Spring-Loaded Drug Injector for Compact Multi-Use Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long-term storage of potential energy in compression springs for drug-delivery devices causes material deformation and increases device size, necessitating a solution that minimizes stress on springs during shelf life and allows efficient energy release during use.
Innovation Solution
A drug-delivery device with a housing, drug reservoir, drive member, needle assembly, pump, and springs, where a loading button loads springs axially or rotationally, and a dosing button releases stored energy to drive the needle assembly, pump, and retract it, using only mechanical energy from the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If springs are pre-loaded to store potential energy for driving drug-delivery functions, then sufficient energy is available for needle insertion and fluid ejection, but device size increases and material deformation occurs over shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The user performs preliminary action by manually actuating the loading button to compress the spring and store potential energy immediately before use. This eliminates the need for pre-loaded springs during shelf life, as energy is stored only when needed, thereby reducing device size while ensuring sufficient energy availability for needle insertion and fluid ejection.
2Reliability
If springs are pre-compressed to store sufficient potential energy, then device functions can be driven reliably, but device material deformation occurs over shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is not pre-compressed during manufacturing or shelf life storage. Instead, the user performs the compression action manually at the time of use by actuating the loading button. This ensures the spring remains unstressed and free from material deformation throughout shelf life, while still providing reliable energy storage and release for driving needle insertion, pump operation, and needle retraction when needed.
3Use of energy by moving object
If larger springs are used to store sufficient potential energy over shelf life, then adequate energy is available for device functions, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring size is optimized for energy storage during the brief usage period rather than long-term shelf life storage. The user manually compresses the spring immediately before use, allowing a smaller, more compact spring design that provides adequate energy for needle insertion, pump operation, and retraction without requiring the larger dimensions needed for pre-loaded shelf-life storage.
4Stability of the object's composition
If springs remain unstressed during shelf life, then material deformation is minimized, but energy must be loaded immediately before use
Solution Approach 1:
The user performs the spring loading operation themselves by manually actuating the loading button immediately before use. This self-service approach allows the spring to remain unstressed and stable throughout shelf life, minimizing material deformation, while the simple manual button-actuation mechanism keeps the loading operation straightforward and intuitive.
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 device effectively delivers drug doses using user-generated mechanical energy, minimizing spring stress and device size, while ensuring reliable needle insertion, pumping, and retraction without electrical or chemical energy sources.
Implementation Method 1
one or more springs; a loading button coupled to the housing configured to be manually actuated to load the one or more springs
Implementation Method 2
a pump in fluid communication with the drug reservoir; drive the pump to pump the drug fluid from the drug reservoir through the driven needle assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A drug-delivery device is provided including a drug reservoir configured to contain a fluid drug, a needle cartridge comprising a plurality of needle assemblies, a drive member, a pump, one or more springs, a loading button and a dosing button. The device is configured to use work done by the user in actuating the loading button to load the one or more springs. When the user actuates the dosing button after actuating the loading button, the device is configured to (i) release the one or more loaded springs to operate the drive member to drive a needle assembly that is in operational alignment with the drive member from a retracted position to an injection position, (ii) drive the pump to pump fluid drug from the drug reservoir through the driven needle assembly, and (iii) retract the driven needle assembly from the injection position to the retracted position.