Filling Adapter with Air Vent and Suction for Drug Reservoirs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for filling drug solution reservoirs in portable administration devices often result in accidental needle punctures and complicate the process due to air remaining in the reservoir, requiring additional steps to discharge air.

Innovation Solution

A drug solution filling unit with a filling adapter that includes an air vent needle tube, a liquid supply needle tube, and a suction channel, which connects to the drug solution container and reservoir, allowing air to be sucked out while filling, preventing air from remaining in the reservoir.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a needle tube is used to fill the drug solution reservoir part from a syringe, then the drug solution can be transferred, but the needle tube is exposed and might puncture the user by mistake

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidneedle puncture risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid supply needle tube is inserted through the filling adapter body, with the needle tip extending through the filling port. The needle tube is nested within the adapter structure, which provides a protective housing that covers the needle except at the filling port interface, preventing accidental punctures while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If the drug solution reservoir part is filled from a drug solution container using conventional methods, then the reservoir can be filled, but air remains in the reservoir requiring additional discharge processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling efficiencyVSAvoidfilling process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filling adapter separates the air venting function from the liquid supply function by providing distinct channels: an air vent needle tube for gas evacuation and a liquid supply needle tube for drug solution transfer. This segmentation allows simultaneous air removal and liquid filling, eliminating the need for separate air discharge steps and simplifying the overall process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air vent needle tube acts as an intermediary channel that provides a dedicated pathway for air to escape during the filling process. By introducing this intermediate air evacuation route, the system enables smooth liquid filling without air entrapment, avoiding the complexity of post-filling air discharge operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If air venting and liquid supply are performed through separate operations, then air can be removed, but the filling process becomes significantly complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair removalVSAvoidfilling process steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filling adapter combines air venting and liquid supply operations into a single integrated filling step. The air vent needle tube and liquid supply needle tube work simultaneously through the same adapter body, allowing air to be evacuated while drug solution is transferred through the filling port, thereby merging two separate operations into one efficient process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively prevents air from remaining in the reservoir during filling, simplifying the process and ensuring safe and efficient filling of the drug solution reservoir.

Implementation Method 1

a suction channel which communicates with the liquid supply port and communicates with a suction mechanism that sucks in gas within the drug solution reservoir part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3100711B1Liquid medicine filling unit, liquid medicine reservoir instrument, and filling adapter
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 TERUMO KK
  • EP3100711B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3100711B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3100711B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drug solution filling unit includes a drug solution reservoir instrument and a filling adapter. The drug solution reservoir instrument includes a drug solution reservoir part that reserves a drug solution. The drug solution reservoir part has a filling port and a liquid supply port. The filling adapter includes an air vent needle tube, a liquid supply needle tube, and a suction channel. The liquid supply needle tube is connected to a drug solution container and the filling port and through which the drug solution that is sent from the drug solution container to the drug solution reservoir part passes. The suction channel communicates with the liquid supply port and communicates with a suction mechanism that sucks in gas within the drug solution reservoir part.