Pharmaceutical Discharge Device Spring Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing discharge devices for pharmaceutical liquids, particularly for ophthalmic use, face challenges in achieving a reliable pressure-controlled outlet valve due to the need for a small pressure difference, making manual actuation difficult and prone to liquid escape.
Innovation Solution
A discharge device with a prestressed spring device that pressurizes the liquid reservoir, ensuring consistent overpressure without manual intervention, featuring a manually operable outlet valve and a throttle device to reduce pressure to a range suitable for drop dispensing, typically between 100 and 300 mbar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure-controlled outlet valve is used to close the discharge opening, then liquid leakage is prevented, but the valve requires a small pressure difference to switch states which makes manual actuation difficult and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
A spring device is pre-tensioned during assembly to store mechanical energy that automatically pressurizes the liquid reservoir. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual pressurization and provides consistent overpressure to reliably actuate the outlet valve without requiring difficult manual force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical actuation system is replaced with an automatic spring-based pressurization system. The spring device converts stored mechanical energy into liquid pressure, substituting the need for manual pumping or compression operations with an automatic mechanical energy release mechanism that reliably actuates the valve.
2Productivity
If manual pumping or compression is used to generate pressure, then liquid discharge is achieved, but the process requires continuous manual intervention and is prone to unintended liquid escape
Solution Approach 1:
The spring device is pre-tensioned during assembly to store mechanical energy that automatically pressurizes the liquid reservoir. This preliminary action eliminates the need for continuous manual intervention and provides consistent overpressure to reliably actuate the outlet valve without requiring difficult manual force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring device automatically maintains pressure in the liquid reservoir without requiring external manual operation. The stored mechanical energy in the spring continuously pressurizes the liquid, making the system self-sufficient for pressure generation and eliminating the need for user pumping or compression actions.
3Reliability
If a strong spring is used to keep the outlet valve closed, then liquid leakage is prevented, but very large pressurizing surfaces are required which are difficult to integrate into portable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The spring device is pre-tensioned during assembly to store mechanical energy that automatically pressurizes the liquid reservoir. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual pressurization and provides consistent overpressure to reliably actuate the outlet valve without requiring difficult manual force application.
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 reliable and controlled dispensing of pharmaceutical liquids as drops with low overpressure, enhancing the device's safety and ease of use by utilizing stored mechanical work from the spring, reducing the risk of unintended liquid discharge during assembly and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a prestressed spring device (150) is provided on a discharge device according to the invention, by means of which liquid in the receiving space of the liquid reservoir is pressurized
Implementation Method 2
a prestressed spring device is provided on a discharge device according to the invention, by means of which liquid in the receiving space of the liquid reservoir is pressurized and which is not accessible for the introduction of energy in the assembled state of the discharge device
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3~4
AI summary
1. Discharge device for discharging pharmaceutical liquids. 2.1. The invention relates to a discharge device (100) for discharging pharmaceutical liquids, in particular for ophthalmic purposes, with a housing (110), a liquid reservoir (130) with a receiving space (132) for storing the pharmaceutical liquid, and a discharge opening (112) which is provided on the housing (110) and which connects the receiving space (132) to an environment and serves to dispense the pharmaceutical liquid (136). 2.2. According to the invention, provision is made that a pretensioned spring mechanism (150) is provided, by means of which liquid in the receiving space (132) of the liquid reservoir (130) is subjected to pressure and which, in the assembled state of the discharge device (100), is not accessible for input of energy. 2.3. Use in particular in a discharge device with manually mechanically activatable outlet valve.