Position determination device and system for determining and registering an injection location

Abstract

The present invention relates to a position determination device (100) (and system) for determining and registering an injection location of a liquid drug administered on a body part of a user, wherein the position determination device (100) (and system) comprises a position determination element (110) configured to provide a position signal representing a current location of the position determination device (100), and one or more processing units (150) configured to derive data representing an actual injection location based on the user in response to a current location being determined by the position determination unit (110).

1 . A position determination device for determining and registering an injection location of a liquid drug administered on a body part of a user, wherein the position determination device comprises
 a position determination element configured to provide a position signal representing a current location of the position determination device, and   one or more processing units configured to derive data representing an actual injection location on the user in response to a current location being determined by the position determination unit.   
     
     
         2 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processing units are configured to derive the data representing an actual injection location on the user in response to a current location being determined by the position determination unit in response to the user administering the liquid drug using a liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         3 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the position determination device is further configured to be secured to a liquid drug administration device.   
     
     
         4 . The position determination device according to  claim 3 , wherein the position determination device has a generally hollow cylindrical shape with an opening or cut-out configured to receive at least a part of the liquid drug administration device when being secured to this. 
     
     
         5 . The position determination device according to  claim 3 , wherein the position determination device comprises a locking or attachment mechanism configured to releasably engage with a mating or corresponding locking or attachment mechanism of the liquid drug administration device thereby attaching the position determination device at a predetermined location on and/or predetermined orientation in relation to the liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         6 . The position determination device according to  claim 5 , wherein the locking or attachment mechanism corresponds to a locking or attachment mechanism of a cap of the liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         7 . The position determination device according to  claim 5 , wherein the locking or attachment mechanism is further configured to releasably engage with a mating or corresponding locking or attachment mechanism of a cap of the liquid drug administration device thereby enabling the cap to be attached to the position determination device. 
     
     
         8 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device comprises a main body or housing and a first separable and interchangeable part, wherein the first separable and interchangeable part is selected from a set of a plurality of separable and interchangeable parts, where each separable and interchangeable part of the set is configured to receive, attach with, and/or accommodate a different liquid drug administration device, where
 the main body or housing and the first separable and interchangeable part, when joined or attached together, are configured to receive and/or accommodate a first liquid drug administration device, or   the first separable and interchangeable part is configured to connect with the first liquid drug administration device and to connect with the main body or housing.   
     
     
         9 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the position determination device further comprises a wireless communications unit configured to automatically transmit the position signal or the derived data representing an actual injection location to a separate electric device.   
     
     
         10 . The position determination device according to  claim 2 , wherein the position determination device is configured to
 derive the data representing an actual injection location on the user in response to a current location being determined by the position determination unit in response an actual action of the user activating the liquid drug administration device to administer the liquid drug.   
     
     
         11 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein a mechanical or remote sensor is attached directly to, or attached in connection with, an activation button or element of the liquid drug administration device where the mechanical or remote sensor is configured to detect movement or activation of the activation button or element of the liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         12 . The position determination device according to  claim 9 , wherein the position determination device further comprises
 a sound sensor configured to register one or more distinct sounds caused by the liquid drug administration device when operated by a user to release or administer a drug dosage as an actual action of the user and wherein the position determination device is configured to trigger deriving the data representing an actual injection location in response to registering and identifying the one or more distinct sounds, and/or   a vibration sensor configured to register one or more distinct vibrations caused by a user operating the liquid drug administration device to release a drug dosage as an actual action of the user and wherein the position determination device is configured to trigger deriving the data representing an actual injection location in response to registering and identifying the one or more distinct vibrations.   
     
     
         13 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device further comprises
 a memory and/or storage comprising data representing at least one previous injection location,   at least one indicator element, configured to signal to the user
 that a current location of the position determination device, as determined by the position determination element, is at a location where it is acceptable and/or advisable to perform an injection taking into account at least the data representing at least one previous injection location, and/or 
 that a current location of the position determination device, as determined by the position determination element, is at a location where it is not acceptable and/or not advisable to perform an injection taking into account at least the data representing at least one previous injection location. 
   
     
     
         14 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination element comprises at least one gyroscope and/or at least one accelerometer configured to provide the position signal representing a current location of the position determination device. 
     
     
         15 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination element comprises
 at least one magnetometer or magnetism measuring element configured to provide the position signal representing a current location of the position determination device by measuring a relative drop in signal strengths along respective axes of the magnetometer or magnetism measuring element in relation to a permanent or electromagnet source that is kept stationary at least during determination of the injection location,   at least one sound transceiver configured to provide the position signal representing a current location of the position determination device by emitting a predetermined sound signal that is reflected by a sound reflecting source, that is kept stationary at least during determination of the injection location, and measuring a period of time from emitting the predetermined sound signal until the reflected signal is received by the at least one sound transceiver,   at least one sound sensor configured to provide the position signal representing a current location of the position determination device by measuring a sound level of a predetermined sound signal emitted by a sound emitting source that is kept stationary at least during determination of the injection location,   at least one light sensor configured to provide the position signal representing a current location of the position determination device by measuring an angle of a predetermined light signal being emitting by a light source and reflected by a reflector having a material with predetermined reflective properties, the light source being configured to pivot in different directions, where the at least one light sensor, the light source, and the reflector are kept stationary at least during determination of the injection location, and/or   at least one radio signal sensor configured to provide the position signal representing a current location of the position determination device by measuring a signal strength of a predetermined radio signal emitted by a radio signal source, that is kept stationary at least during determination of the injection location, or by measuring a period of time from emitting a predetermined radio signal by a radio signal source, that is kept stationary at least during determination of the injection location, until the emitted radio signal is received by the at least one radio signal sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The position determination device according to  claim 15 , wherein the permanent or electromagnet source, the sound reflecting source, the sound emitting source, the light source, the reflector, and/or the radio signal source is located in a cap of a liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         17 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device is further configured to register an actual amount of administered liquid drug and/or a time-stamp when or in connection with deriving data representing an actual injection location. 
     
     
         18 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device further comprises an image sensor or other sensor element configured to detect an amount of liquid drug being administered by the liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         19 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device further comprises
 a sound sensor configured to register one or more distinct sounds caused by a user operating the liquid drug administration device to increase and/or decrease a drug dosage as one or more actual actions of the user and wherein the position determination device is configured to derive an amount of liquid drug being administered by the liquid drug administration device in response to registering and identifying the one or more distinct sounds, and/or   a vibration sensor configured to register one or more distinct vibrations caused by a user operating the liquid drug administration device to increase and/or decrease a drug dosage as one or more actual actions of the user and wherein the position determination device is configured to detect an amount of liquid drug being administered by the liquid drug administration device in response to registering and identifying the one or more distinct vibrations.   
     
     
         20 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device is further configured to
 register a starting position in response to the user moving the position determination device to a pre-determined starting position,   register a location of an anchor position in response to the position determination unit determining the movement from the starting position to the anchor position,   register a location of the actual injection location in response to the position determination unit determining the movement from the anchor position to the injection location.   
     
     
         21 . The position determination device according to  claim 20 , wherein the position determination device is further configured to
 recommend the anchor position and/or recommend the location of the actual injection location in response to stored and/or received data representing a rotation schema taking into account data representing one or more previously registered actual injection locations.   
     
     
         22 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device is further configured to
 register a starting position when the user has moved the position determination device to a starting position,   if used, register a region in connection with the starting position defining a region suitable for receiving injections,   register one or more anchor points, by determining their relative position in relation to the starting position, and for each anchor point registering a region defining a region associated with the given anchor point being suitable for receiving injections.   
     
     
         23 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid drug is one selected from the group consisting of: insulin, a drug for multiple sclerosis therapy with interferons and immune suppressives, a drug for hormone therapy, a drug for growth hormone therapy, and a drug for hormone/anti-hormone follow-up treatment to breast or prostate cancer. 
     
     
         24 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device is integrated with a liquid drug administration device and wherein the derived data or position signal representing an actual injection location is transferred to at least another electric element of the liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         25 . The position determination device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position determination device is for determining and registering an injection location of self-administered liquid drug administration on a user, or the position determination device is for determining and registering an injection location of administered liquid drug administration on a user administered by a medical professional. 
     
     
         26 . A position determination system for determining and registering an injection location of a liquid drug administered on a body part of a user, wherein the position determination system comprises
 a position determination element configured to provide a position signal representing a current location of the position determination device, and   one or more processing units configured to derive data representing an actual injection location on the user in response to a current location being determined by the position determination unit.   
     
     
         27 . The position determination system according to  26 , wherein the position determination system further comprises a liquid drug administration device and wherein the one or more processing units are configured to derive the data representing an actual injection location based on a current location determined by the position determination unit in response to the user administering the liquid drug using the liquid drug administration device. 
     
     
         28 . Use of the position determination device according to  claim 1  to register one or more locations of actual injection locations. 
     
     
         29 . Use of the position determination system according to  claim 26 , to register one or more locations of actual injection locations.