Therapeutic Delivery Device Cartridge Ejection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulin delivery methods for Type 1 diabetes, such as daily injections and insulin pump therapy, face challenges in managing insulin levels effectively, particularly in preventing uncontrolled over-delivery of insulin due to faults in the delivery device, which can lead to dangerous blood sugar fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A therapeutic product delivery device with a cartridge, engagement structure, fault detector, and release trigger that automatically separates the cartridge from the device body in case of a fault, ensuring no further insulin delivery occurs, using a biasing element like a spring for ejection and a deformable wire element for releasing the engagement structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the pump is merely paused or stopped when a fault is detected, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability is worsened because uncontrolled delivery may resume after pausing
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is physically extracted from the device body upon fault detection. The release trigger causes the engagement structure to disengage, separating the cartridge from the pump mechanism. This ensures complete cessation of therapeutic product delivery by removing the product source from the delivery system, preventing any possibility of uncontrolled resumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device is segmented into separable components: a reusable device body and a disposable cartridge. The engagement structure provides reversible mechanical coupling between these segments. When a fault occurs, the segments are separated, with the cartridge being ejected from the device body, ensuring reliable cessation of delivery while allowing the device body to be reused.
2Reliability
If a dedicated structure for separating the cartridge is provided, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing element serves multiple functions: it provides the driving force for pumping the therapeutic product through the cartridge, and simultaneously acts as the separation mechanism by ejecting the cartridge from the device body when the release trigger is activated. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated separation structure, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable cartridge separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing element's pumping function and cartridge ejection function are merged into a single mechanical component. The same spring that drives the pump mechanism also provides the ejection force when released, combining two critical functions into one element and simplifying the overall device structure.
3Ease of operation
If the cartridge is not released from the device body, then the ease of operation is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to potential uncontrolled insulin delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement structure is designed with a release trigger that can be activated to preemptively separate the cartridge from the device body. This preliminary anti-action prevents potential harmful effects by removing the cartridge before any uncontrolled delivery can occur, while the simple engagement/disengagement mechanism maintains ease of operation for both normal and emergency scenarios.
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
Prevents uncontrolled insulin delivery by physically disconnecting the cartridge, ensuring patient safety and allowing for easy replacement, thus maintaining stable blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of complications.
Implementation Method 1
The device body may comprise a biasing element which presses against the reservoir of the cartridge when the cartridge is engaged with the device body
Implementation Method 2
a wire element which is deformable in response to an applied electric current to move the releasing element from the retaining position to the releasing position
Data Source
AI summary
A therapeutic product delivery device is described which comprises a device body and a cartridge for holding a therapeutic product. An engagement structure is provided for releasably engaging the cartridge with the device body. A fault detector is provided for detecting a fault in the delivery of the therapeutic product from the cartridge. A release trigger is responsive to the detection of a fault to cause the engagement structure to release the cartridge from the device body. In this way, a fault causes the cartridge to be released from the device body, which will prevent any further delivery of the therapeutic product to the patient. This solution is strongly preferable to a solution in which a product delivery mechanism (e.g. a pump) is merely paused or stopped, since when the cartridge separates then no further delivery is possible at all, until the cartridge is reattached (or more probably replaced with a new cartridge in case the fault is with the cartridge).