Actuating Unit Interface for Drug Delivery Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices often have complex mechanical components and lack efficient integration of electronic components, leading to challenges in power management and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
An actuating unit for drug delivery devices that includes a support structure with an interface unit and a coupling portion, capable of converting rotational movement into axial and radial displacements to interact with electrical components, reducing mechanical complexity and enhancing power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If mechanical components are used in drug delivery devices, then the device can deliver driving force for injection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines mechanical and electronic components into an integrated actuating unit. The interface unit serves as a bridge that allows a rotating member (mechanical) to interact with an electrical component (electronic), merging both systems into a unified structure that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining injection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface unit performs multiple functions: it converts rotational movement to axial displacement, enables interaction between mechanical and electronic components, and can displace both the coupling portion and actuating portion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing device complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If electronic components are integrated into drug delivery devices, then power management becomes important, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface unit acts as an intermediary between the mechanical rotating member and the electrical component. This intermediary structure allows efficient power management by enabling the mechanical rotation to trigger electrical component activation, thereby extending battery life through reduced power consumption while avoiding complex electronic integration.
3Ease of operation
If the actuating unit converts rotational movement to axial displacement, then the coupling portion can interact with electrical components, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling portion is designed to be dynamically movable, converting rotational movement from the rotating member into axial displacement. This dynamic movement allows the coupling portion to engage with and actuate electrical components, providing ease of user interaction through simple rotational input while the dynamic mechanism handles the complexity of movement conversion.
4Reliability
If the coupling portion is displaced radially to hold it with a holding structure, then re-engagement is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding structure is designed as a segmented or modular component that can radially displace the coupling portion to prevent re-engagement. This segmentation allows the holding structure to perform its specific function of preventing re-engagement during dose dispense without requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire actuating unit.
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 actuating unit facilitates easy assembly, reduces mechanical parts, and optimizes energy use by efficiently waking up electronic circuits, prolonging battery life and simplifying user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
the interface unit may be configured to interact with a plurality of teeth of the rotating member and to convert a rotational movement of the rotating member to an axial displacement of the coupling portion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an actuating unit for a drug delivery device, comprising:A support structure extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal portion of the support structure) and a proximal portion of the support structure, andAn interface unit arranged within the support structure and comprising a coupling portion and an actuating portion,wherein the coupling portion is configured to interact with a rotating member comprising a plurality of teeth and rotating around a rotation axis that is parallel or coaxial to the longitudinal axis, wherein the actuating portion is configured to interact with an electrical component,wherein the interface unit) is configured to interact with the plurality of teeth of the rotating member and to convert a rotational movement of the rotating member to an axial displacement of the coupling portion in a first direction relative to the longitudinal axis, e.g. from a first axial position to a second axial position, and to a radial displacement of at least a part of the coupling portion relative to the longitudinal axis, andwherein the axial displacement and/or the radial displacement of the coupling portion displaces the actuating portion.