Cannula Valve Assembly for Contamination-Free Extended Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices face challenges in maintaining contact between the device and the patient's skin for prolonged injections, especially when administering large volumes of liquid therapeutic preparations, and there is a need for improved valve assemblies to facilitate controlled and contamination-free fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly comprising a valve housing, cannula, valve boot, and valve sleeve, with a piercing member, designed to move between pre-use and use positions, ensuring secure fluid communication and minimizing contamination risk, while allowing for extended injection times and variable delivery rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the volume of drug to be administered is increased above 1 mL, then the injection time becomes longer, but it becomes difficult for the patient to maintain contact between the device and the target area of the skin
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is divided into multiple components including a valve body, valve member, and actuator mechanism. This segmentation allows the device to control large volume infusion through staged valve operations, enabling prolonged injection periods while maintaining patient comfort and contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member is configured to move between closed and open positions dynamically, allowing the device to adjust flow rates and injection timing. This dynamic control enables flexible administration of large drug volumes over extended periods while maintaining ease of use.
2Duration of action of moving object
If traditional IV injection method is used to inject drug slowly into patient, then the injection time can be extended, but the procedure requires hospital or outpatient setting and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly incorporates an integrated actuator mechanism that automatically controls valve member movement between closed and open positions. This self-service design eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex external control systems, enabling slow-rate infusion to be performed using a simple, portable device in home settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly is designed to perform multiple functions including fluid flow control, pressure regulation, and automated actuation within a single integrated structure. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require separate IV equipment into one device, reducing overall system complexity while enabling extended injection times.
3Reliability
If the valve member moves from closed to open position, then the fluid communication is established, but the risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member acts as an intermediary element between the fluid passage and the external environment. When moved to the open position, it controls fluid flow through a sealed interface, establishing reliable fluid communication while maintaining a barrier that prevents contamination from entering the sterile fluid path.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly for a drug delivery device includes a valve housing, a cannula having a first end and a second end positioned opposite the first end, a valve boot connected to the valve housing and defining an interior space, a valve sleeve defining a cannula space, with the valve sleeve configured to move from a pre-use position where the first end of the cannula is received within the cannula space to a use position where the first end of the cannula extends outside of the valve sleeve and the cannula space, and a piercing member having a body with a piercing tip. The body of the piercing member has a first end and a second end positioned opposite the first end, with the piercing member engaged with the valve sleeve.