Cap Assembly Gripping Member for Medicament Delivery Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament delivery devices face difficulties in assembly due to the design of connectors that make it hard to insert needle covers or rigid needle shields, leading to increased complexity and time in the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A cap assembly with a gripping member that features radially flexible distal portions and medicament delivery member shield grippers, allowing for a friction fit and facilitating the assembly of medicament delivery devices by ensuring the shield is securely engaged without initial radial inward flexing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector legs are made elastic to secure the needle cover and needle shield, then the securing function is improved, but the assembly difficulty increases because the legs flex towards each other making insertion more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into multiple legs (first leg, second leg, third leg, fourth leg) that can independently flex and engage. Each leg has proximal and distal portions with specific flexibility characteristics, allowing them to be segmented functions that collectively provide securing while reducing individual insertion difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The connector legs are designed with dynamic flexibility - they flex towards each other during insertion to accommodate the needle cover and shield, then maintain their flexed state to provide secure engagement. The flexibility is controlled through specific material properties and geometric configurations of each leg portion
2Reliability
If the distal portions of the gripping member are made radially flexible to receive the shield, then the engagement capability is improved, but the assembly complexity increases due to the need for precise flexing control
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping member has different flexibility characteristics at different locations - the distal portions are made radially flexible to engage the shield, while the proximal portions maintain more rigid characteristics for structural support. This local differentiation of mechanical properties enables reliable engagement without requiring complex assembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The distal portions are pre-configured with radial flexibility during manufacturing, so they are ready to flex and engage the shield automatically during assembly. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex assembly steps to control flexing, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining engagement capability
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
The cap assembly simplifies the assembly process of medicament delivery devices by ensuring that the medicament delivery member shield is securely engaged, reducing assembly time and complexity while maintaining the sterility of the device.
Implementation Method 1
the distal portions being radially flexible and extending away from each other to allow the gripping member to receive a medicament delivery member shield between the distal portions
Implementation Method 2
a gripping member configured to be received in the channel with a friction fit and to receive a medicament delivery member shield
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a cap assembly for a medicament delivery device that has a cap body arranged to be connected to a medicament delivery device for protecting and for removing a medicament delivery member shield. The cap body has an inner cap structure defining a channel extending along the central axis of the cap body, and a gripping member configured to be received in the channel with a friction fit and to receive a medicament delivery member shield. The gripping member has a first leg, a second leg, and a transverse portion extending between the first leg and the second leg, which transverse portion defines the leading edge of the gripping member when received by the channel.