{
  "patent_number": "US 12734289",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Smart Sensors for Efficient Drug Delivery Devices",
  "original_title": "Drug delivery device drive sensor",
  "summary": "This patent describes how drug delivery devices, like wearable pumps, can save battery power by using sensors to precisely control when their internal motor pushes medicine.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes techniques for managing the force applied by a motor, called a 'drive mechanism', in a drug delivery device. Based on the abstract, the system uses one or more driving arms to push a 'ratchet wheel'. 'Sensor contacts' are positioned to detect when a driving arm has completed its action on the ratchet wheel. This allows the device to stop the motor precisely, preventing it from running longer than needed and saving electrical power. For example, in a wearable insulin pump, this technique could extend battery life by ensuring the motor only activates exactly when required to dispense a dose, rather than running for an arbitrary, potentially longer, duration.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover drug delivery devices that use a continuous motor without a ratcheting mechanism.",
    "Does not cover devices where force application is determined by measuring drug flow directly, rather than sensing the drive mechanism's position.",
    "Does not cover drug delivery where the power saving is achieved through chemical means or passive diffusion, rather than controlling an electrical drive mechanism.",
    "Does not cover drug delivery devices that rely on manual activation or purely pneumatic/hydraulic systems without an electrical drive.",
    "Does not cover drive mechanisms that do not employ distinct driving arms and ratchet wheels, as described in the abstract."
  ],
  "filed": "2023-12-18",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "medical_devices",
    "telecommunications",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "Disclosed are techniques for managing the application of a force by a drive mechanism in a drug delivery device as well as devices for implementing the disclosed techniques. One or more driving arms may be operable to drive a respective ratchet wheel and one or more sensor contacts may be positioned to determine when a respective driving arm is to be controlled to no longer drive the respective ratchet wheel thereby saving electrical power. The disclosed techniques and devices may be incorporated in a drug delivery device, such as those carried by a person or affixed to the skin of a person.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734289/drug-delivery-device-drive-sensor",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734289/drug-delivery-device-drive-sensor/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734289",
  "relatedPatents": []
}