Optical reader for syringe

Abstract

The present invention relates to a syringe ( 1 ) for use in spectroscopy to identify drugs within the syringe ( 8 ). The syringe comprises a optical window section ( 8 ) either integral with or attached to the syringe ( 1 ). The optical window section ( 8 ) has predetermined physical and optical properties that allows radiation to pass through in a known manner to facilitate spectroscopy.

1 . A liquid delivery device adapted to deliver a liquid drug to a patient or animal comprising:
 a reservoir adapted to contain liquid drug to be delivered, the reservoir having an outlet through which liquid drug may be dispensed,   a liquid dispenser with a longitudinal axis which causes movement of the liquid drug from the reservoir to and out of the outlet, the liquid dispenser comprising optically readable markings disposed at a plurality of positions along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis,   an optical reader comprising at least two optical detectors arranged to detect the optically readable markings, the detectors being positioned at a separation relative to the separation of the optically readable markings to provide output signals, upon detecting the optically readable markings, that indicate detection of a marking and from which direction of movement of the liquid dispenser can be determined, and   a processor coupled to receive the output signals and generate position data indicating a position of the liquid dispenser relative to the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the processor generates quantity data indicating a quantity of liquid drug in the reservoir from the position data. 
     
     
         3 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the optically readable markings comprise a plurality of indicia positioned in a sequence along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the liquid dispenser, and wherein the processor generates the position data by counting the number of indicia detected by the optical detector as the liquid dispenser is moved relative to the optical detector. 
     
     
         4 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 3  wherein the position data is indicative of the quantity of liquid within the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 3  wherein the optical reader comprises a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the quantity data or position data to a system. 
     
     
         6 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 3  wherein the optical reader is detachable from the liquid delivery device. 
     
     
         7 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 3  wherein the optical reader further comprises an energy storage device coupled to an inductive device, the inductive device adapted to inductively couple to an inductive recharging device to receive energy for recharging the energy storage device. 
     
     
         8 . An optical reader adapted to couple to a liquid delivery device and generate position data indicative of the position of a liquid delivery means of the liquid delivery device, the optical reader comprising:
 a coupling for attachment to a liquid delivery device,   at least two optical detectors arranged to detect optically readable markings on a liquid delivery device, the detectors being positioned at a separation relative to the separation of the optically readable markings to provide output signals, upon detecting the optically readable markings, that indicate detection of a marking and from which direction of movement of a liquid dispenser can be determined, and a processor coupled to receive the output signals and generate position data indicating a position of the liquid dispenser relative to the reservoir.   
     
     
         9 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the processor generates quantity data indicating a quantity of the liquid drug in the reservoir from the position data. 
     
     
         10 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the optically readable markings comprise a plurality of indicia positioned in a sequence along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the liquid dispenser, and wherein the processor can generate the position data by counting the number of indicia detected by the optical detector as the liquid dispenser is moved relative to the optical detector. 
     
     
         11 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the position data is indicative of a quantity of liquid within the reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . An optical reader according to  claim 10  further comprising a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the quantity data or position data to a system. 
     
     
         13 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the optical reader further comprises an energy storage device coupled to an inductive device, the inductive device adapted to inductively couple to an inductive recharging device to receive energy for recharging the energy storage device. 
     
     
         14 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the optically readable markings comprise a plurality of indicia positioned substantially uniformly such that the distance between each indicia is greater than the distance between the two optical detectors, and the indicia have a spacing and thickness such that the relative separation of the detectors to the separation of the optically readable markings is such that at one time, at most only one optical detector can detect an indicia at that time. 
     
     
         15 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the optically readable markings comprise a plurality of indicia positioned substantially uniformly such that the distance between each indicia is greater than the distance between the two optical detectors, and the indicia have a spacing and thickness such that the relative separation of the detectors to the separation of the optically readable markings is such that at one time, at most only one optical detector can detect an indicia edge at that time. 
     
     
         16 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the output signals are quadrature encoding signals. 
     
     
         17 . A liquid delivery device according to  claim 1  wherein the processor generates the position data from the detection of the markings and the direction of movement of the liquid dispenser. 
     
     
         18 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the optically readable markings comprise a plurality of indicia positioned substantially uniformly, and the distance between the two optical detectors is less than the distance between each indicia, and the indicia have a spacing and thickness such that the relative separation of the detectors to the separation of the optically readable markings is such that at one time, at most only one optical detector can detect an indicia at that time. 
     
     
         19 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the optically readable markings comprise a plurality of indicia positioned substantially uniformly, and the distance between the two optical detectors is less than the distance between each indicia, and the indicia have a spacing and thickness is such that at one time, at most only one optical detector can detect an indicia edge at that time. 
     
     
         20 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the output signals are quadrature encoding signals. 
     
     
         21 . An optical reader according to  claim 9  wherein the processor generates the position data from the detection of the markings and the direction of movement of the liquid dispenser.