Pre-filled enema insert with snap-off stem

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pre-filled enemas packaging faces challenges with costly plastic consumption and contamination risks due to complex opening mechanisms, making them unsustainable economically and environmentally, and requiring multiple manipulations that compromise sterility.

Innovation Solution

An insert for pre-filled enema packaging featuring a removable protection mechanism with a snap-off area and improved adherence zones, allowing for easy and sterile single-maneuver opening, reducing plastic usage and ensuring the enema remains sealed until use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cap or covering bag is used to protect the enema stem, then sterility is maintained, but production cost increases due to additional plastic material consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidplastic material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the protection function from separate components (cap or covering bag) and integrates it directly into the enema stem structure itself. The stem includes an integrated protection element that is formed as part of the molding process, eliminating the need for additional protective components while maintaining sterility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection element is merged with the enema stem in a single integrated structure. The stem and protection element are formed together in one molding operation, combining the function of the stem with the protective function into a single component, thereby reducing plastic material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a cap or covering bag is used to cover the enema, then contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases requiring additional components for assembly and disposal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the protection function from separate assembly components and integrates it into the stem structure. The protection element is formed as an integral part of the stem through molding, eliminating separate caps or covering bags and their associated assembly and disposal complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The enema stem is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the structural component for liquid delivery and as the protective element. The integrated stem structure performs multiple functions (structural support, liquid containment, and protection) without requiring separate specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the enema requires multiple manipulations for opening, then sterility can be maintained, but ease of operation decreases requiring multiple steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidopening simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protection element is designed with a pre-defined separation feature that allows for a single predetermined breaking point. This preliminary design enables the user to break the protection element in one simple maneuver without requiring multiple manipulation steps, while the breaking action itself maintains sterility by cleanly separating the protective portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protection element is segmented with a reduced cross-section area portion that creates a natural breaking point. This segmentation allows the protection element to be divided into two parts (protected portion and disposable portion) through a single breaking action, simplifying the opening operation while maintaining sterility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3609555B1Process for production of pre-filled enemas
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 BREVETTI ANGELA SRL
  • EP3609555B1 patent drawingFigure 1~8

AI summary

Described is an insert for packaging pre-filled enemas (10) equipped with a supplying end (11 ), comprising a first end (102) for the coupling with the enema (10), a second end (101 ) for the dispensing, and removable protection means (103, 107), at the second end (101 ). The invention relates to a pre-filled enema (10) comprising the insert (100).