Autoinjector Safety Pin and Cap Mechanism for Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autoinjectors with safety pins pose a risk of user confusion due to exposed openings at the non-injection end when the safety pin is removed, potentially leading to incorrect orientation during use, especially in urgent medical situations.
Innovation Solution
An autoinjector design where the safety pin remains coupled and moves between an actuation locked and safety released position without being removed, maintaining a closed rear end face to prevent confusion and ensure correct orientation, with a safety cap that covers the opening in the safety released position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the safety pin is removed after use, then the injector can be prepared for actuation, but an opening is exposed at the non-injection end causing user confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cap is divided into two functional parts: a cap body that covers the opening and a safety pin that can be moved independently. When the safety pin is removed or moved to the released position, the cap body remains in place to cover the opening, thus maintaining orientation information while allowing actuation preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap body acts as an intermediary element between the opening and the user. It mediates the conflict by physically covering the opening to prevent confusion while allowing the safety pin to be removed for actuation preparation. The cap body serves as a persistent visual indicator regardless of the safety pin's position.
2Ease of operation
If the safety pin is made removable to enable actuation, then the injector can be activated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cap combines multiple functions into a single component structure: it provides opening coverage, houses the safety pin mechanism, and offers visual orientation indicators. By merging these functions into one integrated cap assembly, the device complexity is minimized while achieving the desired actuation capability and safety features.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety cap serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it covers the opening to prevent confusion, houses and guides the safety pin for actuation control, and provides visual indicators for orientation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Loss of information
If the opening is covered to prevent confusion, then user orientation is maintained, but the safety cap structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cap is segmented into a cap body for covering the opening and a separate safety pin mechanism. This segmentation allows the cap body to maintain its simple covering function while the safety pin provides the actuation control, avoiding the need for a complex integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap body inherently provides the orientation indication function through its physical presence covering the opening. It serves itself by simply being in place, without requiring additional complex mechanisms or components to convey orientation information to the user.
Data Source
AI summary
An injector is provided for performing an injection operation comprising a housing (104), a needle extendable from a front end of the housing, a rear end of the housing and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end, a safety pin (116) in an actuation locked position coupled to the housing and moveable to a safety released position coupled to the housing. The injector is locked against actuation when the safety pin is in the actuation locked position and the injector is ready for actuation of the injection operation when the safety pin is in the safety released position.