Drug Delivery Dose Capturing Torque Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug delivery systems lack a simple and reliable method for cost- and energy-effective detection and storage of dose data, often requiring separate modules and complex user interfaces, which can lead to incomplete or erroneous logging of insulin injection records, affecting treatment decisions.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery system with a torque transfer coupling between a drive sleeve and a rotatable driven member, allowing early detection of dose setting actions and enabling a reduced number of user-operable components, which initiates data capture through a switch mechanism, ensuring accurate and efficient data logging without the need for additional modules or complex interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic data acquisition functionality is built into the injection device, then dose data can be automatically captured, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capturing system is initialized in advance through a switch mechanism that activates it before dose data needs to be recorded. This preliminary action ensures the system is ready to capture data automatically without requiring complex real-time activation logic during injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The data acquisition functionality is extracted as a separate capturing system that can be independently initialized and operated. This modular approach reduces the complexity of the main injection device while maintaining reliable dose data capture capabilities.
2Reliability
If a separate data capture module is added to the injection device, then dose data can be logged, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capturing system is integrated with the injection device's existing structure and operational flow. The switch mechanism utilizes components already present in the device, merging the data capture function with the injection mechanism rather than adding completely separate modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch mechanism serves multiple functions: it initializes the capturing system, tracks dose setting actions, and enables data acquisition. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated components for each function, simplifying the overall device structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operable members are included for device functionality, then various operations can be performed, but the user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch mechanism is designed to respond to various user operations (dose setting, injection actuation) through a single integrated component. This allows the device to perform multiple operations while maintaining a simple user interface with fewer operable members.
4Reliability
If the capturing system is always active, then dose data can be captured immediately, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capturing system is initialized in advance through the switch mechanism when dose setting actions are detected. This preliminary activation ensures the system is ready to capture data immediately when needed, while remaining in a low-power state during non-use periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The capturing system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when the switch mechanism detects relevant operations such as dose setting or injection actuation. This periodic operation maintains data capture responsiveness while significantly reducing overall energy consumption.
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 system provides a cost-effective and energy-efficient means to capture dose data, ensuring accurate logging of insulin injections, reducing the complexity of user interaction, and enhancing the reliability of treatment data for medical decision-making.
Implementation Method 1
a torque transfer coupling is arranged between the drive sleeve and the rotatable driven member for transferring rotational movement from the drive sleeve to the rotatable driven member
Data Source
AI summary
Drug delivery system comprising expelling means for expelling an amount of drug from a reservoir, the expelling means comprising dose setting means (11, 21, 122) allowing a user to set a dose to be expelled, and actuation means (123) for releasing the drug expelling means to expel the set dose. The dose setting means comprises a drive sleeve (22) adapted to be rotated to set a dose, and a rotatable driven member (21) arranged for being rotationally driven by the drive sleeve (22) in a slaved rotational movement by means of a torque transfer coupling between the drive sleeve (22) and the rotatable driven member (21). The system further comprises an electronically controlled capturing system for capturing data representing a property related to the amount of drug expelled from the reservoir by the expelling means, and switch means configured to initiate an action within the electronically con-trolled capturing system upon occurrence of the slaved rotational movement.