Encoded Member Dose Setting in Drug Delivery Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pen-type drug delivery devices for self-administration of insulin lack precision in dose adjustment for individual glycemic control, requiring users to manually set doses between 1 and 80 International Units, which can be cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A handheld drug delivery device with a rotatable dial and encoded member that allows users to set and deliver precise doses, featuring a dose setting mechanism with a microprocessor-controlled display and sensors to ensure accurate dosing, and a re-settable mechanism for cartridge replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual dose setting is used in pen-type drug delivery devices, then device simplicity is maintained, but dosing precision and user-friendliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical dose setting with an automated encoded member system. The encoded member contains dose information that is automatically read by a sensor, eliminating the need for manual dialing or mechanical adjustment. This substitution of mechanical interaction with an automated encoding/decoding system achieves precise dose setting while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an encoded member that creates a digital copy of dose information. Instead of relying on manual mechanical settings, the dose is represented as encoded data that can be accurately read and stored. This copying mechanism ensures precise dose documentation and reduces errors associated with manual setting.
2Ease of operation
If manual dose adjustment is required, then device operation becomes cumbersome and error-prone, but device complexity remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The encoded member system enables the device to automatically handle dose information without requiring user manipulation. The dose setting mechanism reads the encoded data autonomously, and the microprocessor automatically processes the information. This self-service approach eliminates cumbersome manual adjustment steps while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical dose adjustment is replaced with an automated optical or magnetic reading system. The sensor detects the encoded member's position and value without requiring the user to manually rotate dials or press buttons. This substitution dramatically improves ease of operation while adding only minimal complexity to the device.
3Reliability
If precise dose tracking and display are implemented, then dosing accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where the microprocessor continuously monitors the encoded member's position and the sensor's readings. This feedback loop ensures that the displayed dose information accurately reflects the actual setting. The system can detect errors and alert the user, significantly improving dosing reliability while using a relatively compact architecture that limits complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The microprocessor and display system serve multiple functions: they track dose information, display it to the user, detect encoding errors, and control the delivery mechanism. This multi-functionality approach consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into a single integrated unit, improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A drug delivery device comprising; a housing; a cylindrical member configured to be rotatably supported inside the housing, wherein the outer surface of the cylindrical member is provided with at least first and second tracks together forming an encoder, each track comprising conductive segments and non-conductive segments; and at least first and second groups of contacts configured to engage the first and second tracks respectively at predetermined intervals along the length of the track.