Spring-Loaded Metering Chamber for Eye Drop Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Administering eye drops is challenging due to unpredictable dosage size and targeting, requiring high force that can cause hand shake and misalignment, and is difficult for certain users, especially those with disabilities.
Innovation Solution
A device with a non-pressurized flexible pouch reservoir and spring-loaded metering chamber, utilizing kink valves and a nozzle to deliver a metered dose with low actuation force, ensuring accurate and controlled dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a bottle with nozzle is used and squeezed by user, then a drop can be formed on the tip, but the size of the dose is unpredictable and the timing of release is unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the fluid delivery system into distinct functional segments: a reservoir for bulk storage, a metering chamber for precise dosing, and a delivery nozzle. This segmentation allows the metering chamber to control the exact volume transferred, ensuring predictable dosage size and timing independent of user squeezing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The metering chamber acts as an intermediary between the reservoir and the delivery nozzle. It receives fluid from the reservoir and metered it to the nozzle, decoupling the dosing function from the storage and delivery functions. This intermediary component ensures that the dosage volume is controlled by the metering chamber geometry rather than by variable user squeezing force.
2Ease of operation
If high force is applied to achieve release of droplet, then the droplet can be dispensed, but hand shake occurs which affects aim and can result in the dose failing to reach the eye effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The metering chamber is designed to be self-pressurizing through its flexible membrane wall. When the user squeezes the outer housing, the force is transmitted through the membrane to pressurize the metering chamber and eject the droplet. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the user to directly apply high force to the droplet ejection mechanism, reducing hand shake and improving aiming accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If the droplet is made to fall from the nozzle tip under gravity, then the dose can be dispensed, but the user must contort themselves which is challenging or impossible for a sub-set of users
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a flexible membrane wall in the metering chamber that can be dynamically compressed from multiple directions. This dynamic design allows the user to activate the droplet ejection mechanism regardless of their body position or ability to squeeze, as the force can be applied through various configurations. The flexible membrane responds to compression forces from any direction, making the device adaptable to users with limited mobility or dexterity.
4Productivity
If a pressurized reservoir is used to ensure fluid flow, then multiple doses can be dispensed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metering chamber utilizes a flexible membrane wall instead of a rigid pressurized reservoir. This flexible shell allows the chamber to be compressed by the user's fingers to dispense multiple doses sequentially. The flexibility of the membrane enables volume reduction and fluid ejection without requiring complex pressurization systems, maintaining device simplicity while supporting multiple doses.
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 provides precise and controlled dispensing of medicament drops with minimal hand shake, suitable for various users, including those with disabilities, by using a flexible pouch and kink valves to manage fluid flow.
Implementation Method 1
The metering chamber is spring-loaded so as to be biased to a reduced volume configuration and so as to eject the metered dose of fluid from the device
Implementation Method 2
A kink valve is a valve formed by folding a pliable conduit so that the material from which the conduit is formed folds in on itself and substantially halts the flow of fluid through the conduit
Implementation Method 3
The pouch is capable of deforming to change its internal volume and therefore receive fluid to be dispensed
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for dispensing a metered dose of fluid is provided. The device comprises a housing comprising: a non-pressurised reservoir sized to accommodate a plurality of doses of fluid; a springloaded metering chamber sized to hold at least a single dose of fluid; a first valve enabling fluid communication between the reservoir and the metering chamber; and a kink valve enabling the fluid in the metering chamber to exit the device.