Autoinjector Needle Depth Control and Retarding Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autoinjectors face challenges in preventing untimely triggering, ensuring correct needle depth, maintaining user safety, and ensuring complete fluid distribution without product reflux, particularly for elderly or handicapped users, and are costly to manufacture and assemble.

Innovation Solution

An autoinjector design featuring a central body with a control ring and actuating sleeve that ensures needle insertion only when fully engaged, a needle safety mechanism, and a retarding device to prevent immediate removal post-injection, allowing for complete fluid distribution and diffusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reliable locking means are added to prevent untimely triggering, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of untimely triggeringVSAvoidcomplexity of locking means

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The autoinjector incorporates a locking mechanism that is pre-configured and automatically engages during normal operation. The lock is designed to release only when specific conditions are met (needle insertion detected, activation sequence completed), preventing premature triggering without requiring complex user操作的 locking steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device includes automatic detection mechanisms that monitor needle insertion depth and activation status. These sensors and control systems automatically manage the locking state, releasing the lock only when proper insertion is confirmed, thereby preventing accidental activation without requiring additional user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the device is designed to be easy to use for elderly or handicapped people, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of triggering lock may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of use for elderly or handicapped peopleVSAvoidreliability of triggering lock

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The autoinjector incorporates automatic detection mechanisms that monitor needle insertion depth and activation status. These sensors and control systems automatically manage the locking state, releasing the lock only when proper insertion is confirmed, thereby preventing accidental activation without requiring additional user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs preliminary checks automatically to confirm proper needle insertion before enabling injection. This preliminary verification step ensures that even users with limited dexterity cannot accidentally activate the device, while still allowing easy operation when used correctly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the injection time is extended to ensure complete fluid distribution, then injection completeness is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to prolonged needle retention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompletion of fluid distributionVSAvoidrisk of injury from prolonged needle retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The autoinjector incorporates a timing mechanism that is pre-programmed to automatically retract the needle after a predetermined injection duration. This preliminary timing setup ensures that the needle is removed promptly after injection completion, eliminating the need for users to manually time the retention period and reducing injury risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device includes feedback mechanisms that monitor injection progress and automatically trigger needle retraction when the injection is complete. This feedback-controlled timing system ensures appropriate retention duration based on actual injection needs, preventing both premature removal and excessive retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If a retarding device is added to prevent immediate removal post-injection, then fluid distribution is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete fluid distribution without refluxVSAvoidcomplexity of retarding device

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retarding mechanism is pre-configured within the device structure, with spring-loaded or friction-based components designed to automatically engage and provide resistance during the injection phase. This preliminary setup allows the device to maintain injection pressure and prevent reflux without requiring complex active control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9717851B2Autoinjector

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 APTAR FRANCE SAS

AI summary

An autoinjector having a lower body receiving a tank containing fluid product and a piston and a needle. The autoinjector including a central body fastened to the lower body and an actuating sleeve provided with a contact end that contacts the body of the user, the actuating sleeve moveable between a projected position and an actuation position. The actuating sleeve is in a projected position prior to and after actuation of the autoinjector, an injection mechanism is provided to inject the fluid product through the needle when the needle is in an injection position in which it is inserted in the body of the user. The autoinjector includes a tank movement device to move the needle towards the injection position, the tank movement device triggering the injection mechanism only after the needle has reached its injection position.