Autoinjector Needle Safeguard Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices face challenges in synchronizing the activation and unsealing processes for protected components, such as hypodermic needles, which can lead to complications in use and sterility maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A compound device with a protected component isolated by an enclosure, where a coupler synchronizes the removal of a surface cover with the unsealing of the enclosure, converting a linear pulling force into a peeling force to expose the needle through an opening, ensuring sterility and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is exposed for easy access and administration, then ease of operation is improved, but sterility is compromised due to contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a protective cap that covers the needle, a flared distal end for engagement, and an adhesive surface for skin attachment. This segmentation allows the needle to remain protected during transport and application while enabling easy access during administration by simply removing the cap.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is pre-protected by the cap and the adhesive surface is pre-prepared on the skin before needle exposure. This preliminary protective action maintains sterility until the moment of administration, when the cap is removed and the needle becomes accessible without having been exposed to contamination.
2Ease of manufacture
If the device structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but synchronization of cover removal and unsealing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap is merged with the seal through a flared distal end that engages with the enclosure opening. This combination allows a single component to perform multiple functions: protecting the needle, maintaining the seal, and enabling synchronized unsealing when the cap is removed, without requiring complex additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the needle during storage and application, maintains the hermetic seal through its flared engagement with the enclosure, and facilitates unsealing by being pulled away during activation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate synchronization mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of preparing a compound device for use. The device may include a sealed component and an active outer surface. The outer surface may be protected by a surface cover. Preparing the device may include activating the active outer surface by removing the surface cover and exposing an internal portion of the sealed component to the exterior of the device by unsealing the sealed component and synchronizing the activating and said unsealing using a coupler attached to the surface cover and the sealed component.