Acoustic Injection Timing for Autoinjector Test Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery autoinjector testing systems rely heavily on human interpretation of high-speed camera-based imaging, which is prone to error and bias, making it challenging to accurately measure injection time durations.
Innovation Solution
A real-time sound detection system using a sound transducer, waveform shaping circuit, pulse clamping circuit, and timer to measure injection time durations by detecting initiation and completion sounds, converting them into electronic waveforms, and generating pulses to initiate and stop a timer, thereby providing accurate and automated measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-speed camera-based imaging systems are used to measure injection time, then measurement capability is provided, but extensive human interpretation is required which introduces error and bias
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical camera-based measurement system with an acoustic detection system. Sound transducers detect acoustic signals generated during injection, converting them to electrical signals that automatically trigger timing. This substitution eliminates the need for human interpretation of visual data while maintaining measurement accuracy, as the acoustic signals directly correlate with injection events.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system uses the injection process itself to generate the measurement signals. The injection mechanism produces acoustic signals during operation, and these self-generated signals are captured by sound transducers to automatically start and stop the timer. The system measures itself without external observation or human intervention, achieving fully automated injection time measurement.
2Reliability
If manual frame-by-frame review of camera images is used, then injection time can be measured, but human error and bias are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex human-in-the-loop visual analysis system with a simple acoustic detection and electronic timing system. Sound transducers capture injection sounds, waveform shaping circuits process the signals, and electronic timers automatically record durations. This substitution dramatically improves reliability by eliminating human variability while reducing overall system complexity through automated electronic processing.
3Productivity
If automated sound detection system is implemented, then measurement accuracy and automation are improved, but additional circuit components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual testing workflows with an automated acoustic measurement system. The sound transducer detects injection sounds, the waveform shaping circuit conditions the signals, and the electronic timer automatically records injection times. This automation eliminates manual frame-by-frame image review, significantly improving testing productivity despite the addition of electronic components, as the automated system processes measurements continuously without human intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures reliable and accurate measurement of injection times, reducing human error and enabling automation in testing workflows, ensuring drug delivery devices are ready for distribution with consistent injection times.
Implementation Method 1
a sound transducer adapted to detect a first sound associated with drug delivery initiation and a second sound associated with drug delivery completion and to convert the detected first and second sounds into a first electronic waveform and a second electronic waveform, respectively
Data Source
AI summary
A real-time drug injection time duration measurement system includes a sound transducer, a waveform shaping circuit operably coupled therewith, a pulse clamping circuit operably coupled with the waveform shaping circuit, and a timer operably coupled with the pulse clamping circuit. The sound transducer detects a first sound associated with drug delivery initiation and a second sound associated with drug delivery completion and is further converts the detected first and second sounds into a first electronic waveform and a second electronic waveform, respectively. The waveform shaping circuit converts the first and second waveforms into a first pulse and a second pulse, respectively. The pulse clamping circuit triggers upon receiving the first pulse and generate a regenerated pulse. The timer initiates upon receiving the regenerated pulse and stop upon receiving a subsequent regenerated pulse via the pulse clamping circuit.