Shell Assembly for Customizing Medicament Delivery Device Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medicament delivery devices lack the ability to provide distinct appearances for different pharmaceutical companies without altering the device's basic functionality, as mere changes in grip portions or labels are insufficient for differentiation.

Innovation Solution

A shell assembly that accommodates a major part of the medicament delivery device, providing a customizable appearance by integrating a closure element and fixation elements to securely hold the device, allowing for a medicament delivery member to protrude and facilitating easy assembly and dose delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If different designs are provided on the housing of medicament delivery devices, then the appearance is differentiated for different end users, but the device complexity increases due to alterations of other components and elements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveappearanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part that can be separated from each other. The first housing part contains the medicament delivery device, while the second housing part can be removed to provide access. This segmentation allows the appearance to be customized through different housing part configurations without complicating the core device functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closure element is designed to be removable from the housing, extracting the sealing function from the permanent housing structure. This allows the housing to provide the appearance customization while the removable closure element provides the sealing function, separating these concerns to reduce overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If labels and colours are used to differentiate devices, then the appearance is customized without altering functionality, but the differentiation is insufficient for pharmaceutical companies requiring unique appearances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the housing can have different properties - the first housing part maintains a standard design for manufacturing efficiency, while the second housing part can be customized in shape, color, or features to provide unique appearance for different pharmaceutical companies without requiring changes to the core device components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the housing is integrated with functions of the device, then the structure is unified, but altering the design requires changes to other components and elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoiddesign flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing transitions from a static integrated structure to a dynamic assembly where the second housing part can be removed and replaced. This allows the housing to maintain structural integrity during use while providing design flexibility when customization is needed, as different second housing parts can be swapped without affecting the core device functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3735998B1Shell for a medicament delivery device
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SHL MEDICAL AG
  • EP3735998B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3735998B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3735998B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a shell assembly for a medicament delivery device (14), which shell assembly comprises at least one first shell section (12; 102) provided with an entry passage (18; 105) and designed such that at least a major part of a medicament delivery device (14) entered through said entry passage (18; 105) is accommodated inside said at least one first shell section (12; 102), a closure element (38; 104) operably arranged to said at least one first shell section (12; 102) for closing said entry passage (18; 105), and fixation elements (20, 32, 34, 48, 54, 58; 106, 108, 116, 122, 126) arranged for fixating said medicament delivery device (14) in relation to said at least one first shell section (12; 102) and said closure element (38; 104).