Dual-Window Dose Indicator for Pen Injectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices, particularly pen-type injectors, face challenges in providing a clear and intuitive indication of the dose setting and dispensing status, especially for users with impaired vision, leading to potential incomplete dose dispensing and confusion during subsequent dose settings.
Innovation Solution
A dose indicating mechanism featuring an elongated housing with two distinct windows, a moveable dose indicating sleeve, and an axial indicator that visually distinguishes between standby and active modes, allowing for clear display of the dose size and operational status without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a single dose indicating window is used to display the dose size, then the device structure remains simple, but users with impaired vision may have difficulty reading the dose indication and may not clearly understand the operational status
Solution Approach 1:
The dose indicating mechanism is segmented into two separate windows: a first window that always displays the current dose size, and a second window that displays operational status information. This segmentation allows each window to have a specific function, improving readability and information clarity without significantly complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the dose indication by using two windows that display different types of information at the same time. The first window provides continuous dose size information, while the second window provides operational status information, creating a multi-dimensional information display system.
2Reliability
If the dose indicating mechanism only shows the dose size, then the device remains simple, but users may not be aware when the device is in standby mode versus active dispensing mode
Solution Approach 1:
The second window acts as an intermediary that translates the device's operational state (standby vs. active dispensing) into visible information for the user. It displays indicators such as '0' for standby mode or other markings for active mode, bridging the gap between the mechanical state and user understanding.
Solution Approach 2:
The dose indicating mechanism provides continuous feedback about the device's operational status through the second window. Users can immediately see whether the device is ready for dose setting (standby) or currently dispensing medication (active), allowing them to adjust their interaction with the device accordingly.
3Ease of operation
If the dose indicating sleeve rotates continuously during dose dispensing, then the mechanism remains simple, but users may be confused about the actual operational status and whether dispensing is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The indication function is segmented between two windows: the first window continues to show the dose size through the rotating sleeve, while the second window provides separate operational status information. This segmentation allows the dose display to remain simple and continuous while adding independent status indication.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the indication mechanism have different functions: the first window and its rotating sleeve provide dose quantity information that changes with rotation, while the second window provides operational status information that changes based on the dispensing state. Each local area has optimized quality for its specific purpose.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a dose indicating mechanism for a drug delivery device for displaying of a dose of a medicament to be dispensed by the drug delivery device, the dose indicating mechanism comprising: an elongated housing (212) extending in an axial direction (1, 2) and having at least a first window (225) and a second window (235) that are spaced apart from each other in axial direction (1, 2), a dose indicating sleeve (200) movably disposed in the housing (212) and having at least one dose indication (204) coinciding with the first window (225) to display the size of a dose actually set, an indicator (206) operably engaged with the dose indicating sleeve (200) and axially displaceable relative to the housing (212) to coincide with the second window (235) for indicating an operational status of the dose indicating mechanism.