Dosing Mechanism with Dual Valve Groups for Precision Fluid Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical injection systems face challenges in ensuring dose accuracy due to tolerances in the internal diameter of the cartridge and compressibility of the stopper, which can lead to inconsistencies in delivering precise medication doses.
Innovation Solution
An injection device with a dosing mechanism featuring two valve groups and a dosing object that translates within a dosing pipe, where the position of the dosing object determines the dose volume delivered, and a sensor to ensure accurate valve control and detect potential malfunctions like clogged needles, allowing for precise fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional carpule with stopper is used for dosing, then the device structure is simple, but dose accuracy deteriorates due to tolerances in internal diameter and stopper compressibility
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing pipe is divided into multiple segments or sections, with the dosing object moving through defined positions (first end, second end, intermediate positions) to control dosing. This segmentation allows precise control of fluid displacement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing object acts as an intermediary element between the fluid source and the delivery system. By controlling the position of this intermediary object within the dosing pipe, precise dose delivery is achieved without requiring high-precision manufacturing of the entire system.
2Reliability
If the dosing object moves freely in the dosing pipe, then the dosing mechanism is simple, but reliability deteriorates due to potential malfunctions like clogged needles or air injection
Solution Approach 1:
The valve control system performs preliminary actions by controlling the movement of the dosing object to specific positions before dosing occurs. The system prepares the dosing object at defined positions (first end, second end, intermediate positions) to ensure reliable and accurate dose delivery while preventing malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor detects the position of the dosing object and provides feedback to the control system, which adjusts valve operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable dosing by confirming the dosing object is at the correct position and detecting potential issues like clogged needles or air in the system.
3Volume of moving object
If the dosing pipe has small diameter to reduce device size, then compactness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to tolerance sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing object serves as a mechanical intermediary that translates small positional movements into precise fluid displacement. This allows the use of smaller diameter dosing pipes without increasing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances, as the dosing object's position control provides the necessary precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces reliance on precise mechanical tolerances of the dosing pipe with a controlled mechanical system involving the dosing object and valve control. This substitution allows smaller dimensions while maintaining dosing accuracy through active control rather than passive tolerance stacking.
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 ensures reliable and precise delivery of medication doses by controlling the movement of the dosing object within the dosing pipe, improving dose accuracy and reliability, even in small diameters, and preventing air injection by proper valve control.
Implementation Method 1
If one group of valves is opened and the fluid at the inlet is under pressure the fluid flows from the inlet through the open inlet valve, the dosing pipe and the open outlet valve to the outlet thereby taking the dosing object with it
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a dosing mechanism for a fluid, comprising an inlet, an outlet, a dosing pipe and two valve groups with an inlet valve and an outlet valve each, wherein the inlet is connected to both inlet valves and the outlet is connected to both outlet valves, wherein the inlet valve of one group is arranged to connect the inlet to a first end of the dosing pipe while the outlet valve of the same group is arranged to connect the outlet to a second end of the dosing pipe, wherein the inlet valve of the other group is arranged to connect the inlet to the second end of the dosing pipe while the outlet valve of the same group is arranged to connect the outlet to the first end of the dosing pipe, wherein control means are arranged to open only the valves of one group at a time thereby allowing the fluid to flow from the inlet through the dosing pipe to the outlet, wherein a dosing object is arranged in the dosing pipe in a manner to be translated from one end towards the other by the fluid, wherein a dose to be delivered from the output is determinable by a position of the dosing object in the dosing pipe.