Medication Dose Button Contact Interface Axial Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medication delivery devices face challenges in ensuring accurate and ergonomic administration of medication, particularly in preventing unintended forces that can affect the accuracy of dose delivery and patient comfort during use.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a contact interface with a smaller surface area than the dose button, made of a material with higher friction and lower Young's modulus, which guides axial force application to enhance on-center loading and inhibit off-axis loading, thereby improving the ergonomic and accurate dispensing of medication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a contact interface with larger surface area is used on the dose button, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to unintended axial loading on the rotating dose member
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is designed with a smaller surface area specifically at the location where user force is applied, while the rest of the dose button maintains its full size. This localized modification ensures that force is applied centrally without creating unintended axial loading on the rotating dose member, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while preserving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact interface acts as an intermediary element between the user's finger and the dose button. By positioning this interface with a controlled smaller surface area, it mediates the force application to ensure axial alignment and prevent rotational forces from being transmitted to the rotating dose member, thereby maintaining precision.
2Ease of operation
If the contact interface material has lower friction, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to increased off-axis loading
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is made from a material with specifically selected friction properties. The friction coefficient is optimized to provide sufficient grip for easy operation while preventing off-axis forces from causing unintended rotation of the dose button. This parameter optimization balances ease of operation with manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If the contact interface has smaller surface area, then manufacturing precision is improved by reducing off-axis loading, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface is designed with a smaller surface area specifically at the location where user force is applied, while the rest of the dose button maintains its full size. This localized modification ensures that force is applied centrally without creating unintended axial loading on the rotating dose member, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while preserving ease of operation.
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
This design enhances the accuracy and comfort of medication delivery by ensuring that forces are applied axially, reducing the likelihood of unintended rotation and improving the user's grip, leading to more precise and comfortable dosing.
Implementation Method 1
made of a material with higher friction and lower Young's modulus, which guides axial force application to enhance on-center loading and inhibit off-axis loading
Implementation Method 2
made of a material with higher friction and lower Young's modulus, which guides axial force application to enhance on-center loading
Data Source
AI summary
Medication delivery devices are provided having a dose delivery button. A dose button includes a contact interface to enhance friction between a user's finger when operating the device to promote substantially axial translation of a dose button to deliver a dose of medication. The contact interface may be formed of a different material with a lower coefficient of kinetic friction relative to the skin and/or a lower Young's modulus than that of the dose button. The contact interface may have a smaller lateral dimension than the dose button. The delivery device may have an actuator cover coupled to the contact interface.