Coded Cartridge Holder Keyed Connectors Prevent Cross-Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medicament reservoir systems lack mechanisms to prevent incorrect cartridge usage, posing safety risks for patients, especially those with limited dexterity or visual impairments, and are susceptible to counterfeiting due to lack of authentication features.
Innovation Solution
A coded cartridge holder system with keyed connectors and mechanical coding that ensures compatibility between the cartridge and the delivery device, preventing cross-use and tampering, utilizing a coupling with axial and angularly offset keyed connectors and slots for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no coding mechanism is provided on the cartridge and delivery device, then the device structure remains simple and manufacturing cost is low, but patient safety is compromised due to risk of incorrect cartridge usage and counterfeiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual coding mechanisms including color-coded features on the cartridge and delivery device. The coding system uses distinct visual characteristics (colors, patterns, shapes) that allow patients to easily distinguish between different cartridge types without requiring complex mechanical or electronic systems, thus improving safety while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements asymmetric coding features where the cartridge and delivery device have complementary asymmetric geometries (protrusions, recesses, keyed connectors) that only match when the correct cartridge is paired with its intended device. This physical asymmetry prevents incorrect pairings while adding minimal structural complexity
2Reliability
If visual coding alone is used to distinguish cartridges, then the coding mechanism remains simple, but it is insufficient for patients with visual impairments or limited dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coding system into multiple independent segments: visual codes (colors, patterns), tactile codes (raised features, grooves, keyed connectors), and mechanical interface codes (complementary geometric shapes). This segmentation allows patients to use multiple senses (sight, touch, motor skills) to identify and operate the correct cartridge, improving accessibility without requiring a single complex coding mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric keyed connectors and geometric coding features provide tactile feedback and motor-based identification. Patients with visual impairments can feel the unique shape, orientation, and texture of the coding features, while those with limited dexterity can intuitively match the asymmetric shapes through hand-eye coordination or tactile exploration, thereby improving ease of operation
3Reliability
If standard-sized cartridges are used without coding features, then manufacturing cost is reduced and manufacturing process is simplified, but the system becomes susceptible to counterfeiting and cross-use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates color-coded features during the standard cartridge manufacturing process. These visual codes can be applied through conventional printing, coating, or molding techniques that are already part of standard cartridge production, adding authentication capability without requiring entirely new manufacturing processes or significantly increasing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric keyed connectors and geometric coding features are integrated into the cartridge mold during standard manufacturing. By incorporating these features directly into the molding process rather than adding them as separate components, the patent maintains ease of manufacture while providing robust authentication and anti-counterfeiting capabilities
Data Source
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Figure 3~5
AI summary
A coded cartridge holder system is disclosed for use with a cartridge assembly (20) containing a fluid and a delivery device (10), where the system has keyed connectors (5, 5', 6, 6') to prevent accidental attachment of the wrong fluid delivery device (10). The system comprises a coupling (1) attachable to the dose setting portion (12) of the device (10) and keyed to the proximal end of the cartridge holder (14). The cartridge holder (14) may also contain medical coding (27, 28) to correspond to matching coding (27', 28') on the distal end of a cartridge assembly (20).