Self-contained medication injection system and method

Abstract

A self-contained system for medication injection is activated by the user, who is able to distribute the medication through the self-contained needle system for intradermal or intramuscular application of the medication. The self-contained system may be a medication delivery pen having a pen body assembly comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a needle array containing a plurality of needles disposed within the pen body assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medication delivery pen comprising:
 a proximal end;   a single use, disposable elongated pen body assembly comprising a distal end,   a needle the needle being an elongated body having a proximal needle spike at one end and an opposite end and fully contained within the pen body assembly before and after use during an injection;   a cartridge having a reservoir of medicine, the cartridge being fully contained within the pen body assembly; and   an actuator on the pen body for initiating the injection, whereby the actuator is adapted to cause movement of the needle together whereby the opposite end of the needle is inserted into the cartridge and the proximal needle spike extends out of the pen body; and   wherein a fluid within the reservoir of medicine travels directly through the needle from the reservoir through the opposite end of the needle and exits through the proximal needle spike when delivering medicine through the medication delivery pen;   further comprising a short range transceiver operatively connected to the elongated pen body assembly; and   an intelligent control and a display, wherein the display is positioned on the pen body assembly and electrically connected to the intelligent control.   
     
     
         2 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 1  wherein the pen body assembly further comprises a dose setting for setting a desired dose of medication to be dispensed from the pen body. 
     
     
         3 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 2  wherein the dose setting comprises a dose setting knob. 
     
     
         4 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 1  further comprising an actuator button operatively connected to the actuator for activating the actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 1  wherein the short range transceiver and intelligent control and display are integral with and disposable with the elongated pen body. 
     
     
         6 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 1  wherein the needle is a single needle and moveable relative to the pen body. 
     
     
         7 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 1  including an on-board electrical power source for the actuator, short range transceiver and intelligent control and display. 
     
     
         8 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 1  further comprising at least one sensor operatively connected to the pen body assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 8  wherein the at least one sensor comprises a depth sensor relative to the epidermis for the proximal spike of the needle when actuated outside the pen body. 
     
     
         10 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 9  wherein the intelligent control includes a component to determine depth of injection attained with the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . A method for delivery of medication, comprising:
 providing a self-contained, single-use, disposable medication injection system containing a needle and adapted for providing a pre-selected dosage of medication and actuating the extension of a needle spike from the system for penetration of an epidermis; and   reporting information about delivery of medication using the self-contained injection system.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of reporting is reporting on a display of the self-contained medication injection system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of reporting is wirelessly reporting to a receptor device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising sensing depth of dermis penetration of the actuated needle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising determining depth of injection attained. 
     
     
         16 . A medication delivery pen, comprising:
 a pen body assembly comprising a distal end and a proximal end;   a reservoir of medication disposed within the pen body;   a needle operatively connected to the pen body assembly for delivering the medication to a user;   at least one sensor on the pen body assembly;   an intelligent controller operatively connected to the at least one sensor and disposed within the pen body assembly for reporting information associated with use of the medication delivery pen.   
     
     
         17 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 16  wherein the pen body assembly is single use and disposable. 
     
     
         18 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 16  wherein the pen body assembly comprises plural interchangeable needles. 
     
     
         19 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 16  wherein the at least one sensor comprises a depth sensor for the needle. 
     
     
         20 . The medication delivery pen of  claim 19  wherein the depth sensor communicates with the intelligent controller sensed depth and the intelligent controller determines and stores or displays depth of injection obtained.