Ampoule Closure With Expanded Septum For Viscous Medication Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ampoules require high force to dispense viscous medications due to thin needles, which cause increased piercing pain and resistance, especially when the product has to be pressed through a thin channel.

Innovation Solution

The ampoule design features a closure with a larger diameter septum that expands elastically to accommodate a thicker needle, allowing for easier dispensing and multiple use, while the ampoule holder ensures axial stability and reduced play to prevent leakage and contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a thin needle is used to pierce the closure, then the piercing pain to the patient is reduced, but the force required to dispense the product increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiercing painVSAvoidforce required for dispensing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the needle by providing multiple needles with different diameters. This allows selection of an optimal needle that balances piercing comfort with adequate product flow, resolving the contradiction between reduced pain and sufficient dispensing force capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the needle selection dynamic by allowing the user to choose from multiple needle options based on the specific medication viscosity and patient needs. This dynamic adaptation resolves the fixed contradiction by enabling context-dependent optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a thin needle with narrow channel is used, then the piercing pain is reduced, but the resistance to product flow increases especially for viscous medications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiercing painVSAvoidproduct dispensing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the channel diameter parameter by providing needles with different bore sizes. This allows matching the channel size to the medication viscosity, ensuring reliable dispensing for thick medications while maintaining patient comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the closure has a smaller outer diameter to allow ampoule insertion, then the ampoule can be inserted from the proximal opening, but the needle must be thinner causing increased dispensing resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveampoule insertion easeVSAvoidforce required to force product through needle
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the needle selection into multiple options with different diameters, allowing the system to accommodate both the insertion constraint (small closure diameter) and the dispensing requirement (adequate needle diameter for viscous products)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ampoule holder is designed with universal compatibility to accept ampoules with closures of various diameters, while the multi-needle system provides universal compatibility with different product viscosities, resolving the conflicting requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This design reduces the force required for dispensing viscous medications, minimizes piercing pain, and allows for the use of thicker needles, enhancing user convenience and product security.

Implementation Method 1

a closure (41, 42, 43, 44) with a larger diameter septum (41) that expands elastically to accommodate a thicker needle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic expansion: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the ampoule holder ensures axial stability and reduced play to prevent leakage and contamination

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2300081B1Ampoule having ampoule holder
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 TECPHARMA LICENSING AG
  • EP2300081B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2300081B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2300081B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an ampoule (40), comprising a cylindrical housing (48) having an outside diameter and a closure (41, 43, 44,), which closes a front of the housing (40), wherein the closure (41, 43, 44) protrudes radially over the outside diameter.