External Pressure Indicator for Complete Medicament Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medicament delivery devices experience residual pressure after operation cessation, leading to incomplete dosage delivery upon premature removal or disconnection, resulting in significant loss of therapy.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a pressure sensor external to the pressurizing system that senses back pressure in the fluid delivery path and provides an indication when it drops below a predetermined threshold, ensuring safe removal or disconnection of the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the pressurizing system operates to deliver medicament, then the medicament is dispensed through the fluid delivery path, but residual pressure remains in the system after operation ceases, causing medicament to continue delivering prematurely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedicament delivery completionVSAvoiddosage accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a pressure sensor that continuously monitors residual pressure in the fluid delivery path and provides real-time feedback to the control system. When the pressure drops below a predetermined threshold, the system receives confirmation that medicament delivery is complete, enabling accurate dosage administration and preventing premature removal of the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If the device is removed or disconnected before pressure drops, then the procedure time is reduced, but significant loss of therapy occurs due to residual pressure evacuating the fluid connector

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedure timeVSAvoidmedicament loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring of residual pressure during the operation cessation phase. By detecting when pressure drops below the threshold before the user attempts removal, the system ensures that medicament delivery is truly complete, preventing both premature removal (which causes medicament loss) and unnecessary waiting (which extends procedure time).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If a pressure sensor is integrated into the device, then residual pressure can be detected and indicated to the user, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensor acts as an intermediary component that indirectly measures residual pressure by sensing pressure in the fluid delivery path. This intermediary measurement approach provides accurate pressure detection without requiring direct intrusion into the pressurizing system, thereby maintaining measurement precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Ensures complete medicament delivery by indicating when residual pressure is zero, preventing loss of therapy and ensuring accurate dosage administration.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor external to the pressurizing system, sensing a back pressure in the fluid delivery path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3917595B1Pressure indicator for medicament delivery device
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 BECTON DICKINSON & CO
  • EP3917595B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3917595B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3917595B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A medicament delivery device having a reservoir for holding a medicament, a pressurizing system that dispenses the medicament from the reservoir when operating, a hollow cannula for insertion into a patient, and a fluid delivery path disposed between the pressurizing system and the hollow cannula and communicating the medicament therebetween. The medicament delivery device also has a pressure sensor external to the pressurizing system, sensing a back pressure in the fluid delivery path, and providing an indication when the back pressure drops below a predetermined threshold after the pressurizing system ceases operation.