Epicyclic Gear Inserter for Compact Infusion Pump
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ambulatory infusion pumps with integrated continuous glucose monitors are often bulky and expensive, and the proximity of the sensor component to the insulin delivery cannula can compromise accurate physiological readings.
Innovation Solution
The infusion device incorporates a dual epicyclic gear arrangement to drive separate trocars for the sensor electrode and infusion cannula, ensuring sufficient lateral separation and insertion depth without increasing device size, using a torsion spring actuator for controlled insertion and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a combination device integrating both infusion pump and CGM is used, then device integration is improved, but device size increases making it bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor electrode is nested within the infusion device housing, with the trocar mechanism allowing the sensor to be inserted into the user's skin through the device body. This nesting approach integrates multiple functions (infusion and sensing) within a compact form factor, avoiding the need for separate devices while maintaining small size.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor component is positioned near the insulin delivery cannula, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses separate trocars for sensor insertion and cannula insertion, allowing the sensor electrode and infusion cannula to be positioned at different locations on the user's skin. This spatial separation in another dimension (skin surface location) enables accurate glucose measurements while maintaining a relatively simple device structure with shared actuation mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If separate trocars for sensor and cannula are used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The epicyclic gear arrangement serves multiple functions: it converts rotational motion from a single actuator into linear motion for both the first trocar (sensor insertion) and second trocar (cannula insertion). This multi-functional mechanism achieves accurate physiological readings through separate trocars while avoiding excessive device complexity by using a compact, integrated gear system.
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
This design allows for accurate physiological measurements and effective medicament delivery while maintaining a compact device form factor, addressing the bulkiness and accuracy issues of previous combination devices.
Implementation Method 1
an epicyclic gear arrangement including a ring gear and a planet gear engaged with the ring gear, a trocar pivotably coupled to the planet gear, and an instrument movably coupled to the trocar. Actuation of the epicyclic gear arrangement can drive travel of the trocar and the instrument along a linear path.
Implementation Method 2
using a torsion spring actuator for controlled insertion and retraction
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an infusion device can include a reservoir configured to hold a medicament, a first epicyclic gear arrangement comprising a first output, a second epicyclic gear arrangement comprising a second output, a first trocar coupled to the first output and movably coupled to a sensor electrode, and a second trocar coupled to the second output and movably coupled to an infusion cannula that is fluidically coupled to the reservoir. Actuation of the first epicyclic gear arrangement can drive linear travel of the first trocar and/or the sensor electrode, and actuation of the second epicyclic gear arrangement can drive linear travel of the second trocar and/or the infusion cannula.