Bi-directional Dose Setting Module for Medical Injection Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical injection systems are challenging for visually impaired patients to use due to the need for visual dose adjustment, and manufacturers face difficulties in identifying quality issues in complex injection systems during quality control, as components are assembled and inspected as a whole.
Innovation Solution
A medical injection system with modular design and a bi-directional dose setting module, allowing for non-visual dose adjustment and separate inspection of components, featuring a lead screw, driver, dose indicia, and retract module, which can be assembled and inspected individually, and generates distinct responses for different rotation directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual dose marks are used on conventional injection pens, then dose adjustment is simple, but visually impaired patients cannot check the dose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the visual indication system with a tactile feedback system. The dose indicia includes raised features that can be felt by touch, and the rotation mechanism provides audible clicks that confirm dose selection without visual input. This substitution allows visually impaired patients to adjust and verify doses through tactile and auditory senses rather than sight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of dose indication from visual (optical) to tactile and auditory. The dose marks are transformed into raised features with specific textures, and the rotation mechanism generates audible feedback through controlled clicking sounds. This parameter change makes the system accessible to visually impaired patients while maintaining ease of operation for all users.
2Reliability
If all components are assembled and inspected together as a whole system, then quality control is comprehensive, but it is difficult to identify quality issues in specific components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the injection system into separate modular components including the dose setting module, injection module, and cartridge module. Each module can be assembled, inspected, and tested independently before final integration. This segmentation allows quality control personnel to identify and address issues in specific components without having to disassemble and inspect the entire assembled system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary inspection of individual modules before final assembly. Each module undergoes quality control checks independently at earlier stages of manufacturing, allowing defects to be detected and corrected before the components are integrated into the complete injection system. This preliminary action prevents defective components from reaching final assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the injection system uses multiple components for functionality, then the system is more capable, but quality inspection becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multi-component injection system into distinct functional modules that can be inspected separately. The dose setting module with its bi-directional rotation mechanism, the injection module with lead screw and driver, and the cartridge module are designed as separable units. This segmentation maintains the system's functional capabilities while simplifying quality inspection by allowing each module to be evaluated independently.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and accurate dose adjustment for visually impaired patients and facilitates earlier identification of quality issues in manufacturing by allowing separate inspection and assembly of modules, improving usability and quality control efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a button spring disposed between the dose knob and the driver sleeve
Implementation Method 2
a lead screw movable in an axial direction of the medical injection system
Implementation Method 3
a ratchet and a first helical element, the ratchet being coupled to the resilient flange of the driver for preventing the driver from rotating in a second direction
Data Source
AI summary
A medical injection system comprising an injection module, a retract module, and a bi-directional dose setting module. The bi-directional dose setting module comprises a dose plate, and the injection module comprises a dose knob engaged with the dose plate. The medical injection system generates a first response when the dose knob is rotated in the first direction, and generates a second response when the dose knob is rotated in the second direction.