Emergency Auto Injection Device Needle Shield Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency automatic injectors lack effective mechanisms to ensure the needle is protected at all times and prevent accidental actuation, posing safety concerns during and after medication administration.

Innovation Solution

An automatic injection device featuring a housing element with a resilient element, a needle shield, and a control unit that displaces the syringe from a non-penetration to a penetration position, along with a locking element and plunger rod, which are actuated by the resilient element to ensure safe and controlled drug delivery, and a needle cover remover to prevent inadvertent rearward displacement of the needle shield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a needle shield is used to protect the needle, then needle protection is improved, but the device may be inadvertently actuated due to lack of sufficient locking mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle protectionVSAvoidaccidental actuation prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The needle shield is positioned in a pre-loaded state within the housing, ready to protect the needle before injection. The resilient element is pre-compressed to store energy for automatic injection activation, ensuring the device is prepared for safe operation without requiring additional setup steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element transitions between locked and unlocked states dynamically. When the needle shield is displaced rearward, the locking element rotates to unlock the resilient element, allowing controlled activation. This dynamic locking mechanism prevents accidental actuation while enabling intentional injection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a locking element is added to prevent accidental actuation, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccidental actuation preventionVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element serves multiple functions: it locks the needle shield in place during storage, prevents accidental rearward displacement, and controls the release of the resilient element. By combining these functions into a single component, the design adds minimal complexity while maximizing safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element acts as an intermediary between the needle shield and the resilient element. It mediates the interaction between these components, controlling when the resilient element can drive the needle shield forward for injection, thereby preventing accidental activation without requiring complex control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the needle shield is made displaceable for injection, then drug delivery is enabled, but needle protection is compromised during non-use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug delivery capabilityVSAvoidneedle protection during storage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element applies a preliminary locking action on the needle shield during storage, preventing any unintended displacement that could expose the needle or trigger injection. This pre-emptive locking ensures needle protection is maintained until intentional activation occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The needle shield transitions from a locked, protected state during storage to an unlocked, movable state during injection. The locking element enables this dynamic transition, maintaining needle protection when stationary while allowing controlled displacement for drug delivery when activated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures the needle is protected before, during, and after injection, preventing accidental actuation and ensuring safe and controlled drug delivery, thereby enhancing safety and usability.

Implementation Method 1

at least one resilient element arranged to be located within the housing element... adapted, when actuated, to be driven by the at least one resilient element for initially displacing the syringe relative to the housing element from a non-penetration position to a penetration position and thereafter displacing the at least one syringe piston in the syringe to effect drug delivery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic potential energy storage and release: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS20220387714A1Emergency automatic injection device

Publication Date: 2022.12.08 E3D A C A L

AI summary

An automatic injection device for use with a syringe including at least one syringe piston and a needle coupled to a forward end thereof, comprising a housing element arranged along a longitudinal axis and having a forward end and a rearward end; at least one resilient element arranged to be located within the housing element; a needle shield selectably positionable with respect to the housing element; and a control unit adapted, when actuated, to be driven by the at least one resilient element for initially displacing the syringe relative to the housing element from a non-penetration position to a penetration position and thereafter displacing the at least one syringe piston in the syringe to effect drug delivery, and wherein the control unit is configured to be actuated upon axial rearward displacement of the needle shield with respect to the housing element.