Drug Delivery Assembly with Squeezable Dispensing Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices often suffer from dispensing inaccuracy due to issues like needle dripping after injection, requiring the needle to remain in the skin, which complicates achieving an exact dose of medicinal products.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery assembly comprising a squeezable dispensing container connected to a reservoir container, with check valves ensuring one-way fluid flow to maintain a defined dose volume and prevent reflow or air intake, utilizing materials like PVC, silicone rubber, or fluoropolymer for chemical resistance, and an actuator to apply force for dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional drug delivery device with a single container is used, then the device structure is simple, but the dispensing accuracy deteriorates due to needle dripping and difficulty in maintaining exact dose volume
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate containers: a reservoir container for bulk storage and a dispensing container for precise dose delivery. This segmentation allows the dispensing container to be designed with a fixed, accurate volume while the reservoir container handles bulk storage, thereby improving dispensing accuracy without requiring the entire device to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
A transfer needle acts as an intermediary between the reservoir container and the dispensing container. It enables controlled fluid transfer from the reservoir to the dispensing container through a check valve mechanism, ensuring unidirectional flow and preventing backflow, which is crucial for maintaining precise dose volume.
2Measurement precision
If the needle is kept in the skin after injection to prevent dripping, then the dose accuracy is improved, but the patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing container is pre-filled with a precise, fixed volume of medicinal product before each use. This preliminary preparation ensures that the exact dose is ready for administration without requiring post-injection needle retention to prevent dripping, as the dose volume is already controlled by the container's fixed capacity.
3Productivity
If a refillable dispensing container is used, then the productivity is improved by reducing waste, but the device complexity increases due to additional connection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing container is designed to be refillable from the reservoir container through a simple connection mechanism involving a transfer needle and check valve. The system enables self-service refilling where the excess medicinal product from the reservoir container can be transferred back to the dispensing container after use, reducing waste without requiring complex automated refilling systems.
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
This assembly enhances dispensing accuracy by maintaining a consistent dose volume and reducing post-injection needle dripping, ensuring precise and reliable delivery of medicinal products.
Implementation Method 1
check valves ensuring one-way fluid flow to maintain a defined dose volume and prevent reflow or air intake
Implementation Method 2
the dispensing container is squeezable for dispensing a dose of a fluid medicinal product from the dispensing container
Implementation Method 3
an actuator to apply force for dispensing
Implementation Method 4
the dispensing container and the reservoir container are connected to one another and are in fluid communication
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to an assembly for a drug delivery device comprising a dispensing container (60) and a reservoir container (70) for holding a fluid medicinal product, wherein the dispensing container (60) and the reservoir container (70) are connected to one another and are in fluid communication, and wherein the dispensing container (60) is squeezable for dispensing a dose of the fluid medicinal product from the dispensing container (60), the dispensing container (60) being refillable with the fluid medicinal product from the reservoir container (70).