Drug Delivery Drive Subassembly with Dual Locking Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drug delivery devices face challenges in simplifying the assembly process and ensuring safe, efficient administration of injections, particularly in providing consistent force for drug delivery.
Innovation Solution
A drive subassembly for drug delivery devices featuring a housing element, a rotatably movable drive member, and an energy member, such as a torsion spring, with locking mechanisms to control the rotational and axial movement, allowing for easy assembly and reliable drug delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spring mechanisms are used to provide injection force, then reliable energy storage is achieved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is divided into separate functional modules: a drive subassembly containing the spring and drive member, and a container holder subassembly. This segmentation allows each module to be assembled and tested independently, then combined through a simplified connection interface, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining reliable energy storage in the spring component.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector element serves as an intermediary between the drive subassembly and container holder subassembly. This connector simplifies the assembly process by providing a standardized interface that combines the two subassemblies, eliminating the need for complex multi-step assembly procedures while ensuring reliable mechanical connection.
2Ease of operation
If multiple locking mechanisms are implemented to control movement, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanisms utilize dynamic engagement features that automatically lock and unlock based on the operational state. The drive member engages with the connector element through movable locking features that transition between locked and unlocked positions as the drive member rotates and axially moves, providing safe operation without requiring complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanisms are designed to self-engage and self-disengage based on the natural movement of the drive member. The geometric configuration of the locking features allows them to automatically secure the drive member in appropriate positions without external actuation, simplifying the overall device complexity while ensuring operational safety.
3Ease of manufacture
If the drive member is made rotatably and axially movable, then ease of assembly is improved, but control precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The drive member is designed as a separate subassembly with defined rotational and axial movement capabilities. This segmentation allows the drive member to be manufactured and tested independently with standard tolerances, then assembled into the complete device where the connector element provides precise positioning and movement control through its engagement features.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector element acts as an intermediary that mediates between the movable drive member and the fixed housing. It provides precise control over the drive member's rotation and axial movement through its geometric engagement features, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and ensuring accurate movement control while maintaining ease of assembly.
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 drive subassembly simplifies the assembly of drug delivery devices and ensures consistent energy delivery for efficient medication administration, enhancing user safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
an energy member configured to provide energy in order to induce a torque onto the drive member... The energy member may be a drive spring, e.g. a torsion drive spring, particularly a spiral torsion spring or clock spring or power spring
Data Source
AI summary
A drive subassembly for a drug delivery device includes a housing element, a drive member, an energy member configured to provide energy to induce a torque onto the drive member tending to rotate the drive member in a first rotational direction, wherein the drive subassembly has a first and a second locked state. In the first locked state, a first rotation-locking mechanism prevents a movement of the drive member in the first rotational direction induced by the energy member. In the second locked state, a second rotation-locking mechanism prevents a rotation of the drive member in the first rotational direction induced by the energy member and an axial-locking mechanism prevents an axial movement of the drive member. The drive subassembly is configured to be switched from the second locked state into the first locked state by releasing the axial-locking mechanism and moving the drive member in an axial direction.