Autoinjector Needle Penetration and Medicament Injection Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medicament injectors require manual attachment of the needle to the medicament container and may not ensure proper needle penetration and medicament injection, potentially leading to ineffective treatment and patient discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A medicament delivery device with a housing, a movable container assembly, and a needle assembly that automatically moves the needle to penetrate the medicament container and inject the medicament, with user manual manipulation of the outer cap to ensure sterility before use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual attachment of needle to medicament container is required, then user control over the injection process is maintained, but user effort and potential for incorrect use increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser effortVSAvoidcorrect use

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs the needle attachment and injection functions automatically without requiring manual manipulation by the user. The needle assembly is pre-attached to the medicament container, and the driver assembly automatically pushes the needle to penetrate the skin and inject the medicament, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating user effort in these critical steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The needle is pre-attached to the medicament container during manufacturing, and the driver assembly is pre-positioned to automatically perform the injection. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for users to manually attach components or control the injection timing, reducing both effort and potential for error

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automatic needle penetration and injection is performed, then user effort is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser effortVSAvoidmechanical structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle assembly, driver assembly, and medicament container are merged into a single integrated unit. The driver assembly is positioned within the housing and mechanically linked to the needle assembly, allowing one component (the driver) to control multiple functions (needle penetration and medicament injection) through a unified mechanical structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver assembly serves multiple functions: it positions the needle, penetrates the skin, and injects the medicament. This multi-functional component reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby managing device complexity while achieving automatic operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If needle penetration is automated, then injection accuracy is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection accuracyVSAvoidneedle positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is pre-attached to the medicament container with precise positioning during manufacturing. The driver assembly is pre-positioned within the housing at the correct depth and angle. This preliminary precision ensures that when the device is used, the needle automatically penetrates at the correct parameters without requiring high precision during the actual injection moment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If outer cap is manually manipulated to move needle, then sterility is maintained, but user instruction complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoiduser instruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The outer cap is designed to be manually manipulated by the user in a simple rotational motion to advance the needle to the skin surface. This preliminary user action maintains sterility by keeping the needle covered until the moment of use, while the simple rotational instruction is more intuitive than complex manipulation sequences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12296147B2Autoinjector

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 SHL MEDICAL AG

AI summary

A medicament delivery device is presented having a housing, a container assembly, a needle assembly and a driver assembly. The container assembly includes a medicament container having an interior containing a medicament. The needle assembly is connected to the container assembly and has a needle and an outer cap, wherein the outer cap is configured to be manually manipulated to move the needle toward the medicament container in order for a distal end of the needle to pierce a first seal and enter an interior of the medicament container. The driver assembly is disposed at a distal end of the medicament container and configured to be released and move the container assembly and the needle assembly toward the proximal end of the housing to an insertion position where a proximal end of the needle exits the housing.