Flexible Cartridge Alignment Collar for Drug Delivery

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drug delivery systems face challenges in precisely aligning drug cartridges with access channels, leading to potential misalignment, leakage, and damage during the drug delivery process, especially when there are deviations in positioning and orientation between the cartridge and the device.

Innovation Solution

A compliant support system, including a collar with a cannula and a flexible mount, is used to align and position the cartridge fitting with the access channel, allowing for elastic movement to accommodate misalignment while maintaining precise alignment and preventing leakage by allowing transaxial movement of the cannula, thus reducing stress on the interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a rigid alignment system is used to precisely align the cartridge with the access channel, then alignment precision is improved, but the system cannot accommodate positioning deviations and may cause damage or leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidaccommodation of positioning deviations

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is mounted to the cartridge in a dynamic manner that allows it to move relative to the cartridge body. Specifically, the collar can translate along the longitudinal axis and rotate about it, enabling the system to adapt to misalignment between the cartridge and access channel while maintaining proper cannula alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the positional and orientational parameters of the collar relative to the cartridge during operation. The collar's ability to change its position along the longitudinal axis and its rotation angle allows the system to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and positioning deviations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the collar is rigidly fixed to the cartridge, then structural stability is improved, but misalignment cannot be compensated and may cause leakage or damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidprevention of leakage and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is mounted to the cartridge in a dynamic manner that allows it to move relative to the cartridge body. Specifically, the collar can translate along the longitudinal axis and rotate about it, enabling the system to adapt to misalignment between the cartridge and access channel while maintaining proper cannula alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The compliant mounting structure acts as a cushioning mechanism that anticipates and absorbs misalignment stresses before they can cause leakage or damage. The compliance elements preemptively accommodate positioning deviations, protecting the sealed interface between the cannula and access channel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the collar is made compliant to accommodate misalignment, then adaptability is improved, but alignment precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of misalignmentVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is mounted to the cartridge in a dynamic manner that allows it to move relative to the cartridge body. Specifically, the collar can translate along the longitudinal axis and rotate about it, enabling the system to adapt to misalignment between the cartridge and access channel while maintaining proper cannula alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The compliant collar structure is self-aligning, automatically adjusting its position and orientation to achieve proper alignment between the cannula and access channel without requiring external adjustment mechanisms. The compliance elements self-adjust to compensate for misalignment while maintaining the required alignment precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If the cannula is constrained to prevent movement, then alignment stability is improved, but freedom of movement is reduced and may cause stress on the interface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment stabilityVSAvoidfreedom of movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is mounted to the cartridge in a dynamic manner that allows it to move relative to the cartridge body. Specifically, the collar can translate along the longitudinal axis and rotate about it, enabling the system to adapt to misalignment between the cartridge and access channel while maintaining proper cannula alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the degrees of freedom by allowing the collar to move independently from the cartridge body. The collar can translate and rotate relative to the cartridge, while the cannula maintains its alignment with the access channel, effectively separating the compliance function from the alignment function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 system effectively aligns the cannula with the access channel within a specified tolerance, reducing the risk of leakage and damage, and allows for greater freedom of movement, accommodating deviations in positioning and orientation, thereby ensuring reliable and efficient drug delivery.

Implementation Method 1

a compliant support compliantly aligning and positioning the collar with respect to the frame... the compliant support allowing movement of the collar preserving alignment of the cannula to the access channel upon misalignment of the access channel with respect to the frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11253429B2Flexibly mounted cartridge alignment collar for drug delivery device

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 WEST PHARM SERVICES IL LTD

AI summary

An alignment assembly for a cartridge interface of a drug delivery device is disclosed. The assembly optionally includes a coupling for opening fluid communication between the cartridge and the delivery device. For example, the coupling optionally includes a cannula insertable through a septum of the cartridge. The assembly may include a guide for positioning the cartridge and/or an access channel thereof within a first precision of a loaded position. The assembly optionally includes a cartridge engagement fitting (for example a gripping expander sleeve collar) attached to the coupling. Optionally when the cartridge is engaged to the fitting, the coupling is retained in connection with the access channel to within a second precision. The second precision is optionally higher than the first precision. In some embodiments one or more compliant supports movably retain the fitting oriented to engage the cartridge when the access channel is in the loaded position.