Flat-Scale Safety Syringe for Digital Dosage Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical syringes, particularly low-dose ones, have difficulty in printing and reading volumetric indicia due to small radius of curvature, leading to inaccurate dosage determination, especially with clear and colorless fluids, and pose risks of accidental needlestick injuries.
Innovation Solution
A medical syringe with a flat, outwardly facing volumetric scale and a portable imaging device, such as a cellular phone or digital tablet, captures and records a digital image of the plunger position relative to the barrel to verify the dosage, and includes a needle safety feature to prevent needlestick injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional cylindrical syringe barrel is used, then the syringe maintains traditional structure and ease of manufacture, but the volumetric indicia become difficult to print and read due to small radius of curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a curved cylindrical surface to a flat planar surface for the indicia display. The flat surface allows volumetric markings to be printed in a single dimension without wrapping around a curve, making them easier to manufacture and read accurately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry by giving the syringe barrel a non-circular cross-section (e.g., square or rectangular) with one flat side, rather than a symmetric circular cross-section. This asymmetric design provides a flat surface area on one side of the barrel for clear indicia display while maintaining the cylindrical form factor.
2Measurement precision
If clear and colorless medicinal fluid is used, then the medication maintains purity and sterility, but the dosage level becomes difficult to see and determine accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change principles by incorporating a colored filter or tinted window in the barrel wall at the location of the flat indicia surface. This allows the clear medicinal fluid to maintain its purity while the colored background enhances the visibility of the fluid level and volumetric markings for accurate dosage determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (colored filter or tinted window) between the clear fluid and the observer's view. This intermediary enhances the contrast and visibility of the fluid level against the volumetric markings without contaminating or altering the chemical properties of the medicinal fluid.
3Measurement precision
If a portable imaging device is added to capture and verify dosage, then dosage verification accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the portable imaging device to automatically capture an image of the syringe, process the image to determine the fluid volume based on the flat indicia surface, and provide verification feedback without requiring manual reading or complex external verification equipment. The system serves itself by using the same device for both imaging and volume calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical reading process with an optical-digital system. Instead of visually reading the volumetric markings directly from the syringe, the system uses a portable imaging device to capture an image and digitally process the indicia to determine the dosage, substituting mechanical/visual inspection with automated image processing.
4Measurement precision
If the syringe barrel is made transparent or translucent for visibility, then the fluid chamber is visible, but the volumetric scale becomes difficult to read due to curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by providing a flat surface area on the curved transparent barrel through the asymmetric design. This flat surface allows the volumetric scale to be displayed in a planar dimension rather than wrapped around a curve, making it readable while maintaining the transparent barrel for fluid visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A dosage verification system for use prior to administering an injection of a medicinal fluid drawn into a medical syringe, the system comprising a medical syringe having a barrel with an outwardly facing, flat indicia display surface, plunger having a plunger seal disposed inside and slidably engaging an inwardly facing wall of the barrel and a plunger handle projecting rearwardly from the barrel, and a hypodermic needle projecting forwardly from the barrel, all in combination with an imaging device configured to view and selectively capture, store or transmit a digital image of the plunger position relative to the barrel when a dose of the medicinal fluid is drawn into the fluid chamber of the barrel prior to an injection to verify and provide a record of the dosage drawn, and to alert a user prior to injection when an incorrect dosage is drawn into the fluid chamber of the syringe.