Cartridge Holder Mechanical Coding for Injection Device Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a risk of users loading incorrect medicaments into drug delivery devices, leading to potential misuse or administration of the wrong medicament, which can be dangerous for patients.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a cartridge holder system where the connector part is designed as a disposable component, mechanically encoded to match specific medicament containers, preventing unauthorized use and ensuring compatibility with intended device bodies and drive mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If cartridges are manufactured in standard sizes to comply with recognized standards, then manufacturing cost and compatibility are improved, but the risk of loading incorrect medicaments increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge manufacturingVSAvoidmedicament loading accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connector part is provided with an asymmetric mechanical coding feature (protrusion or recess) that does not match the symmetric standard cartridge design. This asymmetric feature must align with a corresponding feature on the device body, creating a dedicated connection that prevents loading of incompatible cartridges while maintaining standard cartridge manufacturing for the majority of the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical coding feature is applied locally at the connector interface between the cartridge and device body, rather than changing the entire cartridge design. This localized modification allows standard cartridge manufacturing to continue while adding specificity at the critical connection point to prevent incorrect medicament loading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a dedicated cartridge assembly with non-detachable connection is used, then the risk of cartridge cross use is reduced, but the ecological footprint increases due to disposal of the entire cartridge holder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge dedicationVSAvoidcartridge holder disposal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge holder is segmented into two distinct parts: a reusable main body and a disposable connector part that is integrated with the cartridge. The reusable cartridge holder body can be retained and refilled with new cartridges, while only the connector part (which contains the mechanical coding feature) is disposed of with the empty cartridge. This segmentation maintains cartridge dedication through the mechanical coding while reducing waste by preserving the valuable reusable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the entire cartridge holder is disposed of, then mechanical dedication to prevent cross use is achieved, but resource waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of unintended cross useVSAvoidecological impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge holder is divided into reusable and disposable portions. The main cartridge holder body is designed to be reusable and can be refilled with new cartridges, while the connector part containing the mechanical coding feature is designed as a disposable component that is disposed of with the empty cartridge. This segmentation achieves mechanical dedication to prevent cross-use while minimizing ecological impact by preserving valuable reusable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If a mechanical coding system is implemented on the connector part, then compatibility control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility controlVSAvoidconnector part design

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical coding system uses a simple asymmetric geometric feature (such as a protrusion or recess) on the connector part that must match a corresponding feature on the device body. This asymmetric design provides reliable compatibility control through straightforward geometric matching without requiring complex mechanisms, electronics, or multiple components. The simplicity of the asymmetric feature keeps the device complexity low while effectively preventing incompatible connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS20250195775A1Cartridge holder and cartridge assembly for an injection device

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 SANOFI SA(FR)

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a cartridge assembly and a cartridge holder for an injection device, wherein the cartridge holder comprises:an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction (z), the elongated body comprises a distal end and a proximal end opposite to the distal end, wherein the elongated body confines a cartridge receiving space to accommodate a medicament container,a retainer part comprising a retainer sidewall confining a distal portion of the cartridge receiving space, the retainer part comprising a proximal end,a connector part comprising a connector sidewall and a distal connector configured to connect to the proximal end of the retainer part and comprising a proximal connector configured to connect to a distal end of a device body of the injection device, wherein the device body is configured to accommodate a drive mechanism to operably engage with the medicament container.