KR102379323B1 - Smart insulin injection device that can be stored at constant temperature - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart insulin injection device capable of being stored at a constant temperature. Specifically, the present invention comprises: a casing; a syringe installed inside the casing and having a guide installed on a lower end and to be in close contact with the skin when insulin is injected; a cartridge accommodated in the syringe while storing insulin therein and including a piston installed on an upper side thereof and a needle installed on a lower side thereof to be surrounded by the guide; an insulin injection part which injects insulin into the skin through the needle by means of the pressing of the piston of the cartridge; and a Peltier module which supplies cold or warm air to the syringe so that the temperature inside the syringe is maintained within a set temperature range. Accordingly, after the injection of insulin, the insulin remaining in the cartridge is stored at a constant temperature so that the insulin can be stored for a long time without deterioration.

Description

Smart insulin injection device that can be stored at constant temperature

The present invention relates to an insulin injection device, and more particularly, to an insulin pen-type smart insulin injection device capable of storing insulin at a constant temperature.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that occurs when the concentration of glucose (blood sugar) in the blood becomes higher than normal due to lack of insulin in the body.

For insulin administration, it is common to use an insulin syringe or an insulin pen.

Here, the insulin syringe is usually used for single use as the user (patient) directly punctures the syringe needle into the skin and then presses the piston of the syringe to inject the insulin stored in the syringe and then discards it.

And, the insulin pen is equipped with a cartridge in which an amount of insulin that can be injected multiple times is stored in the automatic injection device, and the user (patient) directly punctures the needle into the skin and presses a button provided in the automatic injection device to inject insulin into the skin. to be automatically injected.

Since insulin that can be used several times in the insulin pen is stored in the cartridge, after insulin is injected once, the remaining insulin must be stored at a constant temperature to prevent deterioration of insulin.

However, since the insulin pen does not have a structure capable of maintaining a constant temperature, it is common to store the remaining insulin in a separate storage device capable of maintaining a constant temperature. Therefore, there is a problem in that the storage of insulin is cumbersome and difficult to carry.

Patent Publication 10-2014-0035746

The present invention has been devised to solve the problems of the prior art, and it provides a smart insulin injection device in the form of an insulin pen capable of preventing deterioration of insulin by storing the insulin stored in the cartridge at a constant temperature. but there is a purpose

A smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention for solving the above problems includes: a casing; a syringe installed inside the casing and having a guide attached to the skin when insulin is injected at the lower end; a cartridge accommodated in the syringe in a state in which insulin is stored, a cartridge having a piston installed on the upper side and a needle surrounded by the guide on the lower side; an insulin injection unit for injecting insulin into the skin through the needle by pressing the piston of the cartridge; It is configured to include; a Peltier module for supplying cold or warm air to the syringe to maintain the temperature inside the syringe in which the cartridge is accommodated within a set temperature range.

Here, the insulin injection unit includes a driving motor; a screw shaft connected to the motor shaft of the driving motor and rotating together with the motor shaft; and a piston pressing block connected to the screw shaft and pressing the piston of the cartridge by advancing in the syringe.

And, the Peltier module and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the syringe; a Peltier element for generating cold or warm air according to the value measured by the temperature sensor; a conductive plate that is interviewed on one side of the Peltier element and is in contact with the syringe to deliver cold or warmth; And a heat sink that is interviewed on the other side of the Peltier element; and a blower fan that provides wind to the heat sink.

In addition, when the guide is in close contact with the skin, by sucking air between the cartridge and the syringe so that the skin is lifted, a suction unit that automatically pricks the skin with the needle; is configured to further include.

In addition, the suction unit and one end of the suction tube communicating with the space between the cartridge and the syringe; a vacuum pump connected to the other end of the suction tube to suck air in the space between the cartridge and the syringe; and a pressure sensor installed on the pipe line of the suction tube or at the end of the suction tube to measure the pressure of the sucked air.

In addition, the control unit further includes a control unit electrically connected to the insulin injection unit, the Peltier module, and the suction unit, wherein the control unit displays information about the insulin injection amount, the number of insulin injections, and the syringe temperature, and transmits it to the smartphone connected through the communication network. .

In addition, when the temperature of the syringe is outside the set temperature range, it commands the control unit to operate the Peltier module through the smart phone.

In addition, an end cap having a plurality of air discharge holes for discharging the air sucked in by the suction unit to the outside is provided at the upper end of the casing.

In addition, a battery for supplying electricity to the suction unit and the insulin injection unit is installed inside the casing, and a charging hole for supplying and storing electricity to the battery is formed in the end cap.

Since the thermostatically-storable smart insulin injection device of the present invention configured as described above can maintain the temperature of the syringe in which the cartridge is accommodated constant by the operation of the Peltier module, the insulin remaining in the cartridge after insulin injection is stored at a constant temperature. This has the advantage that it can be stored for a long time so that insulin does not deteriorate.

In addition, after the user adheres the guide to the skin, air is sucked by the suction unit to form a vacuum, and the skin is lifted upward and automatically pricked by the needle. After the skin is pricked by the needle, the insulin injection unit automatically operates Thus, insulin is automatically injected into the skin, thereby reducing fear and rejection of insulin injection.

In addition, it is possible to check the status of the insulin injection device in real time by receiving various information on the amount of insulin injection, the number of injections, the syringe temperature, etc. through the control unit. There is an advantage that the temperature of the syringe can be controlled remotely by manipulating the

1 to 6 are views showing a smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view of a smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention.
8 is a view showing a state in which cold or warm air is delivered to the syringe in the Peltier element of the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention.
9 is a view showing a state in which the suction unit of the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention operates to suck air.
10 is a view showing the operation of the insulin injection unit of the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention.
11 is a view showing a state in which the insulin is injected after the skin is lifted and punctured by a needle as the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention operates.
12 is a view showing a cartridge of a smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 6 are diagrams showing a smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention.

And, Figure 8 is a view showing a state in which cold or warm air is delivered to the syringe in the Peltier element of the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention.

In addition, FIG. 9 is a view showing a state that the suction unit of the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention operates to suck air, and FIG. 10 is the insulin injection unit of the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention is operated, and the skin is lifted and insulin is injected after being punctured by a needle, and FIG. 12 is a constant temperature storage according to the present invention It is a diagram showing a cartridge of a smart insulin injection device that can be stored.

A smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention includes a casing (10), a syringe (20) installed inside the casing (10), a cartridge (30) storing insulin therein, and the cartridge (30). An insulin injection unit 40 for injecting stored insulin into the skin S, a Peltier module 50 for supplying cold or warmth to the syringe 20, and a vacuum between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30 It is configured to include a suction unit 60 made of , a control unit 70 provided in the casing 10 , and an end cap 80 installed in the casing 10 .

The casing 10 forms the outer shape of the insulin injection device according to the present invention, and includes a syringe 20, a cartridge 30, an insulin injection unit 40, a Peltier module 50, a suction unit 60, etc. accept in The casing 10 is composed of a syringe cover 11 and a top cover 12 installed on the upper end of the syringe cover 11 .

And, the top cover 12 of the casing 10 is provided with an ON/OFF switch 12a, and when the on/off switch 12a is turned ON, the insulin injection device is activated. It is converted to an operational state.

The syringe 20 is a tube shape with an empty inside, the guide 21 is installed at the bottom, and the cartridge 30 is accommodated therein.

The guide 21 has a lower end in close contact with the skin S of the user (patient) when insulin is injected, and the diameter increases toward the lower side. The guide 21 may be made of a transparent, translucent or opaque material, etc., but the needle 31a of the cartridge 30 inside the guide 21 must be invisible to eliminate the fear of the needle 31a. It is preferable to manufacture with an opaque material.

And, the guide 21 has an upper end installed at the lower end of the syringe 20, and by sealing the lower portion of the space formed between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30, the suction unit 60 is connected to the syringe 20 and When the air between the cartridges 30 is sucked, external air is prevented from flowing into the syringe 20 through the lower side of the syringe 20 .
Here, the guide 21 is fixed to the end of the syringe 20 in a shape that increases in diameter toward the lower side, and the lower end is in close contact with the skin S, and the air between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30 is sucked. It does not move from the time the skin S is lifted until the insulin is injected into the skin through the needle 31a and maintains its close contact state.

The cartridge 30 is accommodated in the syringe 20 , the piston 32 is installed on the upper side, and the needle 31a surrounded by the guide 21 is provided on the lower side. Therefore, when the piston 32 is pressed, the insulin stored therein is injected into the skin S through the needle 31a.

In other words, the cartridge 30 includes a cylinder 31 , a piston 32 installed in the cylinder 31 , a vibrator 33 installed in the piston 32 , and a vibrator 33 installed in the vibrator 33 . It is composed of a vibrator cover 34 .

The cylinder 31 has insulin stored therein, and a needle 31a for injecting insulin into the skin S is provided at the lower end.

The piston 32 is installed so as to be able to move forward and backward in and out of the cylinder 31, so that when it advances into the cylinder 31, insulin is injected into the skin S through the needle 31a.

The vibrator 33 is installed at the lower end of the piston 32 to vibrate the insulin to mix insulin.

The vibrator cover 34 surrounds the outer surface of the vibrator 33 and advances together when the piston 32 advances to pressurize the insulin in the cylinder 31 .

On the other hand, the cartridge 30 is not limited to the above structure, and there are cartridges of various shapes and structures on the market, which are pressurized by the insulin injection unit 40 so that the insulin is injected into the skin (S) through the needle 31a. Anything that is injected internally is fine.

The insulin injection unit 40 injects insulin into the skin S through the needle 31a by pressing the piston 32 of the cartridge 30 . In other words, the insulin injection unit 40 does not directly advance the needle 31a so that the needle 31a punctures the skin S, but rather the guide 21 is in close contact with the skin S. (31a) is still at that position, and the skin (S) is pierced by the needle (31a) while the skin (S) is lifted by the operation of the suction unit (60).

That is, when the air between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30 is sucked by the suction unit 60 and the pressure inside the syringe 20 is lowered to a state close to vacuum, the skin is lifted upward. In the process, the skin (S) is punctured by a needle.

Then, the insulin injection unit 40 presses the piston 32 of the cartridge 30 when the pressure of the air sucked by the suction unit 60 is maintained within a predetermined range for a predetermined time. That is, the air between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30 is sucked by the vacuum pump 62 of the suction unit 60 to be described later, and at this time, the pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 63 to be described later is constant within a certain range. When maintained for a period of time, the insulin injection unit 40 is automatically operated to inject insulin into the skin S.

The insulin injection unit 40 as described above includes a driving motor 41 , a screw shaft 42 connected to a motor shaft of the driving motor 41 , and a piston pressing block 43 connected to the screw shaft 42 . is composed of

The drive motor 41 rotates the motor shaft when power is supplied.

The screw shaft 42 is inserted into the syringe 20 and rotates together with the motor shaft of the driving motor 41 . The screw shaft 42 is spirally formed on the outer circumferential surface.

The piston pressing block 43 moves forward and backward in a straight line in the syringe 20 when the inner circumferential surface is spirally coupled to the screw shaft 42 and the screw shaft 42 rotates. When the piston pressure block 43 advances, it presses the piston 32 of the cartridge 30 so that the piston 32 pushes the drug toward the needle 31a.

In other words, a pair of rails 22 are formed inside the syringe 20, and a rib 43a fitted to the rail 22 is protruded from the outer surface of the piston pressing block 43, so that the screw When the shaft 42 rotates, the rib 43a moves forward along the rail 22 in a straight line, and the piston pressing block 43 advances to press the shifton 32 of the cartridge 30 .

The Peltier module 50 supplies cold or warm air to the syringe 20 to maintain the temperature inside the syringe 20 in which the cartridge 30 is accommodated within a set temperature range. In order for the insulin remaining inside the cartridge 30 to be safely stored without being deteriorated after injecting a certain amount of insulin, it must be stored below a certain temperature or above a certain temperature depending on the type of insulin. In order to maintain such an appropriate storage temperature, in the present invention Use the Peltier module 50 to fit the inside of the syringe 20 within the desired temperature range.

The Peltier module 50 includes a temperature sensor 51, a Peltier element 52 for generating cold or warm air, and a conductive plate 53 that is interfaced to one side of the Peltier element 52, and the It consists of a heat sink 54 that is interviewed on the other side of the Peltier element 52 and a blower fan 55 that provides wind to the heat sink 54 .

The temperature sensor 51 is installed in the syringe 20 to measure the temperature of the syringe 20 , and the measured temperature value is transmitted to the controller 70 and displayed.

The Peltier element 52 generates cold air or warmth according to a value measured by the temperature sensor 51 . That is, when the temperature inside the syringe 20 does not reach the proper storage temperature of the insulin, the Peltier element 52 generates warmth according to the command of the control unit 70, and when it exceeds the proper storage temperature of the insulin, the control unit ( 70) to generate cold air in the Peltier element 52 according to the command.

The conductive plate 53 connects the syringe 20 and the Peltier element 52, is made of a metal having excellent thermal conductivity, one side is connected to the Peltier element 52, and the other side is connected to the syringe 20 to connect the Peltier element Cold air or warmth is provided from 52 and the cold air or warmth is delivered to the syringe 20 . At this time, it is preferable that the syringe 20 is also made of a metal having excellent thermal conductivity to receive cold or warmth well.

The heat sink 54 radiates heat generated from the Peltier element 52 .

The blower fan 55 promotes heat dissipation performed by the heat sink 54 .

The suction unit 60 sucks air in the space formed between the cartridge 30 and the syringe 20 when the guide 21 is in close contact with the skin S, and creates a vacuum pressure in the space to form a vacuum pressure on the skin (S). ) is lifted, and the suction unit 60 is to prick the skin (S) lifted in this way by the needle (31a). In other words, the skin (S) is lifted upward in the guide (21) by the suction unit (60), and the lifted skin (S) is automatically pierced by the needle (31a) inside the guide (21). do.

The suction unit 60 measures the pressure of the suction tube 61 , the vacuum pump 62 connected to the suction tube 61 to suck air, and the air sucked by the vacuum pump 62 . It is composed of a pressure sensor (63).

One end of the suction tube 61 passes through the syringe 20 to communicate with the space between the cartridge 30 and the syringe 20 .

The vacuum pump 62 is connected to the other end of the suction tube 61 to suck air in the space between the cartridge 30 and the syringe 20 . Thereby, a vacuum or air pressure close to vacuum is formed between the cartridge 30 and the syringe 20, and the skin S is lifted toward the needle 31a due to this pressure change.

The pressure sensor 63 is installed on the conduit of the suction tube 61 or installed at the end of the suction tube 61 to measure the pressure of air sucked by the vacuum pump 62 . The measured pressure value is transmitted to the control unit 70 and displayed.

The control unit 70 is provided on the top cover 12 of the casing 10, and is electrically connected to the insulin injection unit 40, the Peltier module 50, and the suction unit 60 to control and operate them. stop working

The control unit 70 transmits information about the amount of insulin injected, the number of times of insulin injection, the pressure inside the syringe 20, the temperature of the syringe 20, and the like from the insulin injection unit 40 or the suction unit 60 and the temperature sensor 51, etc. It is provided and displayed and transmitted to a smartphone connected through a wired/wireless communication network. Therefore, you can check the above information through your smartphone.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the syringe 20 is outside the set temperature range, it is possible to command the control unit 70 to operate the Peltier module 50 through the smartphone.

That is, when it is confirmed through a smartphone that the temperature of the syringe 20 is not an appropriate temperature for storing insulin, the user transmits a signal to the control unit 70 through the smartphone to operate the Peltier module 50 will do

The end cap 80 is installed at the top of the casing 10, that is, at the top of the top cover 12, and a plurality of air discharge holes 81 for discharging the air sucked by the suction unit 60 to the outside. this is formed

The air discharge holes 81 are formed at regular intervals along the edge of the end cap 80 to form a circle.

On the other hand, a battery 90 capable of storing electricity is installed inside the casing 10 to supply electricity to the suction unit 60 , the insulin injection unit 40 , the Peltier module 50 and the control unit 70 . can be used wirelessly, and a charging hole 82 for supplying and storing electricity to the battery 90 is formed in the center of the end cap 80 .

The operation of the smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage according to the present invention configured as described above will be briefly described as follows.

First, when the on/off switch 12a is turned on by manipulating the on/off switch 12a, the suction unit 60 starts to operate, and in this state, the guide 21 is brought into contact with the skin S of the user (patient).

While the guide 21 is in contact with the skin S, the air between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30 is sucked by the suction unit 60 and the air is discharged to the outside through the air discharge hole 81. , When this process continues, the pressure in the space between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30 drops and the skin S is lifted upwards.

As the skin (S) is lifted, the needle (31a) is automatically pricked into the skin (S).

When the pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 63 is maintained within a certain range for a certain time after the needle 31a is pierced into the skin S, the insulin injection unit 40 is operated and the piston pressure block 43 is inserted into the cartridge. Insulin is injected into the skin (S) by pressing the piston (32) of (30).

In this way, the state in which insulin is injected into the skin S is maintained for a certain period of time (eg, 10 seconds). The reason for maintaining this is to ensure sufficient insulin infusion time and to prevent insulin loss due to insulin reflux at the beginning of the infusion.

After the insulin injection is maintained for a certain period of time, electricity supplied to the suction unit 60 and the insulin injection unit 40 is cut off, the vacuum state is released, and the insulin is no longer injected into the skin S.

If insulin remains inside the cartridge 30 after the insulin injection is completed, the Peltier module 50 is operated so that the temperature inside the syringe 20 becomes an appropriate temperature at which the insulin does not deteriorate.

10: casing 11: syringe cover
12: top cover 12a: on/off switch
20: syringe 21: guide
22: rail 30: cartridge
31: cylinder 31a: needle
32: piston 33: vibrator
34: vibrator cover 40: insulin injection unit
41: drive motor 42: screw shaft
43: piston pressure block 43a: rib
50: peltier module 51: temperature sensor
52: Peltier element 53: conductive plate
54: heat sink 55: blowing fan
60: suction unit 61: suction tube
62: vacuum pump 63: pressure sensor
70: control unit 80: end cap
81: air exhaust hole 82: charging hole
90: battery S: skin

Claims (9)

a casing 10; a syringe 20 installed inside the casing 10 and having a guide 21 attached to the skin during insulin injection at the lower end; The cartridge 30 is accommodated in the syringe 20 in a stored state, the piston 32 is installed on the upper side, and the needle 31a is surrounded by the guide 21 on the lower side; an insulin injection unit 40 for injecting insulin into the skin S through the needle 31a by pressing the piston 32 of the cartridge 30; A Peltier module 50 for supplying cold or warm air to the syringe 20 to maintain the temperature inside the syringe 20 in which the cartridge 30 is accommodated within a set temperature range; When the guide 21 is in close contact with the skin S, the skin S is automatically attached to the needle 31a by sucking air between the cartridge 30 and the syringe 20 so that the skin S is lifted. a suction unit 60 to be pricked; The insulin injection unit 40, the Peltier module 50, and the control unit 70 electrically connected to the suction unit 60; includes;
The control unit 70 displays information on the amount of insulin injected, the number of times of insulin injection, and the temperature of the syringe 20 and transmits it to a smart phone connected through a communication network, and when the temperature of the syringe 20 is outside the set temperature range, the Instructs the control unit 70 to operate the Peltier module 50 through a smartphone,
The guide 21 is fixed to the end of the syringe 20 in a shape that increases in diameter toward the lower side, and the lower end is in close contact with the skin S, and the air between the syringe 20 and the cartridge 30 is sucked into the skin From the time (S) is lifted, it does not move until insulin is injected into the skin through the needle 31a and maintains its close contact,
The insulin injection unit 40 includes a driving motor 41; a screw shaft 42 connected to the motor shaft of the driving motor 41 and rotating together with the motor shaft; Consisting of; a piston pressing block 43 having an inner circumferential surface spirally coupled to the screw shaft 42 , a pair of rails 22 are formed inside the syringe 20 , and the piston pressing block 43 outside A rib 43a fitted to the rail 22 is protruded from the side surface, and when the screw shaft 42 rotates, the rib 43a advances along the rail 22 so that the piston pressing block 43 advances. A smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage, characterized in that pressurizing the piston 32 of the cartridge 30 by doing so.
delete The method according to claim 1,
The Peltier module 50 includes a temperature sensor 51 for measuring the temperature of the syringe 20;
a Peltier element 52 for generating cold air or warmth according to the value measured by the temperature sensor 51;
a conductive plate 53 that is interviewed on one side of the Peltier element 52 and is in contact with the syringe 20 to transmit cold or warm air;
a heat sink 54 that is interviewed on the other side of the Peltier element 52;
A smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage, characterized in that it;
delete The method according to claim 1,
The suction unit 60 includes a suction tube 61 having one end communicating with the space between the cartridge 30 and the syringe 20;
a vacuum pump 62 connected to the other end of the suction tube 61 to suck air in the space between the cartridge 30 and the syringe 20;
A smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage, characterized in that it comprises; a pressure sensor (63) installed on the pipe line of the suction tube (61) or installed at the end of the suction tube (61) to measure the pressure of the inhaled air.
delete delete The method according to claim 1,
At the upper end of the casing (10), an end cap (80) having a plurality of air discharge holes (81) formed along the edge for discharging the air sucked by the suction unit (60) to the outside is installed. A smart insulin injector that can be stored.
9. The method of claim 8,
A battery 90 for supplying electricity to the suction unit 60 and the insulin injection unit 40 is installed inside the casing 10 , and the end cap 80 supplies electricity to the battery 90 , A smart insulin injection device capable of constant temperature storage, characterized in that the filling hole 82 for storage is formed.

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