Reusable Dispense Interface with Segmented Single-Use Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for delivering multiple medicaments face challenges in material compatibility, cross-contamination, and environmental impact due to complex designs and the need for single-use dispense interfaces, which are costly and environmentally unfriendly.
Innovation Solution
A multi-use dispense interface with multiple single-use channel structures that can be used for multiple ejections before disposal, reducing material usage and environmental impact while ensuring biocompatibility and minimizing cross-contamination by using each channel structure only once.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-use dispense interface is used for each ejection, then cross-contamination is minimized and biocompatibility is ensured, but material usage increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The dispense interface is divided into multiple separate channel structures (first channel structure, second channel structure, etc.), where each channel is used only once for a single ejection. This segmentation allows the body to be reused while maintaining single-use integrity for each fluid path, thus ensuring biocompatibility without excessive material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hybrid approach where the body of the dispense interface is recovered and reused for multiple ejections, but the channel structures are discarded after single use. This selective discarding and recovering strategy maintains biocompatibility for each ejection event while reducing overall material consumption compared to complete single-use interfaces.
2Loss of substance
If multiple single-use channel structures are integrated into a reusable body, then cross-contamination is minimized while material usage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple single-use channel structures are merged into a single reusable body structure. The body houses several channel structures that can be sequentially activated, combining the functionality of multiple single-use interfaces into one reusable unit. This reduces overall material usage while managing complexity through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable body is designed to accommodate multiple channel structures, making it a multi-functional platform that can perform several ejections using different channels. This universality allows one body to replace multiple single-use interfaces, reducing material waste while the modular channel design keeps complexity manageable.
3Reliability
If a complex design with multiple channel structures is used, then cross-contamination is minimized, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into separate channel structures, with each channel dedicated to a specific ejection event. This physical segmentation prevents cross-contamination between different ejections while maintaining a relatively simple overall design through modular construction of the channel structures within the body.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a dispense interface comprising a body comprising at least a first channel structure and a second channel structure, wherein each of the at least two channel structures comprises at least a first inlet channel comprising a first inlet opening and a second inlet channel comprising a second inlet opening, wherein each of the at least two inlet openings of one channel structure is configured for fluid communication with a respective reservoir of at least two reservoirs and wherein at least one connecting channel configured for a fluid communication between at least one outlet opening and one of the at least two channel structures is provided.