Drug Delivery Device Needle Cap Control Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drug delivery devices pose a risk of needle stick injuries during the handling and preparation for operation, as they often require manual removal of needle caps or assemblies, which can lead to accidental exposure.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device with a control mechanism that includes a control element movable rotationally and axially, allowing for the secure locking and unlocking of the needle cap assembly, enabling safe removal and activation using a single mechanism, thereby reducing the risk of needle stick injuries and improving user safety and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual removal of needle cap is required, then device complexity is reduced, but needle stick injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the needle cap removal function and device activation function into a single control element. When the control element is actuated, it simultaneously releases the needle cap assembly from the outer body and triggers the injection mechanism, eliminating the need for separate manual operations and reducing needle stick injury risk during cap removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The control element is designed to automatically perform the needle cap removal as part of its activation sequence. The user simply needs to actuate the control element, which then self-executes the cap release and device activation without requiring separate manual interventions, thereby minimizing user exposure to the needle.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If separate mechanisms are used for cap removal and activation, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates both cap removal and activation functions into a single control element operation. The control element, when actuated, simultaneously releases the needle cap assembly and triggers the injection, simplifying the user操作流程 while maintaining precise control through the single integrated mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a drug delivery device (1) comprising - an outer body (3) adapted to receive a cartridge (4) with a needle (5), - a needle cap assembly (2) adapted to be coupled to the outer body (3) and to cover the needle (5) and - a control mechanism (7) for activating the drug delivery device (1), the control mechanism (7) comprises a control element (7.1) that is received within the outer body (3) and axially and/or rotationally movable relative to the outer body (3) between an initial position (P1), a first activating position (P2) and a second activating position (P3), - wherein the control element (7.1) is coupled to the needle cap assembly (2) and to the the cartridge (4), - wherein the needle cap assembly (2) is retained on the outer body (3) when the control element (7.1) is in the initial position (P1), - wherein the needle cap assembly (2) is released from the outer body (3) and the needle (5) is covered by the outer body (3) when the control element (7.1) is in the first activating position (P2), and - wherein the needle (5) is exposed when the control element (7.1) is in the second activating position (P3).