Automated Injection Device for High-Throughput Vaccination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current injectors for administering liquids, such as vaccines, require human intervention for operation, limiting the number of people that can be vaccinated efficiently and increasing the risk of infectious virus transmission due to direct contact with healthcare personnel.
Innovation Solution
A robotic arm-based device that automatically moves and operates injectors with individual doses of liquid, allowing for programmable movements to grip, position, and administer the injectors with minimal human intervention, reducing contact and enhancing reproducibility and disinfection capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If human personnel manually operate injectors to administer liquids, then the operation can be performed with simple equipment, but the productivity is limited and the risk of infectious virus transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation system with an automated robotic arm system. The robotic arm is equipped with a gripping element that can automatically grasp, position, and operate injectors, eliminating the need for human personnel to manually handle injection devices. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated mechanical systems directly addresses the contradiction by enabling high-throughput vaccination while minimizing human contact with potentially infectious materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated injection device enables self-service operation where the robotic system independently performs the entire injection process without human intervention. The device can automatically grasp the injector, position it on the patient's body, penetrate the skin at the correct depth, and administer the liquid dose, all through automated control systems. This self-service capability allows continuous operation at high speed while keeping healthcare personnel at a safe distance.
2Productivity
If automated robotic arms are used to administer injections, then productivity and reproducibility increase, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various injection tasks. The gripping element can adapt to different injector types and sizes, the robotic arm can position injectors at various locations on the patient's body, and the control system can adjust injection parameters. This universal design allows a single complex device to perform multiple functions, justifying the increased complexity through substantial gains in productivity and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated device incorporates adjustable parameters including injection depth, injection speed, gripping force, and positioning coordinates. These parameters can be programmatically controlled and adjusted based on different injection requirements, patient anatomy, and liquid properties. The ability to dynamically change these parameters through software control enables the complex hardware to adapt to various scenarios, making the complexity manageable through digital control rather than mechanical complexity.
3Reliability
If automated robotic arms are used to administer injections, then reproducibility of injection process improves, but the ease of operation decreases due to programming requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The automated injection system incorporates feedback mechanisms including sensors that detect injector position, skin contact force, and injection depth. The control system uses this feedback information to automatically adjust operation parameters and ensure consistent injection quality. This closed-loop control provides reproducibility without requiring complex programming, as the system self-corrects based on real-time sensor data, maintaining ease of operation while achieving high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for administering a liquid to a human by means of injection of liquid. The device is configured with a movement device arranged to move a gripping element for gripping an injector. The injector is adapted with an individual dose of the liquid and an injection needle and preferably comprises a housing and an operating member to expel the liquid from the injector via the injection needle. The gripping element includes a first component for engaging the housing and a second component for operating an operating member. The first component and the second component are resistively slidable relative to each other, and the first component is connected to the movement device via the second component.