Flexible-Flange Autoinjector for Stable Skin Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional autoinjector devices face challenges in maintaining stable skin contact during injection, leading to potential slippage, incomplete drug delivery, and user discomfort, particularly for individuals with limited hand strength or dexterity.
Innovation Solution
The autoinjector incorporates a flexible extension at the injection end for skin stretching or pinching, along with ergonomic features like a palm button and holding device, allowing one-handed operation and improved stability during the injection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user manually stretches or pinches the skin with one hand while operating the autoinjector with the other hand, then the skin remains taut for injection, but users with limited hand strength or dexterity cannot maintain this position
Solution Approach 1:
The autoinjector device performs the skin stretching function automatically through its front wall structure, eliminating the need for manual skin manipulation by the user. The device serves itself by incorporating the skin stretching capability into its design, allowing it to prepare the injection site without human assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall of the autoinjector serves multiple functions: it stretches the skin, provides a stable base for activation force application, and positions the needle. This multi-functional design replaces the need for separate manual skin preparation steps, making the device adaptable to users with varying hand strengths.
2Ease of operation
If the autoinjector requires application of axial force to a trigger release mechanism on the front wall, then the device can be activated, but some body types have lower surface tension causing the AI to deflect into the body significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the front wall, making it more compliant or flexible to accommodate variations in body surface tension. This allows the front wall to adapt to different body types without excessive deflection, ensuring reliable activation across diverse users.
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall design incorporates a cushioning effect that absorbs excessive force or accommodates lower surface tension body types. This预先设计的缓冲机制 prevents the device from deflecting too far into the body during activation, ensuring reliable operation across different users.
3Reliability
If the autoinjector requires pressing both a shield trigger and an activation button, then the device can be armed and initiated, but this increases the complexity of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shield trigger and activation button functions into a single integrated mechanism. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate actions required from the user while maintaining the safety and reliability of the activation sequence through design features that ensure proper operation.
4Reliability
If the interface area between the user's skin and the AI's physical area must remain in place during injection, then complete drug delivery is achieved, but the device may slip or move on the skin surface
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall extends in a dimension perpendicular to the needle axis, creating a broader base of contact with the skin. This dimensional extension provides additional stability and prevents slippage while maintaining the needle's vertical alignment during injection.
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 flexible extension and ergonomic design enhance user comfort and ensure complete drug delivery by maintaining skin tension, reducing slippage, and facilitating easy activation, even for users with limited hand strength or dexterity.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible extension disposed at the injection end of the housing for stretching or pinching the skin of the injection site
Data Source
AI summary
An injector such as a needle-type autoinjector having a flexible flange disposed at an injection end of the injector for stretching or pinching the skin of the injection site. The flexible flange may be removably attached to the injector or integrated into the injector during manufacturing. Further, an injector having a palm button disposed at an activation end of the injector for activating an injection cycle of the injector. The palm button may be removably attached to the injector or integrated into the injector during manufacturing. Still further, a holding device for one-handed operation of an injector, the holding device having a sleeve and at least one hand rest coupled to the sleeve, the sleeve and hand rest providing ergonomic holding and operation of the injector. Still further, autoinjector needle shield having an enlarged, rounded lip for contacting the skin at the injection site.