Flow Adapter Protrusion for Viscosity-Independent Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drug delivery devices face variability in injection rates due to changes in drug viscosity, leading to user dissatisfaction, discomfort, and partial dosing issues.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device incorporating a flow adapter with protrusions that generate a minor head loss, reducing the sensitivity of injection time to viscosity changes and eliminating the need for complex electromechanical drive systems or feedback controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drug viscosity varies during administration, then the injection rate becomes unpredictable, but using complex electromechanical drive systems or feedback controls to maintain consistent injection rates increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The flow adapter modifies the fluid flow parameters by introducing a protrusion that creates a minor head loss. This changes the flow characteristics to be less sensitive to viscosity variations, maintaining consistent injection rates without requiring complex control systems. The protrusion creates a pressure drop that compensates for viscosity changes, effectively decoupling the injection rate from viscosity fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow adapter acts as an intermediary component between the drug container and the delivery system. This intermediate element with its protrusion structure modifies the flow dynamics of the medicament, creating a buffer effect that stabilizes the injection rate against viscosity variations without requiring active control mechanisms.
2Productivity
If high forces are applied to maintain flow rates through the fluid flow connection, then the injection can be maintained, but this increases the complexity of the drive mechanism and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The flow adapter's protrusion modifies the pressure-flow relationship in the fluid connection. By creating a controlled minor head loss, it changes the energy distribution in the system, allowing for more efficient force application that maintains injection rates without requiring excessive energy input from the drive mechanism.
3Reliability
If the flow adapter includes multiple protrusions, channels, orifices, or valves to precisely control flow, then the manufacturing complexity and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing multiple protrusions, channels, orifices, or valves throughout the flow adapter, the invention uses a single strategically positioned protrusion that creates the necessary minor head loss. This localized approach achieves flow control precision without the manufacturing complexity of multiple features, concentrating the flow-modifying function in one simple geometric element.
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 consistent and predictable injection rates across varying viscosities, reducing the risk of user error and discomfort, and simplifying the device design by minimizing the need for complex control systems.
Implementation Method 1
The flow adapter is configured to generate a minor head loss to the medicament flowing within the fluid flow connection
Data Source
AI summary
A drug delivery device includes a housing defining a shell, a container, a drive mechanism, a needle assembly having first and second ends, a fluid flow connection, and a flow adapter, each of which is at least partially disposed within the housing. The container has first and second ends and an inner volume to contain a medicament to be administered to a user. The drive mechanism is adapted to exert a force to urge the medicament out the second end of the container. The fluid flow connection is coupled to the second end of the container and the first end of the needle assembly and is adapted to allow the medicament to flow from the container to the needle assembly. The flow adapter includes at least one protrusion for generating a minor head loss to the medicament flowing within the fluid flow connection and helps to reduce variations of injection rates due to variations in drug product viscosities.