Snap-Fit Drug Delivery Adaptor with Centripetal Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drug delivery device adaptors face issues with secure mounting due to industrial tolerances, material deformation from aging and temperature, and contamination risks, leading to potential disconnection and incorrect dosing.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device adaptor with a snap-fitting mechanism using a compressing means to exert centripetal pressure on an inner ring, ensuring secure attachment and preventing axial or rotational movement, allowing for reliable connection and handling without contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the adaptor is mounted on the distal tip using friction force only, then the mounting process is simple, but the connection strength is insufficient and the adaptor may disconnect
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor is divided into two functional parts: an inner ring that provides friction-based mounting simplicity and an outer ring with locking means that provides secure connection strength. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function while working together to resolve the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking means in the outer ring can transition between locked and unlocked states, providing dynamic control over the connection strength. This allows the adaptor to be easily mounted (low resistance) and then securely locked (high resistance), resolving the contradiction between mounting simplicity and connection strength.
2Ease of manufacture
If industrial tolerances are used in manufacturing the distal tip and adaptor, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the assembling accuracy decreases leading to insecure connection
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means changes the interaction parameters between the adaptor and distal tip from simple friction contact to mechanical interlocking. This parameter change allows the system to tolerate wider dimensional variations while maintaining secure connection, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and assembling accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If the adaptor is made from plastic material, then it can be molded with the distal tip, but the material may deform due to aging and temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor uses composite construction with an inner ring and outer ring that can be made from different materials optimized for their specific functions. The outer ring with locking means can use materials with better thermal and temporal stability, while the inner ring maintains the molding advantage, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and material stability.
4Ease of operation
If the adaptor uses a radially expandable ring for friction fit, then mounting is straightforward, but the connection may allow rotational and translational movement
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor separates the mounting function (inner ring with friction fit) from the positioning function (outer ring with locking means). This segmentation allows the inner ring to provide straightforward mounting while the outer ring ensures positional stability by preventing rotational and translational movement through its locking mechanism.
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 adaptor provides a reproducible, secure connection between the drug delivery device and connector, reducing the risk of detachment and contamination, while facilitating easy mounting and handling, ensuring accurate dosing and product integrity.
Implementation Method 1
compressing means, separate from said inner ring and intended to be unreleasably snap-fitted onto said inner ring engaged on said distal tip by proximal movement of said compressing means with respect to said inner ring, said compressing means thereby exerting a centripetal pressure on said inner ring so as to prevent axial movement of said inner ring with respect to said distal tip
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptor intended to be mounted on a distal tip of a drug delivery device is provided. The distal tip defines an axial passageway for transfer of a product contained in the drug delivery device. The adaptor has a longitudinal axis A aligned on the axial passageway. The adaptor includes: a connection member for connecting the adaptor to a connector; an inner ring releasably engageable on the distal tip; and a compression component separate from the inner ring and configured to be unreleasably snap-fitted onto the inner ring engaged on the distal tip by proximal movement of the compression component with respect to the inner ring. The compression component is configured to exert a centripetal pressure on the inner ring so as to prevent axial movement of the inner ring with respect to the distal tip.