Medicament Delivery Locking Mechanism for Defined Dose Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament delivery devices face issues with complex mechanical components leading to frictional problems and increased manufacturing costs, along with a lack of well-defined activation points during use.
Innovation Solution
A medicament delivery device incorporating a locking mechanism with a plunger rod, actuator, and actuator sleeve, featuring a groove and holding ledge for direct engagement, and a locking ring with splines for rotational stability, providing a well-defined activation point and preventing axial retraction of the delivery member guard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of mechanical components are used to provide automatic functions and features, then the functionality and ease of use are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into fewer components. The actuator serves both as a manual activation mechanism and as part of the automatic dose delivery system. The locking mechanism integrates both manual engagement and automatic dose completion detection functions, reducing the need for separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to serve multiple purposes: it can be manually activated by the user to initiate dose delivery, and it also participates in the automatic activation sequence when the device is properly engaged with the dose delivery site. The locking mechanism similarly provides both manual engagement capability and automatic dose completion detection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of mechanical components are used to provide automatic functions and features, then the functionality and ease of use are improved, but the frictional forces during device use increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging functions into fewer components, the patent reduces the total number of contact interfaces between moving parts. The actuator and locking mechanism are designed as integrated assemblies that minimize the number of separate mechanical interactions required to achieve the same functionality, thereby reducing cumulative frictional forces.
3Extent of automation
If indirect engagement between components is used to form a complex mechanism, then the automatic functions are achieved, but the activation points become less well-defined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from the activation mechanism. The actuator is directly connected to the plunger rod through a simplified linkage, and the locking mechanism directly engages with the actuator, creating well-defined activation points without complex indirect engagement chains.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the delivery member guard can retract axially for automatic covering, then the safety and automatic features are improved, but the component complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to simultaneously achieve two functions: it locks the actuator in place during manual engagement, and it also serves as the engagement point for the delivery member guard. When the locking mechanism engages or disengages, it directly controls the guard's position, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and reducing assembly complexity.
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 solution minimizes frictional forces and reduces component complexity, ensuring a well-defined activation point for dose delivery and preventing accidental needle exposure, while maintaining device functionality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arranged to exert a force on the plunger rod in a distal direction
Implementation Method 2
a locking mechanism to generate an end-of-dose delivery signal and also to prevent axial retraction of a delivery member guard
Data Source
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AI summary
A dose delivery mechanism and a medicament delivery device are presented having a housing holding a medicament container and a power unit, where the power unit has a plunger rod, a drive spring, operably arranged to act on the plunger rod and on the medicament container. A locking ring is operatively engaged with an actuator having a holding ledge that can releasably hold the plunger rod with the drive spring in a tensioned state, and with an actuator sleeve to form a lock that prevents axially movement of the actuator after dose delivery. The locking ring also cooperates with the actuator to generate an end-of-dose delivery signal. An activator is directly engaged with the actuator to provide a well-defined activation point.