Disposable Injection Device Permanent Thumb Plunger Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing disposable syringes lack essential approval conditions for multiple use when equipped with separately mountable aspiration devices, which can lead to questionable medical approval status due to potential multiple use capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A disposable injection device with a separate receiving device that forms a permanent, non-releasable connection with the thumb stamp, featuring locking elements and a predetermined breaking point to prevent reuse, ensuring the device cannot be dismantled or reused after initial assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate receiving device is mounted on the disposable syringe to enable one-handed aspiration, then patient comfort and ease of operation are improved, but the device may be approved for multiple use which compromises safety and reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveone-handed aspirationVSAvoidapproval status for single use
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving device is pre-configured with a permanent connection mechanism (locking elements with breaking points) that is activated upon initial assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the device becomes irreversibly connected to the syringe, preventing any future disassembly or reuse while maintaining the ergonomic benefit of one-handed aspiration throughout the device's single intended use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element arrangement is designed with predetermined breaking points that create an irreversible connection. This preliminary anti-action prevents the harmful effect of potential multiple use by making the connection permanently secure, thereby eliminating the risk of disassembly and reuse while allowing the receiving device to provide its ergonomic function during the authorized single use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If a permanent connection is made between the receiving device and the syringe, then multiple use is prevented meeting approval conditions, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of multiple useVSAvoidlocking element arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element arrangement is divided into multiple independent locking elements, each with its own breaking point. This segmentation allows the complex function of permanent connection to be distributed across several simple, identical components, making the overall system easier to manufacture and assemble while achieving the goal of preventing multiple use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking elements are designed as simple, inexpensive components with predetermined breaking points. Rather than creating a complex reusable mechanism, the solution uses simple disposable locking elements that fulfill their function during the single authorized use and then become part of the disposed device, minimizing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a separate receiving device is added to the disposable syringe, then the device can be equipped with one-handed aspiration capability, but the assembly and approval process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveone-handed aspiration capabilityVSAvoidassembly and approval process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving device is designed to be permanently integrated with the syringe through the locking element arrangement, creating a single unified device. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly and disassembly procedures, simplifying the manufacturing process and approval documentation while maintaining the adaptability benefit of one-handed aspiration capability throughout the device's use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4088765B1Disposable injection device
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 TELAMEDICA GMBH
  • EP4088765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4088765B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4088765B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a disposable injection device (1) with a cylinder section (2) and a piston assembly (3) arranged therein, which closes the cylinder section (2) at a first end (3a) and has a thumb plunger (3c) at a second end (3b), a separate receiving device (4) mounted on the thumb plunger (3c) is provided in the cylinder section (2) for the purpose of operating this piston assembly (3), which is configured such that a user's thumb can be operatively arranged on the piston assembly (3) for one-handed suction during operation of the disposable injection device (1), wherein the separate receiving device (4) can be mounted on the thumb plunger (3c) by means of a detent element arrangement (5) forming a permanent or non-releasable connection.