Drug Delivery Device Needle Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Administering injections poses risks due to the risk of needle clogging during long-term storage in pre-filled syringes, where the injection needle can become clogged with medicament, increasing the time required for drug delivery.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device featuring a double-ended hollow needle that remains sterile and separate from the medicament until activation, utilizing a locking mechanism that only allows fluid communication upon initiation of the delivery process, ensuring the medicament is sealed and protected from environmental influences until use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the injection needle is in fluid communication with the medicament during long-term storage, then the device is ready for immediate use, but the needle becomes clogged with medicament
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate compartments: the needle assembly and the cartridge containing medicament. A sealing element physically separates the needle from the medicament during storage, preventing clogging while maintaining readiness for immediate use upon activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is pre-assembled and positioned in the device, and the sealing element is pre-installed to maintain sterility and prevent clogging during storage. Upon activation, the sealing element is automatically removed or displaced, enabling immediate fluid communication without requiring preliminary needle preparation.
2Ease of operation
If the needle is exposed to the environment during storage, then access is easier, but sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly is nested within a needle sleeve that extends beyond the cartridge, providing physical protection and maintaining sterility during storage and handling. The needle remains accessible within the protective sleeve without direct environmental exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle sleeve acts as an intermediary protective barrier between the needle and the environment. It maintains sterility while allowing the needle to remain positioned and ready for use. The sealing element serves as another intermediary that controls fluid communication between the needle and medicament.
3Productivity
If the medicament is not sealed during storage, then access is faster, but the medicament is contaminated by environmental influences
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is pre-installed across the open distal end of the cartridge to seal the medicament during storage. Upon activation, the sealing element is automatically removed or displaced in advance, enabling fast access to the medicament without compromising sterility during the storage period.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a drug delivery device, comprising: an outer needle sleeve; a cartridge containing a dosage of a medicament and sealed with a sealing element that is arranged across an open distal end of the cartridge; a cartridge carrier adapted to hold the cartridge; a needle hub adapted to hold a double ended hollow needle; an inner needle sleeve arranged between the needle hub and the cartridge carrier; a removable cap coupled to the inner needle sleeve and adapted to cover and seal the needle; and a first locking mechanism adapted to lock the inner needle sleeve against axial movement in the proximal direction with respect to the cartridge carrier in an initial state, wherein in the initial state, the needle is spaced from the cartridge in the distal direction, and wherein the first locking mechanism is releasable by a rotational movement of the cap with respect to the outer needle sleeve.