Dosing Device Setting Mechanism With Corrugated Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dosing devices for pharmaceutical or therapeutic substances face issues such as complex design, high manufacturing costs, insufficient durability, dosing accuracy, and user comfort, with cam-and-wedge mechanisms being unreliable in small devices and requiring different forces for dose setting and correction.
Innovation Solution
A setting mechanism comprising at least four interconnected rotatable elements with corrugated surfaces that allow for dose setting and correction using a spring element, which deforms to allow movement during dose setting and blocks rotation during dose correction, providing equal force requirements and eliminating the need for ratchets or cams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cam-and-wedge mechanisms are used for dose setting and correction, then the device can achieve dose adjustment functionality, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to multiple elements and fragile components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines dose setting and dose correction functions into a single integrated mechanism. The corrugated elements on rotatable components enable both increasing and decreasing the dose through unified rotational movements, eliminating the need for separate cam-and-wedge mechanisms for each function. This merging reduces the number of elements while maintaining full dose adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the cam-and-wedge mechanisms from the device design. By removing these complex mechanical elements, the invention achieves dose adjustment through simpler rotatable components with corrugated surfaces that directly engage with each other, significantly reducing device complexity and eliminating fragile parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cam-and-wedge mechanisms are used for dose correction, then dose reduction is possible, but manufacturing costs increase due to complex design and high precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple rotatable elements with corrugated surfaces that can be manufactured using standard, cost-effective processes. These elements are designed to be robust and durable, replacing expensive precision cam-and-wedge mechanisms. The simplified geometry of the corrugated elements allows for easier manufacturing with tighter tolerances, reducing production costs while maintaining dose correction functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ratchets are used for dose setting, then unidirectional dose increase is achieved, but the force required for operation varies and user comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic corrugated elements that can engage and disengage smoothly during rotation. The corrugations are designed to provide continuous contact with varying engagement levels, allowing the mechanism to adapt to the direction of rotation. This dynamic design enables unidirectional dose setting while maintaining consistent, low friction during operation, significantly improving user comfort compared to rigid ratchet systems.
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 mechanism simplifies design, reduces manufacturing costs, enhances durability and accuracy, ensures consistent force during dose setting and correction, and provides automatic dose supply with improved user comfort and reduced substance leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element, which during rotation of the dose setting knob can deform from a coupled position to a decoupled position
Implementation Method 2
in the coupled position the spring element can be configured to block a rotation of the controlling assembly with respect to the dosing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A setting mechanism for a dosing device, in particular for dosing pharmaceutical or therapeutic liquids, the setting mechanism comprising at least four interconnected rotatable elements, wherein: at least two rotatable elements (511, 502) are rotatable during setting or correcting a dose for the dosing device; a first rotatable element (511) is a receiving element and comprises corrugations (514); a second rotatable element (502) or a third rotatable element (531) or a fourth rotatable (560) element comprising corrugations coupled with the corrugations of the first rotatable element; wherein said corrugations are shaped such that they enable rotation of said at least four rotatable elements during delivering the dose by the dosing device.