Drug Delivery Device with Integrated Extendable Display

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drug delivery devices, such as pen-type injectors, often require user support for proper handling due to the risk of inappropriate use when instruction manuals are lost or untraceable, especially in long-term use or when dealing with multiple devices, leading to potential incorrect dosing and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A drug delivery device with a moveable display element that provides essential information on demand, integrated into the housing component, ensuring that product-related and therapy-related information remains accessible without compromising the device's design or durability, using mechanisms like rolling, folding, or sliding to reveal information on proper usage and medicinal product details.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If instruction manuals are provided separately, then manufacturing cost is reduced and device simplicity is maintained, but information accessibility deteriorates and risk of loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidinformation accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the instruction manual directly into the device housing, merging the informational component with the physical device structure. This ensures the manual cannot be lost separately and remains permanently accessible to the user throughout the device's lifespan.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The instruction manual is nested within the housing structure, specifically integrated into the piston rod assembly. The manual is contained within the hollow piston rod, allowing it to be stored securely inside the device while remaining accessible when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If information is always visible, then user guidance is improved, but device compactness and aesthetic design deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser guidanceVSAvoiddevice compactness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic information display system where the instruction manual can be moved between a concealed position (stored within the piston rod) and a visible position (extended from the device). This allows the device to adapt its information visibility based on user needs while maintaining compact appearance during storage or transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The instruction manual is segmented into a separate, movable component that can be independently positioned. The manual is attached to the piston rod in a way that allows it to be extended outward for reading while the rest of the device remains intact and compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If device structure is simplified, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but information integration capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidinformation integration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The piston rod serves multiple functions: it acts as the mechanical component for dose dispensing and simultaneously serves as the housing for the instruction manual. This multi-functionality integrates information storage into an existing structural element without adding separate dedicated components, thereby maintaining structural simplicity while enhancing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2414000B1Drug delivery device with integrated extendable/retractable information display element
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 SANOFI AVENTIS DEUT GMBH
  • EP2414000B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2414000B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2414000B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a drug delivery device for dispensing of a dose of a medicinal product, comprising: a housing having at least one housing component (100; 200; 300) a cartridge comprising the medicinal product, - a dose dispensing mechanism operably engaged with the cartridge for setting and/or dispensing of a predefined dose of the medicinal product, and a display element (102; 202; 302) being movably disposed relative to the at least one housing component (100; 200; 300), wherein the display element (102; 202; 302) and the housing component (100; 200; 300) are mutually moveable for selectively concealing and/or revealing information provided on the display element (102; 202; 302).