
• the code reader for example the image sensor, detects only one of these areas.
• the detection of the optical code by the code reader can take place in such a way that different areas are detected successively or preferably simultaneously.
• the medical device and the medical system in one or more of the above-proposed embodiments have numerous advantages over known medical devices and medical systems.
• optical codes with a high data density can be realized and recorded with a high degree of data integrity.
• the data information can be clearly assigned to the consumable used.
• the risk can be avoided that incorrect measurement results are delivered, which could then possibly lead to a faulty medication.
• a drive technology necessary for a read operation can also be dispensed with in principle, but can additionally be provided as an option for increasing the comfort. Overall, a high reliability of the read operations can be achieved. At the same time can be to dispense with the use of electronic information carriers, such as high-frequency labels, in principle, but such electronic information carrier could be provided in principle in addition. In general, a cost-effective production of medical consumables can be ensured in this way.
• one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcodes for example so-called data matrix codes
• these have both a high data density and, for example due to the optional use of redundant and / or error correcting codes, high data integrity.
• the optical code for example the barcode
• the barcode can also be configured in three dimensions and / or applied to the surface of the consumable article in different spectral regions and / or in another way into the consumable article, for example a carrier material of the consumable article to be introduced.
• the light source described above in particular the planar light source, can be set up to emit light of different spectral ranges.
• the light source may for example comprise a plurality of individual light sources with different spectral properties.
• the different spectral representations can in principle be recorded sequentially or simultaneously, for example with different sensors.
• the optical code for example the barcode, can be read out by means of light in the visible and / or infrared and / or ultraviolet spectral range.
• the code reader itself is capable of reading in the optical code, for example the barcode, on consumables introduced into the medical device or on consumables connected, for example attached, to the medical device.
• the type and speed with which the medical device interacts with the medical consumable article is basically of no significance for the correct reading of the optical code.
• a speed of introducing and / or connecting the medical consumable to the medical device plays a minor role.
• This can be achieved in particular by using an optical line or area sensor as an image sensor, on which preferably, as stated above, the optical code by means of an optical beam path in its entirety, that is preferably at once, is displayed.
• the optical code is preferably read as soon as the inserted or attached medical consumable is in a correct end position. Since, for example, the insertion of the consumable article is immediately visible to the user, there is thus no additional business action.
• a mechanical tolerance of the insertion end position of the consumable is achieved by a redundant application of the optical code, for example the barcode.
• the optical code for example the barcode.
• all the required modules of a barcode are always displayed on the image sensor, for example an area sensor, if the medical consumable has not yet been inserted correctly and / or is not quite correctly connected in any other way to the medical device has been.
• the reliability can be further increased by suppressing or avoiding extraneous light effects and reflections.
• the carrier material and / or the optical code itself may contain a light converter which converts the excitation light and / or the excited light into a different spectral range.
• up-converters and / or down-converters can be included.
• the carrier material and / or the optical code itself may be wholly or partially fluorescent, for example, have fluorescent properties, for example, a temporally staggered response between to allow a pulsed excitation light and a reflected light or light emitted by the carrier material and / or the optical code.
• the medical system and the medical device can be realized in a very cost-effective and space-saving manner.
• the surface-shaped light source leads to a low overall height of the code reader.
• a light guide system such as a light pipe and / or a height-reducing electroluminescent film can be used.
• a height reduction can also be achieved, as shown above, by a folded beam path.
• the above-described positioning device may be used. This can be used in particular to position the medical consumable relative to the light source and / or the image sensor and thus to improve the reading of the optical code.
• the positioning device may in particular include at least one spacer in order to ensure a constant distance between the optical code to be read and the light source and / or the image sensor.
• the positioning device may include a pressure element in order, for example, to press the medical consumable and / or a part of the medical consumable against a stop surface or another stop element.
• the positioning device can also be designed modular. The positioning device can in particular be configured in such a way that it can also be adapted to differently shaped medical consumables.
• Figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a medical invention
• Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a medical system with a
• Insulin pump and an infusion set Insulin pump and an infusion set
• FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a transmissive code reader with a planar light source
• FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a code reader with transmissive illumination of the optical code with a light-conducting carrier material of a medical consumable article
• FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a redundant optical code
• FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a possible time-resolved measurement scheme
• Figure 7 shows another embodiment of a code reader with a positioning device.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 show by way of example two different embodiments of medical systems 110. These each have a medical device 12 and at least one medical consumable 122.
• the medical device 112 is configured by way of example as a blood glucose meter 114.
• the medical device 112 is shown by way of example as an insulin pump 116.
• the medical device 112 may generally be configured to interact with a user via input means 118 and / or output means 120.
• Output means 120 can be, for example, one or more displays for displaying, for example, measured values, set parameters or other information.
• the medical device 112 may thus represent an interface of the medical system 110 to the user and / or provide such an interface.
• FIG. 1 and 2 comprise one or more medical consumables 122.
• the blood glucose meter 114 illustrated in FIG. 1 cooperates with one or more test elements 124, which are shown by way of example in FIG. 1 in two different embodiments.
• a rigid test element 126 in a flat, oblong shape is shown in the upper right partial image of FIG.
• the lower partial image on the right in FIG. 1 shows a test element 124 in the form of a test strip 128.
• Both types of test elements 124 can be used in the illustrated blood glucose meter 114.
• a majority of individual test elements 124 in a magazine are also applicable in a blood glucose meter 114.
• both of the test elements 124 may grout for application of a sample of body fluid via an application site 130.
• the application of this sample may be carried out on a test element 124 inserted into the blood glucose meter 114 or, alternatively or additionally, on a test element 124 located outside the blood glucose meter 114, for example in another type of medical system 110 of different construction.
• the blood glucose meter 114 has an input port 132, which can simultaneously serve as a positioning device 134 or as part of such a positioning device 134. When the test element 124 is inserted correctly into the input opening 132, this input opening 132 can allow the blood glucose meter 114 to interact with the test element 124.
• An evaluation of the sample applied to the application site 130 takes place, for example, by optical and / or electrochemical means.
• electrode contacts 136 can be provided, via which a test strip 128 can be contacted by the blood glucose meter 114 when the test strip 128 is inserted into the blood glucose meter 114.
• optical code 138 can be designed, for example, as a two-dimensional barcode, for example as a two-dimensional 35-bit barcode.
• the smallest units of such an optical code 138 are often referred to as modules and are designated by the reference numeral 140 in FIG.
• these modules 140 are arranged in FIG. 1 in a 5 ⁇ 7 matrix.
• the modules 140 differ, for example, in their gray value and / or in their color value in the wavelength range between 300 and 3000 nm, for example within the entire wavelength range of 300 to 3000 nm, from each other.
• the medical device 112 In order to be able to read the optical code 138, the medical device 112, in particular the blood glucose meter 114, has a code reader 142 merely indicated in FIG. 1.
• the code reader 142 can, as soon as the test element 124 is correctly inserted into the positioning device 134 and / or or even during the insertion of the test element 124, the applied optical code 138 read.
• the optical code 138 may also be applied to a package of the at least one medical consumable 122.
• the packaging which is not shown in Figure 1, even considered as a medical consumable 122.
• Such a package may include one or more such medical consumables 122.
• the code reader 142 may also be wholly or partially attached to an outside of the medical device 112, for example the blood glucose meter 114, in order to place the optical code 138, for example, when placed on the packaging and / or. or to be able to read approximations to the packaging.
• the code reader 142 may be configured in this case in the form of a Aufsetzlesers.
• an optical code 138 may be applied to a medical consumable 122 in the form of an insulin cartridge 144 (not shown in FIG. 2).
• a primary cartridge or a packaging of a primary cartridge, from which insulin is transferred to the insulin cartridge 144 may also be provided with an optical code 138 and thus act as a medical consumable 122.
• FIG. 2 shows a medical consumable 122 in the form of an infusion set 146.
• This infusion set 146 includes a Schlauchkamile 148, which is connectable to an adapter 150 of the insulin pump 116, and the actual cannula 152 for insertion into a body tissue.
• a fill volume of the entire hfusion set 146 and / or portions thereof is an essential parameter required for priming by the insulin pump 116.
• the infusion set 146 itself and / or on a packaging 154 of the same which itself may also be regarded as a medical consumable 122, may again be provided with at least one optical code 138.
• This optical code 138 may in turn be read in by means of a code reader 142 of the insulin pump 116, analogously to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG that the insulin pump 116 can use this information about the filling volume and / or other information contained in the optical code, for example for a priming process.Also other types of information can be transmitted alternatively or additionally in this way.
• the code reader 142 is symbolically arranged at one end of a housing of the insulin pump 116 in FIG. 2 and can be placed on the packaging 154 and / or the infusion set 156, for example, for reading the information onto the optical code 138 or in the vicinity of the optical code 138 become.
• the packaging 154 and / or another type of medical consumable 122 may also include at least one positioning aid 157 to facilitate placement and / or positioning of the code reader 142, which is exemplified in FIG. 2 in the form of a frame.
• the positioning aid 17 may, for example, facilitate relative positioning and / or orientation of the code reader 142 to the optical code 138.
• lateral positioning of code reader 142 relative to optical code 138 and / or spacing between code reader 142 and optical code 138 and / or angular alignment between code reader 142 and optical code 138 may be adjusted by at least one tilt angle by means of positioning aid 157 / or be definable.
• the positioning aid 157 may comprise, for example, one or more stop surfaces and / or one or more stop edges and / or one or more spacers and / or one or more guides.
• an optical code 138 can also be arranged at other locations of the medical consumables 122 and read out in another way.
• an optical code 138 can also be applied to a flattened, transparent end of the hose cannula 148, which can be read out by means of a code reader 142 mounted inside the medical device 112, for example the insulin pump 116.
• FIG. 3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a possible code reader 142 which can be used in a medical device 112.
• the code reader 142 comprises at least one image sensor 156, preferably with a plurality of individual sensors 157, which together can, for example, form a sensitive surface of the image sensor 156.
• this image sensor 156 may be a one- or two-dimensional array of sensors 157, for example a CCD chip. Other image sensors are alternatively or additionally applicable.
• the code reader 142 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment comprises a light source 159, which in this example is designed as a planar light source 161.
• this planar light source 161 may be wholly or partially configured as a lighting film 158 and / or comprise such a lighting film 158.
• this illumination foil 158 may be an organic and / or inorganic electroluminescent foil.
• the planar light source 161 may, as shown in Figure 3, in particular have a surface which is larger than the surface of the optical code 138.
• the sheet-like light source 161 may be arranged in particular on a side opposite the image sensor 156 side of the optical code 138, for example one opposite side of the test strip 128, as shown by way of example in FIG. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.
• the optical code 138 can be applied, for example, to a carrier material 162, for example a carrier material of a test strip 128 and / or another type of test element 124.
• This carrier material 162 can in particular be made optically transparent, for example by a suitable substrate Choice of materials and / or a very thin version of the substrate 162.
• the optical code 138 is illuminated by transmitted light by means of the light source 159, which is connected via a power supply 160 and / or another type of power supply. Due to the planar configuration of the light source 159 can a height of the light source 159 compared to conventional light sources are greatly reduced.
• the light transmitted through the substrate 162 and the optical code 138 applied thereto and / or inserted therein is directed to the image sensor 156.
• this may take the form of imaging the optical code 138 on the sensitive surface of the image sensor 156, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, via a lens 166 and / or another form of imaging optical element.
• the light irradiated by the light source 159 onto the optical code 138, irrespective of its interaction with the optical code 138 and / or the carrier material 162, may also be referred to as an excitation light 163.
• the light may also be referred to as the detection light 165.
• This detection light 165 may, for example, be or comprise transmitted excitation light 163 and / or other sources of light, for example light which is emitted directly by the optical code 138 and / or the carrier material 162, for example luminescent light such as phosphorescence and / or fluorescent light.
• the optical code 138 and / or the carrier material 162 may, for example, comprise one or more luminescent materials, for example fluorescent materials, and / or other materials influencing the excitation light 162 and / or the detection light 165, such as luminescence converters or the like ,
• At least one deflecting element 167 is optionally provided in the beam path, illustrated here by way of example by a mirror 164. Alternatively or additionally, other types of deflecting elements 167 can also be used. This at least one deflecting element 167 also serves to reduce the installation space. As an alternative or in addition to the folded beam path shown in FIG. 1 with only one 45 ° mirror 164, it is also possible to use other arrangements, for example beam paths in which the beams are reflected back on themselves, or at a very small angle to the output beam , In this way, the space can be significantly reduced.
• optical elements may be provided in the code reader 142, which have, for example, imaging properties and / or properties that affect the beam path and / or the beam properties in other ways.
• a filter 178 which is symbolically indicated in FIG.
• This optical filter 178 can be arranged, for example, in the illumination path of the excitation light 163 and / or in the path of the detection light 165, that is, in front of the image sensor 156. It is also possible to use a plurality of optical filters.
• FIG. 1 Another possible embodiment of the code reader 142 is shown in FIG.
• a light source 159 is again provided, which, however, does not necessarily have to be configured as a planar light source.
• a use of sheet-like light sources is alternatively or additionally possible in turn, for example, to reduce installation space.
• the light source 159 and an image sensor 156 are arranged on one and the same side of the optical code 138.
• the optical code 138 is in turn applied to or introduced into a carrier material 162 of a medical consumable 122.
• this carrier material does not necessarily have to be designed to be completely transparent, but may, for example, have diffuse light-conducting properties.
• it may be a carrier material having a plurality of scattering centers, for example in the form of white particles. These can be configured, for example, reflectable. A reflective layer structure is also possible.
• a carrier material 162 of the medical consumable 122 can be provided, which can be configured, for example, transparently or at least partially with light-scattering properties.
• other embodiments with these properties are possible lent.
• one or more light sources 159 can be arranged laterally of the optical code 138.
• the excitation light 163 can be coupled into the substrate 162 laterally of the optical code 138 and passed and / or scattered there to backlight the optical code 138, i. from the perspective of the image of the sensor 156 to illuminate transmissively.
• the excitation light 163 can thus also be referred to as illuminating light 172. This can penetrate into the carrier material 162 and be reflected there again to illuminate the optical code 138 transmissively.
• a detection of the light reflected from the optical code 138 and / or a fluoroscopy of the optical code 138 ie a detection of the transmitted light, beaurinden.
• the optical code 138 and / or its modules 140 may also have optical properties such as luminescence properties, conversion properties or the like.
• a luminescent ink can be printed on and / or a laser conversion of a dye can take place or the like.
• the carrier material 162 may also have corresponding properties.
• a carrier material 162 with diffusely the excitation light 163 conductive properties can be used, for example, a polyester, which may also be provided with a doping, such as a titanium dioxide doping, so that the substrate 162 still gives a basically white impression.
• a doping such as a titanium dioxide doping
• an image of the optical code 138 is preferably generated on the image sensor 156.
• one or more optical elements can again be provided for this purpose, such as, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a lens 166.
• a folding of the beam path can optionally also be carried out to reduce a construction space.
• at least one deflecting element 167 may be provided, for example one or more mirrors 164.
• one or more may be provided in the beam path of the excitation light 163 and / or the detection light 165 additional optical elements are introduced.
• a filter 178 is again shown in FIG.
• the optical code reader 142 shown in FIG. 4 can in turn be made very compact.
• the at least one light source 159 may be arranged on a compact illumination board 176.
• the optional fold of the beam path of the detection light 165 shown in FIG. 4 also contributes to the compactness of the code reader 142.
• the code reader 142 in this embodiment, may in particular be designed as an attachment reader and may, for example, be used to read optical codes 138 applied to packages 154.
• other embodiments and / or uses are possible in principle.
• a complete image of the optical code 138 is imaged onto the image sensor 156, for example an active sensor surface 196 of the image sensor 156.
• the active sensor surface 196 may be provided with a suitable size.
• the optical code 138 is designed as a redundant optical code or configured with redundant information. An example of such an embodiment is shown in FIG.
• the optical code has repetitive, identical code units 180. These code units 180 are each designed with the same pattern of modules 140, which can be detected. In this way, even if the image sensor 146 detects only a section of the optical code 138, preferably a section comprising at least one complete code unit 180, it is possible to read out the information contained in this optical code 138.
• the evaluation of the information contained in the optical code 138 may already be carried out completely or partially in the code reader 142.
• the image sensor 156 can be equipped with its own intelligence, which already enables a partial or complete evaluation of the optical code 138.
• filters, image recognition algorithms or the like may already be implemented in the image sensor 156.
• a further evaluation is possible in principle.
• the code reader 142 may also comprise additional electronic components, which further fully or partially realize the evaluation of the optical code 138 for obtaining the at least one information contained therein. These additional components may be arranged, for example, in addition to the image sensor 156 on a sensor board 198 indicated in FIG.
• the sensor board 198 can also be designed completely or partially identical to the illumination board 176. Again alternatively or additionally, a further evaluation can also be wholly or partly taken over by a control unit of the medical device 112, for example a central control unit of a blood glucose meter 114 and / or an insulin pump 116.
• a control unit of the medical device 112 for example a central control unit of a blood glucose meter 114 and / or an insulin pump 116.
• Various embodiments are possible. The explanation of the above exemplary embodiments was made such that the illumination of the optical code 138 by means of the light source 159 takes place statically. However, this is not necessarily the case, but it may also, alternatively or additionally, a time-resolved lighting and / or measurement. An embodiment of such a dynamic or time-resolved measurement scheme is shown symbolically in FIG. Numerous other measuring schemes are possible.
• the intensity I of the excitation light 163 is plotted against time. From this it can be seen that at a point in time an illumination pulse 182 having an intensity 10 is emitted.
• This illumination pulse 182 as indicated by dashed lines in Figure 6, for example, stimulate a dye of the optical code 138 to an afterglow 184, which lasts longer than the actual period of time ⁇ t of the illumination pulse 182.
• this afterglow 184 include a luminescence, for example a phosphorescence.
• a query of the detection light 165 in the form of afterglow 184 by the image sensor 156 can then take place. This can be done, for example, by means of a corresponding "gate" in an electronic control of the image sensor 156, which is triggered by the illumination pulse 182. This image acquisition can again take place over a certain period of time, which is not shown in FIG In this way, the excitation light 163 of the illumination pulse 182 can be separated from the detection light 165 in the form of the afterglow 184 by the excitation-response measurement process shown in FIG. whereby a strong improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio and a background suppression can be achieved.
• the measuring method can also be carried out repeatedly, which is also indicated in FIG.
• the illumination pulse 182 are repeated.
• a periodic illumination can take place in this way.
• the measurement scheme can for example be carried out periodically, so that a frequency-selective evaluation is possible, for example, by means of a so-called lock-in process can be realized.
• FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a possible positioning device 134 in a schematic representation.
• the code reader 142 may, for example, be designed largely like the code reader 142 described in the preceding exemplary embodiments, so that reference may be made to the above description for possible examples.
• a light source 159 is not shown in FIG. The lighting can, for example, in turn also be carried out according to the previously described embodiments.
• a light source 159 for example a planar light source 161
• a light source 159 for example a planar light source 161
• the positioning device 134 optionally includes an insert 186 into which the medical consumable 122 can be inserted.
• this medical consumable article 122 may again be a test element 124, for example a test strip 128.
• the positioning device 134 can be adapted to the geometric shape of these consumables 122.
• the drawer 186 may be replaced with corresponding other types of brackets and / or similar devices.
• the positioning device 134 further comprises a spacer 188 in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7.
• This spacer 188 comprises, for example, a spacer rail 190 which is set up to ensure a predetermined minimum distance between the medical consumable 122 and the image sensor 156.
• the positioning device 134 can optionally have a pressure element 192, which is indicated here by way of example as a spring element 194.
• This pressure element 192 applies a force to the medical consumable 122 in the direction of the image sensor 156. In this way, the medical consumable 122 is pressed against the distance rail 190 so as to ensure that the distance between the medical consumable 122 and the image sensor 156 is a desired one Maximum distance does not exceed.
• other embodiments of the positioning device are in principle possible, in particular embodiments, which ensure that the optical code 138 and the image sensor 156 and its active sensor surface 196 are positioned within a predetermined distance from each other.
• the light source 159 comprises a surface-shaped light source 161.
• This planar design of the light source 159 can be done in various ways.
• self-luminous elements can be used, such as the lighting film 158 described above.
• surface-shaped light sources 161 which give the impression of a lighted surface, can also be realized in other ways. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

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• 2010
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