Compact Auto-Injector with Nested Pill Bottle Case
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auto-injectors face issues with poor portability, unwanted attention, accidental injections, and lacerations, leading to patient anxiety and the need for an improved design that is portable, intuitive, and easy to use for intramuscular or subcutaneous medicament administration.
Innovation Solution
A compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector with a human-centered design, featuring a sealed housing and cover with a medicament reservoir and needle extension system, allowing for safe and effective dosing, and incorporating ergonomic features such as tactile surfaces, color coding, and a viewing window for user orientation and safety mechanisms to prevent accidental use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If existing auto-injectors are used, then medicament can be administered, but portability is poor and the device attracts unwanted attention
Solution Approach 1:
The auto-injector is nested within a protective case that resembles a conventional pill bottle. The housing contains the medicament reservoir, needle mechanism, and actuation components, while the protective case provides additional concealment and protection. This nested structure allows the device to maintain its injection functionality while achieving a compact, unobtrusive form factor that does not attract unwanted attention.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective case is designed with different properties for different purposes: the exterior mimics a conventional pill bottle for concealment, while the interior provides precise mechanical interfaces for the auto-injector components. The case includes a receptacle with specific geometric features that engage with corresponding features on the housing, ensuring proper alignment and protection without compromising the injection mechanism.
2Reliability
If existing auto-injectors are used, then injection function is provided, but risk of accidental injections and lacerations exists
Solution Approach 1:
The protective case serves as a preliminary protective barrier that prevents accidental activation of the injection mechanism. The case must be intentionally opened and the housing deliberately removed from the case to access the needle, creating multiple layers of protection against unintended use. Additionally, the needle is enclosed within the housing during storage and transport, and only becomes exposed when the user intentionally actuates the device by pressing the actuator against the anvil.
Solution Approach 2:
The device requires intentional user actions in sequence: first opening the protective case, then removing the housing from the case, and finally pressing the actuator to deploy the needle. These preliminary actions ensure that the user is consciously preparing for injection before the needle becomes exposed, reducing the risk of accidental injections.
3Volume of moving object
If compact design is implemented, then portability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective case combines multiple functions into a single component: it protects the auto-injector during storage and transport, provides a compact form factor for portability, and serves as part of the activation mechanism through its interaction with the housing. The housing itself integrates the medicament reservoir, needle mechanism, and actuation components in a compact arrangement, merging what could be separate systems into a unified compact device.
Data Source
AI summary
A novel single use auto-injector for delivering a fixed amount of medicament is described. The auto-injector may include a sealed housing rotatably held in a cover. Once the auto-injector is positioned at the injection location, the user can transition the housing from a locked to an armed position. The user can then compress the sealed housing into the cover, triggering activation mechanisms that initiate the injection. A first activation mechanism engages an interlock to prevent reuse of the auto-injector. A second activation mechanism straightens and extends a curved needle to a set the exposed needle length. A third activation mechanism pierces a sealed reservoir allowing the medicament to be forced through the injection needle. Following the injection, the auto-injector expands and interlocks, retracting the needle into the auto-injector and preventing reuse.