Assembling method of medicinal liquid injection apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a method for assembling a medicinal liquid injection apparatus according to one embodiment, the medicinal liquid injection apparatus comprising: a first housing including a cylindrical housing body and a housing flange extending radially from the outer circumferential surface of the housing body and including a first binding portion, and having a medicinal liquid accommodation space formed therein to be filled with a medicinal liquid; a second housing including a second binding portion bound to the first binding portion and including a gas accommodation space and a gas generation space therein; and a switch valve configured to open and close a passage between the gas accommodation space and the gas generation space. The method for assembling the medicinal liquid injection apparatus may comprise the steps of: binding the first binding portion and the second binding portion to couple the first housing and the second housing; and discharging air introduced between the first housing and the second housing by means of the coupling of the first housing and the second housing to the outside of the medicinal liquid injection apparatus through the switch valve.

Description

Method of assembling a drug injection device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an assembly technique for a liquid injection device.

[0002] To administer medication to patients, a medication infusion device is known that injects the medication into the patient in liquid form. Using this device, the medication, stored in a predetermined storage space, is introduced into the patient's body through a passageway (e.g., the interior of a tube or injection needle) connected to the patient.

[0003] One embodiment of the present disclosure can facilitate the process of combining multiple housings or prevent the inlet of a liquid injection device from being damaged.

[0004] In one embodiment, a liquid injection device comprises a first housing having a cylindrical housing body and a housing flange extending radially from an outer surface of the housing body and including a first fastening portion, the first housing having a liquid receiving space filled with liquid therein, the second housing including a second fastening portion fastened to the first fastening portion and including a gas receiving space and a gas generating space therein, and a switch valve configured to open and close a passage between the gas receiving space and the gas generating space, the method for assembling the liquid injection device comprising: a step of fastening the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion so that the first housing and the second housing are coupled; and a step of exhausting air introduced between the first housing and the second housing by the coupling of the first housing and the second housing to the outside of the liquid injection device through the switch valve.

[0005] In one embodiment, prior to the step of combining the first housing and the second housing, the method may further include a step of placing a sealing member made of an elastic material between the first housing and the second housing.

[0006] In one embodiment, the sealing member may include a through hole that allows the liquid-containing space and the gas-containing space to communicate with each other.

[0007] In one embodiment, the first fastening portion may be formed in a hole shape penetrating the housing flange, and the second fastening portion may be formed in a hook shape.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion are each formed in a plurality of pieces, and the plurality of first fastening portions may be arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the first housing, and the plurality of second fastening portions may be arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the second housing.

[0009] In one embodiment, the plurality of first fasteners and the plurality of second fasteners may be arranged at 90-degree intervals.

[0010] In one embodiment, the second housing may include a valve receiving portion formed at one end thereof, which is open toward an external space and configured to allow the switch valve to be inserted therein, and the switch valve may include a valve body formed with a first valve hole communicating with the gas receiving space, a second valve hole communicating with the gas generating space, and a third valve hole communicating with the valve receiving portion, and a movable body movably disposed inside the valve body and configured to connect the first valve hole to one selected from the second valve hole or the third valve hole.

[0011] In one embodiment, the movable body may be arranged to be movable between a first position and a second position within the valve body, and configured to communicate the first valve hole with the third valve hole but block communication with the second valve hole when arranged at the first position, and configured to communicate the first valve hole with the second valve hole but block communication with the third valve hole when arranged at the second position.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the process of combining multiple housings can be facilitated or the inlet of the liquid injection device can be prevented from being damaged.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of a drug injection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drug injection device taken along line II' of Fig. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a drug injection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid injection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of an area where a switch valve is installed in a liquid injection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the switch valve taken along line II-II' of Fig. 5, showing the switch moving body of the switch valve moving forward.

[0019] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the switch valve taken along line II-II' of Fig. 5, showing a state in which the switch moving body of the switch valve has retracted.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for assembling a liquid injection device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for assembling a liquid injection device in which a step of arranging a sealing element is added to the method for assembling a liquid injection device in FIG. 8.

[0022] The embodiments of this disclosure are provided for the purpose of illustrating the technical concepts of this disclosure. The scope of rights under this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments presented below or the specific descriptions of these embodiments.

[0023] All technical and scientific terms used in this disclosure, unless otherwise defined, have the meanings commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. All terms used in this disclosure have been selected for the purpose of more clearly explaining this disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of rights under this disclosure.

[0024] Expressions such as “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and the like used in this disclosure should be understood as open-ended terms that imply the possibility of including other embodiments, unless otherwise stated in the phrase or sentence in which the expression is included.

[0025] The singular forms described in this disclosure may include plural meanings unless otherwise stated, and the same applies to the singular forms described in the claims.

[0026] The expressions “first,” “second,” etc. used in this disclosure are used to distinguish between multiple components, and do not limit the order or importance of the components.

[0027] In this disclosure, when a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component can be directly connected or connected to the other component, or can be connected or connected via a new other component.

[0028] The directional terms "upper" and "upper" used in this disclosure refer to the direction in which the valve device is positioned relative to the piston in the attached drawings, while the directional terms "lower" and "lower" refer to the opposite direction. The liquid injection device illustrated in the attached drawings may be oriented differently, and the directional terms may be interpreted accordingly.

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are assigned the same reference numerals. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments below, redundant descriptions of identical or corresponding components may be omitted. However, even if a description of a component is omitted, it is not intended that such component is not included in any embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a front view of a drug injection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drug injection device (1) taken along line II' of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drug injection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the drug injection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a drug injection device (1) according to one embodiment may include a first housing (30) and a second housing (50). The first housing (30) according to one embodiment may include a drug receiving space (S1) in which a drug can be filled therein. The second housing (50) according to one embodiment may include a gas receiving space (S2) and a gas generating space (S3) therein. The second housing (50) may include a gas generating unit (55) configured to generate gas, and may form a gas generating space (S3) in which gas generated therefrom is primarily received, and a gas receiving space (S2) in which gas moved from the gas generating space (S3) is secondarily received.

[0032] The chemical injection device (1) may further include a valve device (10) coupled to the first housing (30). The valve device (10) is coupled to one end of the first housing (30), and the chemical can be injected into the chemical receiving space (S1) through the valve device (10). The valve device (10) may be configured to control communication between the chemical receiving space (S1) and a space outside the chemical injection device (1). The valve device (10) provides a flow path between the outside of the chemical injection device (1) and the chemical receiving space (S1), but is configured such that the flow path is formed only in a direction in which the chemical flows from the outside of the chemical injection device (1) toward the chemical receiving space (S1). That is, the chemical can be injected into the chemical receiving space (S1) through the valve device (10), but the chemical in the chemical receiving space (S1) cannot escape to the outside at least through the valve device (10).

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first housing (30) may include a cylindrical housing body (31) and a housing flange (33) extending radially from an outer surface of the housing body (31). The housing flange (33) may include a first fastening portion (34). The second housing (50) may include a second fastening portion (51), an inner housing (52), and an outer housing (54). The second fastening portion (51) may be formed to protrude upward from the inner housing (52). The second fastening portion (51) may have a hook shape. The second fastening portion (51) may be coupled with the first fastening portion (34) of the first housing (30). The first fastening portion (34) may be configured to be interlocked with the second fastening portion (51). For example, when the first fastening portion (34) has a hole shape penetrating the housing flange (33), the second fastening portion (51) has a hook shape, so that they can be coupled to each other in a snap-fit ​​manner. When the first fastening portion (34) and the second fastening portion (51) are coupled in a snap-fit ​​manner, the first housing (30) can be formed of a flexible material that is malleable. In addition, the first fastening portion (34) and the second fastening portion (51) can be firmly coupled by a magnetic coupling method, an electromagnetic coupling method, a force-fit coupling method, a UV adhesive coupling method, or the like. When coupled by a UV adhesive coupling method, the first housing (30) can be formed of a transparent material. The coupling method of the first binding member (34) and the second binding member (51) is not necessarily limited to the coupling method described above, and they may be coupled to each other by any method that can be conceived by a person skilled in the art.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first fastening portion (34) and the second fastening portion (51) may each be formed in multiple numbers. The first fastening portions (34) and the second fastening portions (51) may correspond to each other and may be formed in the same number. The first fastening portions (34) may be arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the first housing (30), i.e., along the periphery of the housing flange (33). At this time, the second fastening portions (51) may be arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the second housing (50), i.e., along the outer circumference of the inner housing (52). For example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first fastening portions (34) and the second fastening portions (51) may each be arranged at equal intervals of 90 degrees. The first fastening portion (34) and the second fastening portion (51) can be formed four times along the outer periphery of each of the first housing (30) and the second housing (50). By coupling the first fastening portion (34) and the second fastening portion (51), the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) can be firmly connected. During the manufacturing process of the chemical injection device (1), the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) can be quickly and easily fastened in a one-touch manner, and the chemical stored inside the chemical injection device (1) can be prevented from leaking.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, the liquid injection device (1) may further include a sealing member (20). The sealing member (20) may be disposed between the first housing (30) and the second housing (50). The sealing member (20) may be in close contact with the space between the bottom surface of the first housing (30) and the top surface of the second housing (50), so that the sealing member (20) may seal the first housing (30) and the second housing (50). The sealing member (20) according to one embodiment may be made of silicone or rubber. In addition to silicone or rubber, the sealing member (20) may be made of various elastic materials. The sealing member (20) may include a through hole (22). The through hole (22) may connect the liquid receiving space (S1) and the gas receiving space (S2).

[0036] In one embodiment, the liquid injection device (1) may further include a switch valve (60). The switch valve (60) can prevent the liquid stored inside the liquid injection device (1) from being momentarily pressurized during the process of combining the first housing (30) and the second housing (50), thereby consuming a significant amount of force to combine the first housing (30) and the second housing (50), or preventing the inlet of the liquid injection device from being damaged. The switch valve (60) according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

[0037] Fig. 5 is a top view of the area where the switch valve (60) is installed in the liquid injection device (1). Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the switch valve (60) taken along the line II-II' of Fig. 5, showing a state in which the switch moving body (62) of the switch valve (60) has advanced. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the switch valve (60) taken along the line II-II' of Fig. 5, showing a state in which the switch moving body (62) of the switch valve (60) has retracted.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the liquid injection device (1) according to one embodiment may further include a switch valve (60). The switch valve (60) according to one embodiment may be configured to open and close a passage between a gas receiving space (S2) and a gas generating space (S3).

[0039] Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIGS. 5 to 7, the second housing (50) may be formed with a valve receiving portion (533) configured such that one end thereof is open toward an external space so that the switch valve (60) can be inserted therein. The switch valve (60) may include a valve body (61) having a first valve hole (611) communicating with a gas receiving space (S2), a second valve hole (612) communicating with a gas generating space (S3), and a third valve hole (613) communicating with the valve receiving portion (533) (or the outside of the liquid injection device (1)), and a movable body (62) configured to be movably arranged inside the valve body (61) so as to connect the first valve hole (611) to one selected from the second valve hole (612) or the third valve hole (613).

[0040] In one embodiment, the movable body (62) may be arranged to be movable between a first position (see the position of the movable body (62) in FIG. 6) and a second position (see the position of the movable body (62) in FIG. 7) within the valve body (61), and configured to communicate the first valve hole (611) with the third valve hole (613) when arranged at the first position but block the communication with the second valve hole (612), and configured to communicate the first valve hole (611) with the second valve hole (612) but block the communication with the third valve hole (613) when arranged at the second position.

[0041] The valve body (61) includes a hollow switch cylinder (614), and the switch moving body (62) can move forward or backward along the inner wall (615) of the switch cylinder (614). Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the switch moving body (62) can be arranged to be movable between a forward state (i.e., a first position in FIG. 6) and a retreat state (i.e., a second position in FIG. 7) within the switch valve body (61).

[0042] The switch moving body (62) includes a piston portion (63) and a packing portion (64) coupled to the piston portion (63). The packing portion (64) can contact the inner wall (615) of the switch valve body (61) to separate the space inside the switch cylinder (614) into two spaces (65, 66) that are hermetically separated from each other. The switch moving body (62) can be configured to connect the first valve hole (611) to one selected from the second valve hole (612) or the third valve hole (613) while moving inside the switch valve body (61).

[0043] Referring to Fig. 6, the switch moving body (62), when in a forward state, connects the first valve hole (611) with the third valve hole (613), but blocks the communication with the second valve hole (612). Accordingly, an air passage (AP1) connecting the gas receiving space (S2) and the outside is formed. That is, when the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) are coupled to each other, unnecessary gas introduced between the two housings can be sequentially exhausted through the first valve hole (611), the second space (66), and the third valve hole (613).

[0044] Referring to Fig. 7, the switch moving body (62), when in the retracted state, can connect the first valve hole (611) with the second valve hole (612), but block the communication with the third valve hole (613). Accordingly, an air path (AP2) connecting the gas receiving space (S2) and the gas generating space (S3) can be formed. When gas is generated inside the gas generating space (S3) and the pressure of the gas generating space (S3) increases, the switch moving body (62) moves from the forward state to the retracted state, and accordingly, the gas in the gas generating space (S3) can sequentially flow into the gas receiving space (S2) through the second valve hole (612), the first space (65), and the first valve hole (611). That is, the pressure of the gas receiving space (S2) increases due to the gas flowing into the gas receiving space (S2), and the chemical liquid can be discharged to the outside due to this pressure difference. Since the switch moving body (62) is in close contact with the inner wall (615) of the switch valve body (61), it is possible to prevent high-pressure gas flowing into the switch valve body (61) through the second valve hole (612) from leaking out of the liquid injection device (1) through the third valve hole (613).

[0045] The internal space of the switch valve body (61) can be divided into a first space (65) and a second space (66) by the packing portion (64) of the switch moving body (62). Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the first space (65) can communicate with the second valve hole (612), and the second space (66) can communicate with the third valve hole (613). The first space (65) can be connected to the gas generation space (S3) through the second valve hole (612).

[0046] High-pressure gas is generated in the gas generation space (S3), and in this case, the first space (65) can be exposed to the high-pressure gas. The second space (66) is a space that communicates with the outside through the third valve hole (613) and can be exposed to a lower pressure than the first space (65). Accordingly, in the present disclosure, the first space (65) can be referred to as a high-pressure section, and the second space (66) can be referred to as a low-pressure section.

[0047] The switch valve (60) may include an elastic member (67) disposed at the lower portion of the switch moving body (62) to press the switch moving body (62) toward the second valve hole (612). The elastic member (67) may be, for example, a coil spring. Referring to FIG. 6, the elastic member (67) may press the switch moving body (62) to the left (or toward the second valve hole (612)). When the force with which the gas in the gas generation space (S3) pushes the switch moving body (62) to the right is not greater than the force with which the elastic member (67) pushes the switch moving body (62) to the left, the switch moving body (62) is in a forward state, and the first valve hole (611) and the third valve hole (613) may be connected to each other. Referring to Fig. 7, when the force of the gas in the gas generation space (S3) pushing the switch movable body (62) to the right is greater than the force of the elastic member (67) pushing the switch movable body (62) to the left, the elastic member (67) is compressed and the switch movable body (62) moves backward, and the first valve hole (611) and the second valve hole (612) can be connected to each other. When the pressure in the gas generation space (S3) is reduced in the state of Fig. 7, the elastic member (67) is restored and moves the switch movable body (62) forward, and the switch movable body (62) can return to the state of Fig. 6.

[0048] Fig. 8 is a flowchart for an assembly method (S100) of a drug injection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 8 relates to the assembly method (S100) of the drug injection device (1) described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 7, and can simplify and expedite the assembly process of the drug injection device (1) by easily discharging unnecessary gas that has entered between the two housings during the process of combining the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) to the outside.

[0049] An assembly method (S100) of a liquid injection device (1) according to one embodiment may include a step (S120) in which a first fastening portion (34) and a second fastening portion (51) are fastened to connect a first housing (30) and a second housing (50), and a step (S130) in which air introduced between the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) by the connection of the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) is discharged to the outside of the liquid injection device (1) through a switch valve (60).

[0050] The step (S120) of combining the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) can be performed by an automated process. The step (S120) of combining the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) can also be performed manually by a worker.

[0051] The step (S130) in which air introduced between the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) is discharged to the outside of the liquid injection device (1) through the switch valve (60) can be performed by the switch valve (60) structure described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Specifically, referring to FIG. 6 together, in the process of combining the first housing (30) and the second housing (50), the elastic member (67) presses the switch moving body (62) to the left (or toward the second valve hole (612)) so that the switch moving body (62) is in a forward state, and the first valve hole (611) and the third valve hole (613) are connected to each other, so that the gas introduced between the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) can be sequentially exhausted through the first valve hole (611), the second space (66), and the third valve hole (613) of the switch valve (60).

[0052] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for an assembly method (S200) of a liquid injection device (1) in which a step (S110) of arranging a sealing element is added to the assembly method (S100) of the liquid injection device (1) in FIG. 8.

[0053] A method for assembling a liquid injection device (1) according to one embodiment (S200) may further include a step (S110) of placing a sealing member (20) made of an elastic material between the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) before performing a step (S120) of combining the first housing (30) and the second housing (50). The sealing member (20) may be made of silicone or rubber. In addition to silicone or rubber, the sealing member (20) may be made of various materials having elasticity. By placing the sealing member (20) between the first housing (30) and the second housing (50), the bonding force of the first housing (30) and the second housing (50) may be enhanced.

[0054] While the technical concept of the present disclosure has been described above with reference to certain embodiments and examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made without departing from the technical concept and scope of the present disclosure, which would be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Furthermore, such substitutions, modifications, and variations should be considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A first housing including a cylindrical housing body and a housing flange extending radially from an outer surface of the housing body and including a first fastening portion, and in which a liquid receiving space capable of being filled with a liquid is formed inside; A second housing including a second binding part connected to the first binding part and including a gas receiving space and a gas generating space inside; and In a method for assembling a liquid injection device including a switch valve configured to open and close a passage between the gas receiving space and the gas generating space, A step of connecting the first and second fasteners to each other so that the first housing and the second housing are connected; and Including a step of discharging air introduced between the first housing and the second housing through the combination of the first housing and the second housing to the outside of the liquid injection device through the switch valve. Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

2. In paragraph 1, Before the step of combining the first housing and the second housing, Further comprising a step of arranging a sealing member made of an elastic material between the first housing and the second housing. Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

3. In paragraph 2, The sealing member includes a through hole that allows the liquid receiving space and the gas receiving space to communicate with each other. Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

4. In paragraph 1, The first fastening portion is formed in a hole shape penetrating the housing flange, and the second fastening portion is formed in a hook shape. Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

5. In paragraph 1, The first binding member and the second binding member are each formed in multiple pieces, A plurality of the first fasteners are arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the first housing, and a plurality of the second fasteners are arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the second housing. Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

6. In paragraph 5, A plurality of the first fasteners and a plurality of the second fasteners are arranged at 90 degree intervals, Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

7. In paragraph 1, In the second housing, a valve receiving portion is formed so that one end is opened toward the external space and the switch valve can be inserted therein. The above switch valve, A valve body having a first valve hole communicating with the gas receiving space, a second valve hole communicating with the gas generating space, and a third valve hole communicating with the valve receiving portion, and A movable body is provided inside the valve body and is configured to connect the first valve hole to one selected from the second valve hole or the third valve hole. Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

8. In paragraph 7, The above-mentioned moving body is arranged to be movable between a first position and a second position within the valve body, and is configured to communicate the first valve hole with the third valve hole when arranged at the first position but block communication with the second valve hole, and is configured to communicate the first valve hole with the second valve hole but block communication with the third valve hole when arranged at the second position. Method of assembling a liquid injection device.

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