Dose Divider Syringe Tactile Feedback Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing syringe technologies are complex to assemble, expensive to manufacture, and require detailed user instructions due to intricate mechanisms, which complicates the delivery of precise doses and provides inadequate tactile feedback for users.

Innovation Solution

A syringe design featuring a barrel, plunger, and a dose divider with a concave shell that provides tactile feedback through variable interference with the barrel, allowing for intuitive and economical dose control without complex mechanisms or threaded connections, enabling precise dose delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a latch and spring mechanism is used for dose setting and delivery, then precise dose control is achieved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose control precisionVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex latch and spring mechanism from the syringe design, retaining only the essential components needed for dose control. The dose setting is achieved through a simpler plunger position indication system that eliminates unnecessary mechanical complexity while maintaining dosing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex positive locking mechanism with latches and springs, the patent employs a passive indication system where the plunger position itself provides the dose measurement feedback, inverting the approach from active mechanical control to passive visual/tactile indication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If a mechanical dose programming assembly with threaded connections is used, then precise dose delivery is achieved, but assembly complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose delivery precisionVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates threaded connections and complex mechanical programming assemblies, keeping only the essential plunger and barrel components. Dose delivery precision is maintained through simple plunger position indication rather than complex mechanical programming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The syringe is divided into simple, separable components (barrel, plunger, dose divider) that can be easily manufactured and assembled without requiring threaded connections or complex mechanical interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If detailed operating instructions are provided for complex mechanisms, then proper operation is ensured, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation reliabilityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The syringe design allows users to determine the dose directly from the plunger position indication without requiring external instructions or complex operational procedures. The device is self-explanatory through its simple visual and tactile feedback mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs visual indication methods (such as colored zones or markings on the barrel) that provide intuitive feedback to users about plunger position and dose delivery, eliminating the need for detailed written instructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

4Ease of operation

If variable interference between dose divider and barrel is implemented, then tactile feedback is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetactile feedback qualityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dose divider provides variable interference only at specific locations along the barrel, creating localized tactile feedback zones without requiring complex structures throughout the entire device. This maintains simplicity while improving user feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The concave shell of the dose divider creates curved surfaces that provide natural tactile feedback through variable contact with the barrel, using geometric form rather than complex mechanical structures to achieve improved user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3261695B1Dose divider syringe
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 TELEFLEX MEDICAL INC
  • EP3261695B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3261695B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3261695B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A syringe includes a barrel having an internal surface defining an internal bore therein; a plunger having a distal end disposed within the internal bore of the barrel, and a proximal end disposed outside the internal bore of the barrel, the proximal end of the plunger being opposite the distal end of the plunger along a longitudinal direction; and a dose divider. The dose divider includes a divider flange extending at least partly in a radial direction, the radial direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the divider flange having a distal surface that faces the barrel, the distal surface of the divider flange bearing on the proximal end of the plunger, and a concave shell extending away from the distal surface of the divider flange along the longitudinal direction.