Drug Delivery Device Segmentation for Multi-Drug Adaptability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drug delivery devices are not easily adaptable for dispensing different drugs or drug formulations, leading to user confusion and potential misuse of devices designed for specific medications.

Innovation Solution

The development of a drug delivery device with interchangeable and non-interchangeable mechanism members, allowing for the modification of dose setting and drive mechanisms to accommodate different drugs or drug formulations, while ensuring user safety through coding systems to prevent cross-connection of incompatible components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drug delivery devices are designed with fixed, non-interchangeable mechanism members for specific drugs, then device reliability and safety are improved, but adaptability to different drugs or formulations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice safetyVSAvoidadaptability to different drugs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into interchangeable mechanism members (cartridge unit, drive mechanism, dose setting mechanism) that can be separately replaced. This segmentation allows the same housing to support different drug formulations by simply changing the mechanism members, resolving the contradiction between fixed safety and flexible adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple types of mechanism members for different drugs. The standardized interface and coding system allow one housing to serve multiple functions with different medications, achieving both reliability through standardized design and adaptability through interchangeable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If drug delivery devices are designed with interchangeable mechanism members for different drugs, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different drugsVSAvoidnumber of mechanism members

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the device into standardized interchangeable modules (cartridge unit, drive mechanism, dose setting mechanism), the complexity is managed through modularity. Each module can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall design complexity despite having multiple components for different drugs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A coding system acts as an intermediary between the housing and mechanism members. The codes provide a standardized interface that simplifies the connection process and ensures compatibility, reducing the operational complexity for users while enabling adaptability across different drug types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If coding systems are added to prevent cross-connection of incompatible components, then user safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser safetyVSAvoidcoding system components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coding system serves as an intermediary layer between the housing and mechanism members. These codes are simple visual or physical indicators that provide compatibility information without adding complex mechanical restrictions, achieving safety through information provision rather than complex interlocking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The coding elements are designed as simple, inexpensive features (such as colored rings, symbols, or basic mechanical codes) that can be easily manufactured and replaced. Their simplicity reduces the added complexity and cost while maintaining their safety function of preventing incorrect assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of repair

If mechanism members are designed to be interchangeable, then ease of repair and adaptation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of component replacementVSAvoidinterface precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Segmenting the device into standardized modules with defined interfaces allows for easy replacement of individual components. The segmentation creates clear boundaries and standardized connection points, making repair and adaptation simple while distributing manufacturing precision requirements across standardized interfaces rather than requiring high precision throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250032719A1Drug Delivery Devices

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 SANOFI SYNTHELABO INC

AI summary

An arrangement of drug delivery devices is provided with interchangeable members and non-interchangeable members.