Composite Dose Button Assembly for Durable Drug Delivery Pens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug delivery devices, particularly pen-type devices, face challenges in providing a robust, lightweight, and cost-effective button mechanism for users to set and dispense variable or fixed doses of pharmaceuticals, especially for conditions like diabetes and its complications, where user-friendly and reliable dosing is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A button for drug delivery devices comprising a plastic and metal component, where the metal component is anodized for durability and aesthetics, and the plastic component is elastically deformable for secure retention, allowing for a robust and compact design with easy assembly and user-friendly operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a button mechanism is made robust and durable, then reliability is improved, but weight increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The button is constructed as a composite structure combining a metal component (for structural strength and durability) with a plastic component (for lightweight properties and cost-effectiveness). The metal component forms the core structural element while the plastic component provides the outer surface, creating a hybrid structure that balances durability with weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The button is divided into two separate components: a metal component and a plastic component. These components are manufactured separately and then assembled together, allowing each material to be optimized for its specific function - the metal for structural integrity and the plastic for weight reduction and cost efficiency.
2Reliability
If a button mechanism is made robust and durable, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The button combines metal and plastic components, where the metal provides durability and the plastic reduces manufacturing cost. This composite approach allows the expensive metal to be used only where structural strength is needed, while the cheaper plastic material is used for the remaining structure.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the button into separate metal and plastic components, each can be manufactured using the most cost-effective process for that material type, and then assembled. This segmentation allows for optimized manufacturing processes and reduced overall production cost compared to using a single expensive material throughout.
3Reliability
If the button components are securely retained together, then reliability is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic component is inserted into the metal component, creating a nested structure where one component fits within the other. This nesting arrangement provides secure retention through friction and geometric interference, while the simple insert-and-lock mechanism keeps the assembly process straightforward without requiring complex fastening systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformability of the plastic component allows it to self-adjust and self-lock within the metal component during assembly. The elastic deformation during insertion creates a self-retaining mechanism that secures the components together without requiring additional fasteners or complex assembly steps.
4Reliability
If the plastic component is elastically deformable for secure retention, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic component is designed with specific elastic properties through material selection and geometric design. By controlling parameters such as material cross-linking, wall thickness, and component geometry, the elastic deformability is optimized to provide secure retention while maintaining manufacturability with standard precision tolerances.
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 solution provides a reliable, long-lasting, and cost-effective button mechanism that ensures precise dosing with audible feedback, enhancing user experience and device reliability for managing diabetes and related conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the metal component is anodized for durability and aesthetics
Implementation Method 2
the plastic component is elastically deformable for secure retention
Data Source
AI summary
A button for setting and dispensing a dose of a drug from a drug delivery device is described. The button comprises a plastic component and a metal component, wherein the plastic component is at least partly received by the metal component, and wherein the metal component is configured to be manipulated by a user for setting and dispensing the dose. Furthermore, a method for assembling a button for a drug delivery device and a drug delivery device comprising the button are described.