KR20240030999A - Drug injection apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The drug injection device according to the present invention includes a drug injector that electrochemically drives an electroosmotic pump to inhale the drug from the drug storage unit and discharges the inhaled drug to the injection target; And a control unit that outputs a control signal corresponding to a quantity-based injection sequence for driving the electro-osmotic pump into an immediate injection mode to the drug injector, wherein the quantity-based injection sequence includes a voltage pulse to be applied to the electro-osmotic pump or It includes at least one pulse block defining a current pulse, and each of the pulse blocks defines a pair of pulse signals including a forward pulse and a reverse pulse that are applied to the electroosmotic pump to alternately generate negative pressure and positive pressure. In addition, the electroosmotic pump alternately generates negative and positive pressure for each pulse block to inhale and discharge the drug.

Description

Drug injection device and method {DRUG INJECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD}

The present invention relates to a drug injection device and method.

Drugs can be injected into the body in various ways, such as oral, subcutaneous, or intravenous administration, depending on the type, purpose, and method of treatment. A drug injector using a drug pump can automatically inject drugs into the body at the desired speed and volume at the required time. Therefore, drug injectors using drug pumps can be used in various forms as well as those used in hospitals or patients' daily living environments.

Insulin pumps, commonly called insulin injectors, are for diabetic patients who do not secrete insulin or secrete only a small amount of insulin. It is a medical device that plays the same role as the pancreas in controlling blood sugar levels by supplying insulin from the outside into the body accurately at a set time. .

These insulin pumps are used by insulin-dependent diabetic patients and can continuously inject medication for 24 hours while attached to the patient. In this way, since insulin injectors must periodically inject drugs into diabetic patients over a long period of time, technology for miniaturization and automation of insulin injectors is being actively developed for user convenience.

However, as insulin injectors become miniaturized and automated, there are cases where it is difficult to actually ensure the operational stability of the insulin injector. This is mostly due to back pressure caused by various reactions between the drug and biological fluid at the tip of the cannula or needle. This is the main cause of clogging. In particular, when the amount of drug injected is small or when it is injected slowly, the problem of this clogging becomes more serious.

Therefore, there is a need for a method of continuously injecting drugs into a patient, stably injecting the correct amount of drugs, and controlling the injection of drugs so that the flow path is not blocked during drug injection.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a drug injection method for immediate injection in an electroosmotic pump-based drug injection device.

However, the technical challenges that this embodiment aims to achieve are not limited to the technical challenges described above, and other technical challenges may exist.

As a technical means for solving the above-described technical problem, the drug injection device according to an embodiment of the present invention electrochemically drives an electroosmotic pump to inhale the drug from the drug reservoir and discharges the inhaled drug to the injection target. drug injector; And a control unit that outputs a control signal corresponding to a quantity-based injection sequence for driving the electro-osmotic pump into an immediate injection mode to the drug injector, wherein the quantity-based injection sequence includes a voltage pulse to be applied to the electro-osmotic pump or It includes at least one pulse block defining a current pulse, and each of the pulse blocks defines a pair of pulse signals including a forward pulse and a reverse pulse that are applied to the electroosmotic pump to alternately generate negative pressure and positive pressure. In addition, the electroosmotic pump alternately generates negative and positive pressure for each pulse block to inhale and discharge the drug.

In addition, a drug injection method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes setting a dose-based injection sequence to operate the drug injection device in an immediate injection mode; Applying a control signal corresponding to the amount-based injection sequence to the electro-osmotic pump; And in response to the control signal, the electro-osmotic pump alternately generates negative pressure and positive pressure for each pulse block to inhale and discharge the drug, wherein the amount-based injection sequence is applied to the electro-osmotic pump. It includes at least one pulse block defining a voltage pulse or a current pulse, and each of the pulse blocks includes a pair of forward pulses and reverse pulses that are applied to the electroosmotic pump to alternately generate negative pressure and positive pressure. Defining a pulse signal.

According to the means for solving the problem of the present invention described above, the drug injector can be controlled to inject a fixed amount of drug by setting an amount-based injection sequence according to drug injection conditions for the drug injector using an electroosmotic pump.

Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a drug injection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the drug injector shown in FIG. 1.
Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a dose-based injection sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a table showing an example of a plurality of pulse blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an exemplary diagram showing a signal structure for a volume-based injection sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an exemplary diagram showing a signal structure for a rate-based injection sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a table showing an example of a basal injection mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an example diagram showing the signal structure for the base injection mode shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is an example diagram showing a signal structure in which a volume-based injection sequence is applied to the base injection mode shown in FIG. 8.
Figure 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the electro-osmotic pump shown in Figure 2.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the driving unit shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is an exemplary diagram schematically showing the configuration of the driving unit shown in FIG. 6.
Figure 13 is an application example of a drug injection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the drug injection device shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the drug injection device shown in FIG. 13.
Figure 16 is a flowchart for explaining a drug injection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 17 is a flowchart for explaining the process of applying the control signal shown in Figure 16 to the electroosmotic pump.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical idea disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings. In order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts not related to the description are omitted, and the size, shape, and shape of each component shown in the drawings may be modified in various ways. Throughout the specification, identical/similar parts are given identical/similar reference numerals.

The suffixes "module" and "part" for components used in the following description are given or used interchangeably only for the ease of preparing the specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles in themselves. Additionally, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the detailed descriptions are omitted.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be “connected (connected, contacted, or combined)” with another part, this means not only when it is “directly connected (connected, contacted, or combined),” but also when it has other members in between. It also includes cases where they are “indirectly connected (connected, contacted, or combined).” Additionally, when a part is said to "include (equip or provide)" a certain component, this does not exclude other components, unless specifically stated to the contrary, but rather "includes (provides or provides)" other components. It means you can.

Terms representing ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., used in this specification are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component and do not limit the order or relationship of the components. For example, the first component of the present invention may be named a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be named a first component.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a drug injection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the drug injector shown in FIG. 1.

When describing the drug injection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drug injection device 10 includes a drug injector 100 and a control unit 200.

The drug injector 100 electrochemically operates the electroosmotic pump 110 in an immediate injection mode to inhale the drug from the drug reservoir and discharges the inhaled drug to the injection target. In addition, the control unit 200 outputs a control signal corresponding to a dose-based injection sequence for driving the electroosmotic pump 110 to the drug injector 100 in an immediate injection mode. Here, the immediate injection mode is a drug injection mode in which a predetermined amount of drug is immediately injected into the user in order to lower the blood sugar level to a normal range when the user's blood sugar level is rapidly increased or is expected to rise.

The control unit 200 may refer to a data processing device built into hardware that has a physically structured circuit to perform functions expressed by codes or commands included in a program. Examples of data processing devices built into hardware include a microprocessor, central processing unit (CPU), processor core, multiprocessor, and application-specific integrated (ASIC). circuit), FPGA (field programmable gate array), MCU (Micro Controller Unit), and embedded processors, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, the control unit 200 is not only built into the drug injection device 10, but is also connected to the user terminal 40 through a communication module, which will be described later, and the user terminal 40 and the control unit 200 are integrated. Thus, it can be implemented in a form of controlling the immediate injection mode of the drug injection device 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a dose-based injection sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dose-based injection sequence will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The amount-based injection sequence is one in which a plurality of pulse blocks 20 that satisfy the drug injection amount are arranged according to drug injection conditions including the drug injection amount. At this time, the immediate injection sequence consists of a plurality of pulse blocks 20 satisfying the drug injection amount arranged sequentially without intervals. Immediate injection is defined as a bolus injection in a conventional insulin injection device.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the volume-based injection sequence, a plurality of pulse blocks 20 are arranged sequentially without pause time between them. The pulse block 20 defines a voltage pulse or current pulse to be applied to the electroosmotic pump 110, and the amount of drug injected varies depending on the duration.

FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of a plurality of pulse blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an example diagram showing a signal structure for a volume-based injection sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

If the structure of the dose-based injection sequence is described as an example with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the dose-based injection sequence is set as follows to satisfy the drug injection condition including the drug injection amount. The amount-based injection sequence is M pulse blocks 20 (M is less than or equal to N) selected according to the drug injection amount among the N pulse blocks 20 (N is a natural number greater than or equal to 1) that supply different amounts of drug shown in FIG. It is a structure in which pulse blocks 20 (natural numbers) are arranged continuously. Here, the minimum number of pulse blocks 20 constituting the amount-based injection sequence can be used to satisfy the drug injection amount, and the largest number of pulse blocks 20 that can satisfy the drug injection amount can be used. The pulse block 20 that supplies the drug is placed preferentially.

For example, if the drug injection volume is 5 μL, the volume-based infusion sequence consists of a fourth pulse block delivering 3 μL and a third pulse block delivering 2 μL, with the fourth pulse block placed first followed by the third pulse block. It becomes a structure that becomes In addition, the fourth pulse block and the third pulse block are executed immediately after the fourth pulse block is completed without a space.

Next, when describing the pulse block 20 with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, each pulse block 20 includes information about a pair of pulse signals including a forward pulse and a reverse pulse, each It contains information about the size of the pulse and the duration of the pulse. A pair of pulse signals including a forward pulse and a reverse pulse are applied to the electroosmotic pump 110 to alternately generate negative pressure and positive pressure, thereby alternately generating negative pressure and positive pressure for each pulse block 20. The drug is inhaled and expelled.

A pair of pulse signals 21 and 22 included in the pulse block 20 are voltage pulse signals or current pulse signals. A pair of voltage pulse signals may consist of a forward voltage pulse and a reverse voltage pulse, and a pair of current pulse signals may consist of a forward current pulse and a reverse current pulse. Here, a pair of voltage pulse signals may include information about the size and duration of each voltage pulse, and a pair of current pulse signals may include information about the size and duration of each current pulse. For example, in the volume-based injection sequence shown in FIG. 5, the size of the pulse signal may be 2V and the retention time may be 10s.

Each pulse block 20 included in the volume-based injection sequence may include voltage pulses having voltages of different magnitudes or current pulses having currents of different magnitudes. Alternatively, each pulse block 20 may include pulses having voltages of the same magnitude or current pulses having currents of the same magnitude, but each duration may be set differently.

In addition, the forward pulse 21 and the reverse pulse 22 included in the pulse block 20 are set to have the same size and duration, so that the amount of drug inhaled and discharged by the electroosmotic pump 110 is adjusted. It can remain the same.

In addition, a pair of pulse signals 21 and 22 included in the pulse block 20 may be provided as a constant voltage or a constant current, and the maintenance time of the pulse signal provided by the constant voltage or constant current may be adjusted to control the pulse signals 21 and 22 provided by each pulse block. The amount of drug inhaled and discharged can be controlled. For example, pulse blocks 20 in Figure 5 are provided by a constant voltage of 2V.

Additionally, the size and duration of the pair of pulse signals 21 and 22 can be adjusted so that the amounts of the drug inhaled and the drug discharged are the same. For example, the size of the forward voltage pulse is 2V and the duration is 10s, and the size of the subsequent reverse voltage pulse is set to 1V and the duration is 20s, so that the area of the forward pulse and the area of the reverse pulse are set to be the same. Thus, the amount of drug inhaled and the amount of drug discharged can be kept the same.

In addition, each pulse block 20 may further include a stabilization pulse 23, which maintains a voltage of 0 V for a predetermined time after application of the forward voltage pulse 21 and the reverse voltage pulse 22. It is a pulse that does. The operation of the electro-osmotic pump 110 can be stabilized through the stabilization pulse 23. Here, if the pulse block 20 of the volume-based injection sequence consists of a pair of current pulses, the pulse block 20 generates a stabilization pulse 23 that maintains a current of 0 A for a predetermined time after the application of the forward current pulse and the reverse current pulse. More may be included.

Based on the information of the pulse blocks 20 included in this amount-based injection sequence, the control unit 200 generates a control signal consisting of a voltage pulse or current pulse corresponding to the amount-based injection sequence to inject the drug injector 100. Authorize. The drug injector 100 that receives the control signal immediately performs an immediate injection mode through a volume-based injection sequence. When the drug injector 100 is operating in the basic injection mode by a preset rate-based injection sequence, the control unit 200 ) temporarily suspends the output of the control signal corresponding to the speed-based injection sequence and outputs the control signal corresponding to the amount-based injection sequence to the drug injector 100.

Thereafter, when the drug injector 100 completes the immediate injection mode, the control unit 200 outputs a control signal for the paused speed-based injection sequence back to the drug injector 100. Here, the control unit 200 omits the operation set in the speed-based injection sequence while the immediate injection mode is performed, and outputs a control signal for the speed-based injection sequence set at the time the operation of the immediate injection mode is completed.

Figure 6 is an exemplary diagram showing the signal structure for a basal injection sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the speed-based injection sequence includes at least one pulse block 20 defining a voltage pulse or current pulse to be applied to the electroosmotic pump 110, and 0V voltage or 0A current after application of the pulse block for a predetermined time. It includes at least one idle block 30 that continues.

And, the basic injection mode is one in which a plurality of rate-based injection sequences are sequentially arranged during a set drug injection period. In the basic injection mode, the drug injection period can be divided into a plurality of sequences according to the user's settings. Here, each segment contains information about the duration and the drug injection rate during the duration, and each segment repeats a rate-based injection sequence set for unit time to satisfy the drug injection rate during the duration. It is composed by arrangement. Here, the duration of each segment and the drug injection speed can be set by the user.

FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of a basic injection mode according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is an example diagram showing a signal structure for the basic injection mode shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of a basic injection mode shown in FIG. 8. This is an example diagram showing a signal structure in which a volume-based injection sequence is applied to the base injection mode.

Taking the basal infusion mode as an example with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the basal infusion mode shown in FIG. 7 is a state in which 24 hours are divided into a plurality of segments, and the duration and drug infusion rate are set in each segment. It is done. The drug injector 100 proceeds through each segment in the order shown in FIG. 8 to perform the basic injection mode. When the immediate injection mode is executed at time t1 while the drug injector 100 is performing the second segment, a dose-based injection sequence is placed in the middle of the second segment, as shown in FIG. 9, and the dose-based injection sequence is performed. Then, when the immediate injection mode ends at time t2, the control unit 200 transmits the speed-based injection sequence set at time t2 to the drug injector 100, and the drug injector 100 performs the basic injection mode again. Here, the portion from time t1 to time t2 of the rate-based injection sequence is omitted due to the volume-based injection sequence.

When the control signal corresponding to this volume-based injection sequence is applied to the electroosmotic pump 110, the electroosmotic pump 110 alternately generates negative pressure and positive pressure for each pulse block to inhale and discharge the drug. Here, the control signal may be a signal composed of a voltage pulse pair including a forward voltage pulse and a reverse voltage pulse or a current pulse pair including a forward current pulse and a reverse current pulse in units of pulse blocks 20.

Figure 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the electro-osmotic pump shown in Figure 2.

When the electro-osmotic pump 110 is described in detail with reference to FIG. 10, the electro-osmotic pump 110 includes a driving unit 111 and a chamber 112. The drive unit 111 is electrochemically driven by a control signal to generate positive and negative pressure, and discharges the drug according to the positive and negative pressure, and the chamber 112 stores the drug 120 according to the pressure of the drive unit 111. After inhaling the drug, the drug is discharged into the insertion part 130. Here, the drug is a drug that must be injected into a specific patient, for example, insulin injected into a diabetic patient.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the driving unit shown in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is an example diagram schematically showing the configuration of the driving unit shown in FIG. 11.

11 and 12, the driving unit 111 is described in detail by the electro-osmosis phenomenon that occurs when voltage or current is applied to both ends of a porous membrane (membrane, 111a) using electrodes. It is a pump that uses moving fluid. The driving unit 111 includes a membrane 111a, a power source 111d that applies voltage or current to the first electrode 111b and the second electrode 111c disposed on both sides of the membrane 111a, and a flow path for fluid movement. may include.

Additionally, the driver 111 may include a first diaphragm 111e disposed adjacent to the first electrode 111b and a second diaphragm 111f disposed adjacent to the second electrode 111c. Each diaphragm (111e, 111f) is provided on one side and the other side of the membrane (111a), and its shape is changed by the movement of the pumping solution as positive and negative pressures are alternately generated. Exemplarily, the first diaphragm 111e and the second diaphragm 111f transmit negative pressure and positive pressure generated by driving the membrane 111a to the fluid to be transferred. More specifically, when negative pressure is generated, at least a part of the first diaphragm 111e and the second diaphragm 111f moves backward (when moving in direction ①), so that the fluid to be transferred is sucked into the chamber 112, and vice versa. When positive pressure is generated, at least a portion of the first diaphragm 111e and the second diaphragm 111f are advanced (moved in direction ②), and the transfer target fluid is discharged from the chamber 112.

Silica, glass, etc. are generally used as materials for the porous film 111a, and when these are immersed in an aqueous solution, their surface becomes negatively charged. There are paths through which numerous fluids can pass through the porous membrane 111a. If you enlarge one of these, the surface of the fluid path with a negative charge (bound anion) is exposed to positive ions (mobile cation) with a movable (+) charge. This can result in a state where charge balance is achieved. In this state, when a positive voltage is applied to the first electrode 111b and a negative voltage is applied to the second electrode 111c, negative pressure is generated. This negative pressure causes the fluid inside the driving unit 111 to move in direction ①. is moved to At this time, the drug is inhaled through the suction passage 141 and flows into the chamber 112 through the suction valve 140. At this time, the discharge valve 150 is closed to prevent negative pressure from being transmitted to the discharge path 151. Conversely, when a (-) voltage is applied to the first electrode 111b and a (+) voltage is applied to the second electrode 111c, a positive pressure in the opposite direction is generated by a reversible electrochemical reaction. Due to this positive pressure, the fluid inside the driving unit 111 moves in direction ②. At this time, the drug stored in the chamber 112 flows into the subject through the discharge valve 150 and the discharge passage 151. At this time, the suction valve 140 is blocked to prevent positive pressure from being transmitted to the suction passage 141.

This phenomenon is called electro-osmosis, and a pump using this principle is the electro-osmosis pump (110).

The electrode used in the driving unit 111 is a porous electrode, such as platinum mesh (Pt mesh), porous carbon paper or fiber (carbon paper or carbon cloth), or a porous structure coated with various electrode materials to facilitate the movement of fluid. It can be provided in the form

In addition, the electrode used in the driving unit 111 can be applied to a non-permeable base material and coated with various fixable materials such as drop coating or spin coating. At this time, the non-permeable base material is a plate-shaped substrate containing at least one of a conductive material, a semiconductor material, and a non-conductive material, and the electrode material coated thereon is metal, metal oxide, conducting polymer, or metal. It may be composed of metal hexacyanoferrate, carbon nanostructure, or a composite thereof.

The driver 111 alternately supplies voltage or current polarity to each of the first electrode 111b and the second electrode 111c, thereby causing forward and reverse electrochemical reactions to occur reversibly. As electrochemical reactions in the forward and reverse directions occur repeatedly, the fluid inside the electroosmotic pump repeatedly performs a reciprocating motion. Additionally, fluid is repeatedly consumed and regenerated in the first electrode 111b and the second electrode 111c by repeated reversible electrochemical reactions in the forward and reverse directions. When the suction valve 140 and the discharge valve 150 are respectively coupled to the chamber 112 of the electro-osmotic pump 110, the drug in the drug storage unit 120 is inhaled through the suction passage 141 during the suction operation. and is stored in the chamber 112 through the intake valve 140. Then, during the discharge operation, the drug stored in the chamber 112 is discharged to the insertion unit 130 through the discharge valve 150 and the discharge passage 151.

Therefore, the pressure generated by the electroosmotic pump 110 and the volume of the drug discharged can be controlled by controlling the magnitude and application time of the voltage or current applied to the first and second electrodes 111b and 111c.

Figure 13 is an application example of a drug injection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 14 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the drug injection device shown in Figure 13, and Figure 15 is a drug injection device shown in Figure 13. This is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the injection device. The operation of the drug injection device 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15.

The drug injection device 10 receives predetermined information from the user and sets an amount-based injection sequence based on this. The process of setting the amount-based injection sequence can be divided according to the data used to set the amount-based injection sequence. there is. Next, the process of setting up a volume-based injection sequence is described.

Referring to FIG. 14, a process of setting a dose-based injection sequence by the drug injection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The drug injection device 10 may set a dose-based injection sequence using drug injection conditions. Here, the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount. The drug injection device 10 may further include a communication module 300 to receive drug injection conditions from the user terminal 40. Drug injection conditions are input from the user through the user terminal 40, which is connected to the drug injection device 10 through the communication module 300. Then, the control unit 200 sets a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition and transmits a corresponding control signal to the drug injector 100.

Here, the amount-based injection sequence is not set using drug injection conditions, but is directly selected by the user through the user terminal 40, or is calculated through an external computing device based on the user's past use history of the drug injection device. may be received.

The user terminal 40 may be implemented as a computer or a portable terminal capable of accessing the drug injection device 10 through wireless communication. Here, the computer includes, for example, a laptop, desktop, laptop, etc. equipped with a web browser, and the portable terminal is, for example, a wireless communication device that guarantees portability and mobility. , may include all types of handheld-based wireless communication devices such as various smartphones, tablet PCs, smart watches, etc. As such, the user terminal 40 is managed by the wearer of the drug injection device 10 or a medical professional, and drug injection conditions can be set through an application running on the user terminal 40.

Additionally, the drug injection device 10 may set a dose-based injection sequence using user input data. Here, the user input data includes the user's blood sugar or the user's meal information. User input data is received from the user through the user terminal 40, which is communicated with the drug injection device 10 and the communication module 300, and the control unit 200 calculates drug injection conditions based on the received user input data. do. Then, the control unit 200 sets a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition and transmits a control signal corresponding to the dose-based injection sequence to the drug injector 100.

Additionally, the drug injection device 10 may set a dose-based injection sequence using user biometric data. Here, the user biometric data includes the user's blood sugar information. User biometric data is received through an external measurement device 50 that is communicated with the drug injection device 10 and the communication module 300, and the control unit 200 sets drug injection conditions based on the received user biometric data. Calculate Then, a quantity-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition is set and a control signal corresponding to the quantity-based injection sequence is transmitted to the drug injector 100. Here, the external measuring device 50 may be a device that senses the user's blood sugar level.

Next, referring to FIG. 15, a process in which the drug injection device sets a dose-based injection sequence will be described.

The drug injection device 10 may set a dose-based injection sequence using drug injection conditions. The drug injection device 10 may further include a user input/output interface module 400, and receive drug injection conditions from the user using the user input/output interface module 400. In an embodiment in which the drug injection device 10 includes the user input/output interface module 400, the user inputs drug injection conditions, etc. directly into the user input/output interface module 400 without using a separate user terminal 40. Thus, the operation of the drug injection device 10 can be controlled. In this case, the communication module 300 may be selectively excluded.

The control unit 200 sets a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition input through the user input/output interface module 400 and transmits a control signal corresponding thereto to the drug injector 100. Here, the amount-based injection sequence is not set using drug injection conditions, but may be directly selected by the user through the user input/output interface module 400.

The user input/output interface module 400 includes a physical input/output button coupled to an external housing containing the drug injection device 10, and a signal processing circuit that transmits a signal generated according to manipulation of the physical input/output button to the control unit 200. can do.

Alternatively, the user input/output interface module 400 may output a UI that guides the user to input information about drug injection conditions or amount-based injection sequences through a touch screen display.

Additionally, in the process of setting the amount-based injection sequence described above, the control unit 200 may refer to a table storing a plurality of amount-based injection sequences for each drug injection condition and set the amount-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition. there is.

Figure 16 is a flowchart for explaining a drug injection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When describing the drug injection method (S100) according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 16, the drug injection method (S100) involves operating the drug injection device 10 in an immediate injection mode. A base injection sequence is set (step S110), and a control signal corresponding to the amount-based injection sequence is applied to the electroosmotic pump 110 (step S120). Thereafter, in response to the control signal, the electroosmotic pump 110 alternately generates negative and positive pressure for each pulse block to inhale and discharge the drug, thereby proceeding with the process of injecting the drug into the user (step S130). Here, the volume-based injection sequence includes at least one pulse block defining a voltage pulse or current pulse to be applied to the electroosmotic pump 110, and each pulse block is applied to the electroosmotic pump 110 to produce negative pressure and positive pressure. It defines a pair of pulse signals including forward pulses and reverse pulses generated alternately.

Next, each step will be described in detail.

In the process of setting the amount-based injection sequence (step S110), the drug injection device 10 can set the amount-based injection sequence using the drug injection condition, and can have various embodiments depending on the case where the drug injection condition is input. there is. Here, the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount.

The drug injection device 10 may receive drug injection conditions from the user through the user terminal 40, which is connected to the drug injection device 10 through the communication module 300. Then, the control unit 200 sets a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition and transmits a control signal corresponding thereto to the drug injector 100. Here, the amount-based injection sequence is not set using drug injection conditions, but may be directly selected by the user through the user terminal 40.

In addition, the drug injection device 10 can receive drug injection conditions from the user using the user input/output interface module 400, and the control unit 200 sets an amount-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection conditions and sends a control signal. is transmitted to the drug injector 100. Here, the amount-based injection sequence is not set using drug injection conditions, but may be directly selected by the user through the user input/output interface module 400.

Additionally, the drug injection device 10 may set a dose-based injection sequence using user input data. Here, the user input data includes the user's blood sugar or the user's meal information. User input data is received from the user through the user terminal 40, which is communicated with the drug injection device 10 and the communication module 300, and the control unit 200 calculates drug injection conditions based on the received user input data. do. Then, a quantity-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition is set and a control signal corresponding to the quantity-based injection sequence is transmitted to the drug injector 100.

Additionally, the drug injection device 10 may set a dose-based injection sequence using user biometric data. Here, the user biometric data includes the user's blood sugar information. User biometric data is received through an external measuring device 50 that is connected to the drug injection device 10 through communication module 300, and the control unit 200 sets drug injection conditions based on the received user biometric data. Calculate Then, a quantity-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition is set and a control signal corresponding to the quantity-based injection sequence is transmitted to the drug injector 100. Here, the external measuring device 50 may be a device that senses the user's blood sugar level.

Meanwhile, in the process of setting the amount-based injection sequence, the controller 200 may refer to a table storing a plurality of amount-based injection sequences for each drug injection condition and set the amount-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition.

Figure 17 is a flowchart for explaining the process of applying the control signal shown in Figure 16 to the electro-osmotic pump.

Referring to FIG. 17, the process of applying a control signal to the electro-osmotic pump (step S120) is when the drug injector 100 is operating in the base injection mode by a preset speed-based injection sequence, the control unit 200 performs the speed-based injection sequence. The output of the control signal corresponding to the injection sequence is temporarily suspended (step S121), and the control signal corresponding to the amount-based injection sequence is output to the drug injector 100 (step S122).

The control signal corresponding to the volume-based injection sequence may include a pair of voltage pulses including a forward voltage pulse and a reverse voltage pulse or a pair of current pulses including a forward current pulse and a reverse current pulse on a pulse block basis, and such control signal Through this, the electroosmotic pump alternately generates negative and positive pressure for each pulse block to perform the operation of suctioning and discharging the drug, thereby allowing the drug to be injected into the user in an immediate injection mode (step S130).

Thereafter, when the immediate injection mode is completed, the control unit 200 outputs a control signal for the paused speed-based injection sequence back to the drug injector 100. Here, the control unit 200 omits the operation set in the speed-based injection sequence while the immediate injection mode is performed, and outputs a control signal for the speed-based injection sequence set at the time the operation of the immediate injection mode is completed.

The method according to an embodiment of the present invention may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium containing instructions that can be executed by a computer, such as a program module executed by a computer. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media. Additionally, computer-readable media may include computer storage media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.

Additionally, although the methods and systems of the present invention have been described with respect to specific embodiments, some or all of their components or operations may be implemented using a computer system having a general-purpose hardware architecture.

Those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains will be able to understand that the present invention can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present invention based on the above description. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the patent claims described below, and all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

The scope of the present application is indicated by the claims described below rather than the detailed description above, and all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be construed as being included in the scope of the present application.

10: Drug injection device
100: Drug injector
200: control unit
300: Communication module
400: User input/output interface module

Claims (27)

In the drug injection device,
A drug injector that electrochemically drives an electroosmotic pump to inhale drugs from a drug reservoir and discharges the inhaled drugs to the injection target; and
It includes a control unit that outputs a control signal corresponding to a dose-based injection sequence that immediately drives the electroosmotic pump into the injection mode to the drug injector,
The volume-based injection sequence is:
It includes at least one pulse block defining a voltage pulse or current pulse to be applied to the electroosmotic pump,
Each of the pulse blocks defines a pair of pulse signals including a forward pulse and a reverse pulse that are applied to the electroosmotic pump and generate alternating negative pressure and positive pressure,
The electro-osmotic pump is a drug injection device that alternately generates negative pressure and positive pressure for each pulse block to inhale and discharge the drug. According to paragraph 1,
The volume-based injection sequence is:
M pulse blocks (M is a natural number less than or equal to N) selected from N pulse blocks (N is a natural number) supplying different amounts of drug are arranged, and the pulse blocks that satisfy the target drug injection amount are arranged. A drug injection device in which the largest pulse blocks are placed preferentially. According to paragraph 1,
The volume-based injection sequence is:
A drug injection device comprising a plurality of pulse blocks, wherein each pulse block is arranged sequentially. According to paragraph 1,
The forward pulse and reverse pulse included in the pair of pulse signals are set to the same size and duration, so that the amount of drug inhaled and discharged by the electroosmotic pump is the same, drug injection. Device. According to paragraph 1,
The pair of pulse signals is,
It consists of a pair of voltage pulses including a forward voltage pulse and a reverse voltage pulse, and includes a stabilization pulse that maintains a voltage of 0V for a predetermined time after application of the forward voltage pulse and the reverse voltage pulse, or
A drug injection device comprising a pair of current pulses including a forward current pulse and a reverse current pulse, and including a stabilizing pulse that maintains a current of 0 A for a predetermined period of time after application of the forward current pulse and the reverse current pulse. According to paragraph 1,
The control unit,
When the drug injector is operating in a basic injection mode by a preset rate-based injection sequence, temporarily suspend output of the control signal corresponding to the rate-based injection sequence and output the control signal corresponding to the volume-based injection sequence; ,
The rate-based injection sequence is:
Drug injection, which includes at least one pulse block defining a voltage pulse or current pulse to be applied to the electroosmotic pump and at least one rest block maintaining 0V voltage or 0A current for a predetermined time after application of the pulse block. Device. According to clause 6,
The control unit,
When the operation of the immediate injection mode according to the amount-based injection sequence is completed, the control signal for the paused rate-based injection sequence is subsequently output. According to clause 6,
The control unit,
When the operation of the immediate injection mode according to the volume-based injection sequence is completed, the control signal for the paused rate-based injection sequence is subsequently output,
A drug injection device, wherein the operation according to the scheduled rate-based injection sequence is omitted during the paused period, and the operation according to the scheduled rate-based injection sequence is performed at the time when the operation of the immediate injection mode is completed. According to paragraph 1,
The electroosmotic pump is,
a driving unit that is electrochemically driven by the control signal to alternately generate positive and negative pressure; and
A drug injection device comprising a chamber that inhales drug from the drug source and then discharges the drug to the insertion portion according to the pressure of the driving unit. According to paragraph 1,
The drug injection device,
Receiving drug injection conditions from a user terminal or user input/output interface module,
The control unit,
The control signal is output using a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection conditions,
A drug injection device wherein the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount. According to clause 8,
The drug injection device,
Receive user input data from the user terminal,
The control unit,
Calculating drug injection conditions based on the user input data and outputting the control signal using an amount-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection conditions,
The user input data includes the user's blood sugar, user activity information, or user's meal information,
A drug injection device wherein the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount. According to paragraph 1,
The drug injection device,
Receive user biometric data from an external measurement device,
The control unit,
Calculating drug injection conditions based on the user biometric data, and outputting the control signal using a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection conditions,
The user biometric data includes the user's blood sugar information or user activity information,
A drug injection device wherein the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount. According to any one of claims 8 to 10,
The control unit,
A drug injection device for setting a quantity-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition by referring to a table storing a plurality of quantity-based injection sequences for each drug injection condition. According to paragraph 1,
The drug injection device,
receive a dose-based injection sequence set by a user terminal or user input/output interface module;
The control unit,
A drug injection device that outputs the control signal using the amount-based injection sequence. According to paragraph 1,
The amount-based injection sequence is calculated and received through an external computing device based on the user's past use history of the drug injection device. In a method of injecting a drug using a drug injection device including an electroosmotic pump,
Setting up a dose-based injection sequence to operate the drug injection device in an immediate injection mode;
Applying a control signal corresponding to the amount-based injection sequence to the electro-osmotic pump; and
In response to the control signal, the electro-osmotic pump alternately generates negative pressure and positive pressure for each pulse block to inhale and discharge the drug,
The volume-based injection sequence is:
It includes at least one pulse block defining a voltage pulse or current pulse to be applied to the electroosmotic pump,
Each of the pulse blocks defines a pair of pulse signals including a forward pulse and a reverse pulse applied to the electroosmotic pump to alternately generate negative pressure and positive pressure. According to clause 16,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
M pulse blocks (M is a natural number less than or equal to N) selected from among N pulse blocks (N is a natural number) that supply different amounts of drug are arranged, and the maximum amount that satisfies the target drug injection amount is placed. A drug injection method of a drug injection device, which involves preferentially arranging pulse blocks. According to clause 16,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
By adjusting the size and duration of the pair of voltage pulse signals or the size and duration of the pair of current signals, the drug inhaled and the drug discharged by the pair of voltage pulse signals or the pair of current pulse signals are adjusted. A drug injection method of a drug injection device, wherein the amount-based injection sequence is set so that the amounts are the same. According to clause 16,
The pair of pulse signals is,
It consists of a pair of voltage pulses including a forward voltage pulse and a reverse voltage pulse, and includes a stabilization pulse that maintains a voltage of 0V for a predetermined time after application of the forward voltage pulse and the reverse voltage pulse, or
Drug injection of a drug injection device, which consists of a pair of current pulses including a forward current pulse and a reverse current pulse, and includes a stabilizing pulse that maintains a current of 0 A for a predetermined time after application of the forward current pulse and the reverse current pulse. method. According to clause 16,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
The drug injection device sets a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition received from the user terminal or user input/output interface module,
A drug injection method using a drug injection device, wherein the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount. According to clause 16,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
The drug injection device calculates the drug injection conditions based on user input data received from the user terminal and sets a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection conditions,
The user input data includes the user's blood sugar and user activity information,
A drug injection method using a drug injection device, wherein the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount. According to clause 16,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
The drug injection device calculates the drug injection conditions based on user biometric data received from an external measurement device and sets a dose-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection conditions,
The user biometric data includes the user's blood sugar information or user activity information,
A drug injection method using a drug injection device, wherein the drug injection conditions include the drug injection amount. According to any one of claims 20 to 22,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
A drug injection method of a drug injection device, wherein an amount-based injection sequence corresponding to the drug injection condition is set by referring to a table storing a plurality of amount-based injection sequences for each drug injection condition. According to clause 16,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
A drug injection method of a drug injection device, wherein an amount-based injection sequence set by a user terminal or a user input/output interface module is received and set as the amount-based injection sequence. According to clause 16,
The step of setting the amount-based injection sequence is,
A drug injection method of a drug injection device, wherein an amount-based injection sequence calculated based on the user's past use history of the drug injection device is received through an external computing device and set as the amount-based injection sequence. According to clause 16,
The step of applying the control signal to the electro-osmotic pump,
When the drug injector is operating in basal injection mode by a preset rate-based injection sequence,
temporarily suspending output of a control signal corresponding to the rate-based injection sequence; and
comprising outputting the control signal corresponding to the amount-based injection sequence,
The rate-based injection sequence is:
Drug injection, which includes at least one pulse block defining a voltage pulse or current pulse to be applied to the electroosmotic pump and at least one rest block maintaining 0V voltage or 0A current for a predetermined time after application of the pulse block. Method of drug injection in the device. According to clause 26,
When the immediate injection mode according to the amount-based injection sequence is completed, the step of subsequently outputting the control signal for the paused rate-based injection sequence.

Images