Fluid Dispenser Porous Insert Capillary Residual Trapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fluid dispenser devices often clog due to residual fluid, which can lead to contamination and pose risks, especially with highly active substances like Fentanyl, and existing solutions do not adequately address these issues.

Innovation Solution

A fluid dispenser device with a porous insert made of hydrophilic material that traps residual fluid by capillarity, combined with a needle that pierces a stopper to connect the insert to the passage means, preventing access to residual volumes and reducing contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional dispensing device is used, then the device can dispense fluid product, but residual fluid remains at the dispensing orifice and in channels causing clogging and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice reliabilityVSAvoidresidual fluid contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous insert made of porous material positioned within the reservoir to absorb residual fluid through capillary action. The porous structure enables the insert to trap and retain residual fluid volumes that would otherwise remain in channels and passages, preventing clogging and contamination while maintaining device reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The porous insert acts as an intermediary element between the fluid product and the dispensing system. It mediates the interaction by absorbing residual fluid through capillary forces, effectively separating the residual fluid from the dispensing orifice and channels, thus preventing harmful effects without interfering with the primary dispensing function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If residual fluid is present in the device, then the device structure remains simple, but access to residual volume is possible creating contamination and safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidaccess to residual volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The porous insert provides a simple yet effective mechanism to prevent access to residual volume. Its porous structure allows it to absorb and trap residual fluid through capillary action, physically blocking access to the residual fluid while maintaining a simple device structure that is easy to manufacture and assemble

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The porous insert operates autonomously to prevent access to residual volume without requiring additional active components or complex mechanisms. The capillary action in the porous material automatically absorbs and traps residual fluid, providing self-service protection against contamination and safety risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 device effectively prevents clogging and contamination by absorbing residual fluid, ensuring safe and reliable operation, particularly in bidose devices, while being simple and cost-effective to manufacture and assemble.

Implementation Method 1

for aspirating, in particular by capillarity, and trapping at least partially the residual fluid product after actuation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3648897B1Device for dispensing fluid product
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 APTAR FRANCE SAS
  • EP3648897B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3648897B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Device for dispensing fluid product, having a reservoir (10) containing fluid product, a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (21), dispensing means (25) for dispensing at least some of said fluid product through said dispensing orifice (21), and passage means (40) for connecting said reservoir (10) to said dispensing orifice (21) upon actuation of said dispensing means (25), said device having at least one porous insert (50) made of porous material, in order to aspirate, in particular by capillary action, and trap at least some of the fluid product remaining after actuation, said reservoir (10) having a plug (25) which closes said reservoir (10) in a leaktight manner before actuation.