Cylindrical Support Bridges for Rotatable Drug Reservoir

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical instruments face challenges in maintaining coaxiality and maneuverability due to premature aging of plastic materials and poor resistance of rubber seals under high temperatures and cleaning products, especially when dealing with varying container diameters and the need for sterilization.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical support made of rigid plastic with specific internal bridges and recesses that provide elasticity to adapt to container diameters, ensuring coaxiality and torque transmission without the need for rubber seals, while withstanding sterilization and cleaning constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If plastic materials are used to adapt to different container diameters, then adaptability is improved, but premature aging occurs due to strong internal stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to different container diametersVSAvoidpremature aging
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cylindrical support is segmented into multiple radial bridges separated by recesses, allowing localized deformation in each bridge while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation distributes internal stresses across multiple discrete elements rather than creating concentrated stress fields, enabling adaptation to different container diameters without premature aging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the plastic material by controlling crystallinity (30-90%) and incorporating specific additives to modify stress distribution and relaxation characteristics. This allows the material to adapt to diameter variations while resisting premature aging through controlled material properties rather than relying solely on geometric deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If rubber seals are used to adapt to different container diameters, then adaptability is improved, but resistance to sterilization and cleaning products deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to different container diametersVSAvoidresistance to sterilization and cleaning products
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the rubber seals from the system entirely, replacing them with rigid plastic bridges that inherently provide the necessary adaptation through their geometric configuration. This removal of rubber components directly resolves the resistance issue with sterilization and cleaning products while maintaining adaptability through the bridge structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cylindrical support uses composite plastic materials with controlled crystallinity (30-90%) and specific additives to achieve both adaptability and sterilization resistance in a single material system, eliminating the need for rubber seals that would compromise chemical resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If rubber seals are used to adapt to different container diameters, then adaptability is improved, but device volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to different container diametersVSAvoidouter diameter of support
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the adaptation function previously performed by separate rubber seals into the integrated rigid plastic bridge structure itself. The bridges provide both structural support and diameter adaptation within the same component, eliminating additional volume from separate seal elements and maintaining a compact support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If rigid plastic material is used for cylindrical support, then resistance to sterilization is improved, but adaptability to different container diameters deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to sterilization and cleaning productsVSAvoidadaptation to different container diameters
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid plastic bridges are designed with controlled flexibility through their geometry and material properties (crystallinity 30-90%), allowing them to dynamically adapt to different container diameters while maintaining overall structural rigidity. The bridges can elastically deform to accommodate diameter variations then return to their original shape, providing adaptability without sacrificing sterilization resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By controlling the crystallinity parameter (30-90%) and incorporating specific additives in the rigid plastic material, the invention achieves an optimal balance between rigidity for sterilization resistance and controlled flexibility for diameter adaptation, allowing the same material to satisfy both contradictory requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures long-term stability, coaxiality, and efficient torque transmission in a minimal volume, eliminating the need for additional elastic means and maintaining optimal maneuverability and vision during surgical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

The cylindrical support (3) is made of a rigid plastic material and is shaped in such a way as to create a zone of contact with the container (4) at the ends, or near each of the ends, of the cylindrical support (3) to allow coaxiality optimal. The body (31) of the cylindrical support (3) is provided with recesses (312) formed at circumferential distances... Between the recesses (312) of the same row remain bridges of material (313) bent towards the inside of the tubular body (31) in order to be able to cooperate elastically with a container (4) thus enclosed in the body (31).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2335637B1Injection device with cylindrical support for rotatable drug reservoir
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 DENTALHITEC
  • EP2335637B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2335637B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The support (3) has a tubular wall (311) for receiving a pharmaceutical product container, and comprising contact areas formed by material bridges (313) remaining between recesses (312) formed along lines of circumferential rows (A, B). The material bridges present deflections towards interior of the support, and rotatably integrate the support to the container. The recesses are oblong holes parallely orientated to a longitudinal axis (30) of the support, where the support is made of rigid plastic material. An independent claim is also included for a surgical instrument for perforation of a human or animal body and injection of a pharmaceutical product in the body.