Lock out member with different cross sections

Abstract

An apparatus is presented comprising a lock out member configured to be implemented into a medical device, in particular a dispense interface, attachable to a second medical device, in particular a main body, wherein said lock out member is configured to prevent a second attachment of said medical device to said second medical device, wherein said lock out member has at least a first area with a first cross-sectional area, wherein said lock out member has at least a second area having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, such that an electric resistance is defined between opposite ends of the lockout member and wherein said lock out member, at least in the second area, is made of a conductive material.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a lock out member configured to be implemented into a medical device, the proximal end of the medical device attachable to the distal end of a second medical device,   wherein said lock out member has at least one first area with a first cross-sectional area and   wherein said lock out member has at least one second area having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, such that an electric resistance is defined between opposite ends of the lockout member, and   wherein said lock out member, at least in the at least one second area, is made of a conductive material, and wherein each of the at least one second area comprises one or more cut-outs or perforations.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises means configured to be conductively attached to a device, capable of measuring the resistance of at least said second area of said lock out spring. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second medical device refers to a main body. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical device refers to a dispense interface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second cross-sectional area is at most 30% of said first-cross sectional area. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said second cross-sectional area is 20% of said first-cross sectional area. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said second cross-sectional area is 10% of said first-cross sectional area. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lock out spring is substantially made of metal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said conductive material comprises a Negative Temperature Coefficient Thermistor or a Positive Temperature Coefficient Thermistor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lock out spring is configured to be implemented into said medical device by form fit, force fit and/or material bonding. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lock out spring is configured to be implemented close to at least one cartridge containing a liquid of said medical device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lock out spring is configured to be implemented in contact with at least one cartridge containing a liquid of said medical device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said lock out spring is configured to be implemented into a dispense interface. 
     
     
         14 . A method for connecting an apparatus for drug delivery comprising the steps of
 measuring the electric resistance of at least a second area of a lock out spring of an apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , and   determining said electric resistance of at least said second area of said lock out spring.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein a temperature is determined based at least in part on the determined resistance. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the resistance is measured using a direct or indirect method. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the resistance is measured before a medical device, to which an element is attached, is used. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a user is informed or the use of said medical device is prohibited, if the measured temperature is and/or was outside of a predefined interval. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the determined resistance is used to identify the lock out spring.