Resilient Audio Indicator for Drug Delivery Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices lack robust audible indicators for completed drug delivery, often resulting in inaudible or premature notifications due to component breakage.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device with a resiliently-biased audio indicator member connected to the plunger body, which engages a rib structure within the housing to provide a clear audible signal when the plunger body transitions from the injection to the post-use position, ensuring a reliable notification of completed dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing audible indicator mechanisms are used, then a dose delivery indication is provided, but the indication may be inaudible or premature due to component breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the audio indicator member as a separate, resiliently-biased component that can deflect independently within the housing. This separation allows the indicator to function reliably without being constrained by the overall device structure, reducing breakage risks while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex mechanical linkage system that could break, the patent inverts the approach by using a resiliently-biased member that naturally returns to a defined position. The indication occurs when this member is forced against its bias by plunger movement, providing a simple, breakage-resistant mechanism.
2Reliability
If a resiliently-biased audio indicator member is used, then a robust audible indication is achieved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the audio indicator member with the housing structure by having the member engage with ribs that are integral parts of the housing. This integration reduces the need for separate mounting components, achieving robustness without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resiliently-biased indicator member introduces dynamic movement capability into an otherwise static housing structure. The member can deflect during injection and return to its unbiased position, providing audible indication through controlled dynamic interaction with the plunger and housing ribs.
3Reliability
If the audio indicator member engages the rib during injection, then the indication timing is delayed until post-use position, but the audible signal becomes more reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The resiliently-biased indicator member provides mechanical feedback about plunger position. By maintaining engagement with the rib throughout the injection stroke and only releasing at the post-use position, the system ensures that the audible indication occurs only when the intended action is complete, providing accurate feedback without premature signaling.
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 solution provides a robust and reliable audible indication of completed drug delivery, reducing the risk of misinterpretation and ensuring user confidence in the device's operation.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently-biased audio indicator member connected to the distal end of the plunger body, wherein the housing includes at least one rib extending in a longitudinal direction of the device and projecting radially inward from the housing into the housing interior... the audio indicator member engaging the at least one rib when the plunger body is in the injection position to deflect the audio indicator member from an unbiased position to a biased position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided herein is a drug delivery device including a housing, a drive assembly including a plunger body having a pre-use position, an injection position, and a post-use position, and a resiliently-biased audio indicator member connected to the distal end of the plunger body, wherein the housing includes at least one rib extending in a longitudinal direction of the device and projecting radially inward from the housing into the housing interior, the at least one rib having a plurality, each projecting inward a different distance, the audio indicator member engaging the at least one rib when the plunger body is in the injection position to deflect the audio indicator member from an unbiased position to a biased position, the audio indicator member disengaging from the rib and contacting a portion of the housing when the plunger body reaches the post-use position to cause an audible indication.