D-Flex Ecosystem 2019-2021

Designers: Innovation, Haselmeier AG., Zurich, Switzerland and Common Sensing Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Manufacturer: Haselmeier GmbH with Common Sensing Inc., Buchen, Germany

Haselmeier is a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative self-injection devices featuring proprietary designs, technology, and intellectual property. With over four decades of medical device experience, Haselmeier has built up a world-class Design and Development Team – working in compliance with regulatory requirements – for the creation, design, and industrialization of our innovative self-injection systems used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide.

Headquartered in Switzerland, the Haselmeier Group employs approximately 250 team members worldwide and has a presence in Europe, the United States, and India. Products are manufactured at state-of-the-art manufacturing sites located in Buchen (Odenwald) / Germany, Dnešice / Czech Republic, and Bengaluru / India.

Haselmeier wanted to create a high-quality injection pen device following a human-centred design approach. Therefore, considerable effort was dedicated to usability and beneficial features supporting device usage to decrease unintended misuse in order to make a patient's life safe and easy.

Haselmeier's D-Flex CONNECT ecosystem comprises the disposable D-Flex pen and a connected cap that enables Bluetooth data collection and transmission as well as data management to develop health management applications. The D-Flex pen (GOOD DESIGN® Award 2016) is based on a patented technology of Haselmeier. The connected cap has been co-developed with Common Sensing, Inc. and is based on the patented technology of Common Sensing. Using integrated optical sensors in the connected cap, this connected solution provides valuable feedback, not only confirming that the patient has taken the medication but also indicating the precise amount administered each time. This information on the time, dose, and other therapy-relevant data of each subcutaneous application is automatically documented, giving a clear picture of the patient's current therapy status.

Connectivity via smartphone app means patients receive a reminder if they forget to take a dose. Moreover, they can view details themselves, for example, to check whether they have already administered the drug. This innovative combination of state-of-the-art disposable injection pen and future-proof connected platform provides peace of mind for patients and medical professionals alike and helps to enhance patient safety. The connected cap transforms D-Flex into an intelligent connected solution that enables data collection at the point of care to improve treatment quality. This contributes to a sustainable solution that demonstrates increased therapy efficiency and efficacy. This connected solution also paves the way for greater patient engagement, facilitating personal health management via user-friendly apps.