Compact Medicament Delivery Device Using Circular Spherical Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medicament delivery devices are often elongated and cumbersome due to their design, which makes them less user-friendly and more expensive, as they require multiple components and complex configurations to function effectively.
Innovation Solution
A compact medicament delivery device with a housing comprising a proximal and distal section, featuring a circle-segment-formed compartment with a support wheel and pre-tensioned clock spring, and interactive hold-and-release mechanisms that allow for a reduced number of components and a compact size, enabling efficient dose delivery and mixing of substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elongated plunger rod with spiral compression springs is used to push the stopper, then the device can deliver medication effectively, but the device becomes quite long and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear arrangement of components to a circular configuration. The plunger rod is replaced by spherical members arranged in a circle that move along a circular path defined by the support wheel. The drive mechanism uses a circularly arranged negator spring instead of a linear spiral compression spring. This dimensional change from linear to circular allows the same functional components to be compacted into a smaller overall device length while maintaining the pushing action on the stopper.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs spherical members instead of a linear plunger rod to push the stopper. These spherical members are arranged in a circular configuration and move along a curved path. The support wheel provides a circular support surface for the spherical members. This spheroidality and curvature allow the drive mechanism to be compact while still delivering the necessary linear pushing force to the stopper through the coordinated circular motion of multiple spheres.
2Reliability
If multiple components and complex configurations are used to ensure effective medication delivery, then the device functions reliably, but the device becomes more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into fewer components. The support wheel serves both as a structural support element and as a guide for the spherical members' circular motion. The circular arrangement of spherical members simultaneously provides the pushing force and defines the motion path. The negator spring is integrated directly into the circular configuration, eliminating the need for separate linear spring mechanisms. This merging of functions reduces the total number of parts and simplifies manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The circularly arranged spherical members serve multiple functions: they guide each other's motion through their circular arrangement, provide the pushing force to the stopper, and define the path of travel. The support wheel simultaneously supports the spherical members and guides their circular motion. The negator spring provides both the driving force and the energy storage mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated components needed, lowering manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Length of moving object
If a compact design with reduced components is implemented, then the device size is reduced and cost is lowered, but the device complexity must be optimized to maintain functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the circular arrangement of spherical members moving along a curved path to achieve compactness. The circular configuration allows the spherical members to sequentially engage with the stopper, providing the pushing force through a compact rotational motion rather than a long linear stroke. The support wheel's circular support surface enables this compact motion while guiding the spherical members. This curved, circular approach achieves device compactness without requiring complex multi-stage mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical members arranged in a circle guide each other's motion through their mutual constraints. As one spherical member moves along the circular path, it naturally guides the others through the fixed circular geometry of the support wheel and the inter-spherical constraints. This self-guiding mechanism eliminates the need for additional complex guidance components, achieving compact design with optimized functional complexity.
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 device achieves a significant reduction in overall size, simplifies user interaction, and allows for multiple dose delivery from a single container, while ensuring proper mixing and secure locking mechanisms to prevent misuse, thus enhancing user experience and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-tensioned clock spring coaxially arranged within said central tubular hub having an outer end connected to said central tubular hub and an inner end connected to a one-direction-rotatable tubular hub
Data Source
AI summary
A medicament delivery device includes a housing with a circle-segment-shaped compartment for a drive unit that moves at least one stopper in a medicament container and that includes a support wheel and central hub on which first and second parallel disks are fixedly attached and interconnected by an abutment cross-wall; spherical members between the abutment wall and adjacent the stopper; a clock spring within the hub with an outer end connected to the hub and an inner end connected to a one-direction-rotatable tubular hub coaxially arranged around a shaft fixedly attached to a housing part; and an activation member connected to the first disk by a hold-and-release mechanism. When the activation member is not depressed, the wheel and spring are held in a tensioned static state, and when the activation member is depressed, the spring and wheel are released and the spherical members are forced against the stopper.