Fluid Delivery Device Trigger Mechanism for Consistent Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery devices for nasal, sub-lingual, or ophthalmic use often result in inconsistent discharge due to manual operation, which can lead to varying impulses and incomplete piston strokes, making them difficult for users, especially the elderly or infirm, to use effectively.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery device featuring a piston pump with a biasing mechanism and trigger mechanism, where the trigger mechanism is movable from a cocked to a triggered configuration, allowing a consistent and predictable discharge by decoupling flexible catch members from the housing, ensuring a full discharge stroke under the biasing force, and incorporating a manually movable button with an obstructer to prevent partial discharges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual displacement of the piston pump is used for operation, then the device can be operated without additional mechanisms, but the discharge of media becomes inconsistent due to different impulses and loads applied by different users
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing mechanism automatically applies a predetermined force to the piston pump casing, enabling the system to self-regulate the discharge process without requiring precise manual control from the user. The spring-loaded mechanism ensures consistent piston stroke and media discharge regardless of variations in user application force
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism transforms the variable manual displacement input into a controlled mechanical action with predetermined force parameters. By converting inconsistent user pressure into a standardized biasing force through spring mechanics, the system achieves reliable and repeatable discharge characteristics
2Reliability
If a locking means with detents is used to control dispensing, then the piston pump can be held in position, but disengaging the locking means while holding the nasal piece in a nostril is awkward and requires difficult force
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism extracts the disengagement action from the lateral detent system and relocates it to the distal end of the device near the nasal piece. This allows the user to operate the trigger with the same finger that is supporting the nasal piece, eliminating the need to reach around to side-wall detents and reducing the force required for disengagement
3Device complexity
If the locking means is located remote from the nasal piece, then the structure can be simplified, but the user's fingers cannot be placed at the outlet end to reliably seat the nasal piece
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is positioned at the distal end of the device along the longitudinal axis, creating a new operational dimension close to the nasal piece. This spatial reconfiguration enables the user's finger to simultaneously support the nasal piece and actuate the trigger, improving control and seating reliability without adding complex lateral locking structures
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 ensures consistent and predictable fluid discharge, reducing noise and making it easier for users to operate, as the biasing mechanism provides a consistent loading and impulse to the piston pump, preventing partial discharges and improving usability for all users.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing mechanism; wherein the biasing mechanism comprises one or more flexible catch members which in the cocked configuration are catched to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery device (1) for discharging a fluid comprises a housing (2, 3), piston pump (4), biasing mechanism (5, 101), and trigger mechanism (6); the housing (2, 3) comprising a basal end (3) and discharge end (2) having an outlet (10) for discharging the fluid; the piston pump (4) comprising a casing (20) defining a pump chamber (35) for fluid storage, piston (21) slidably movable relative to the pump chamber (35), piston plunger (22), and delivery channel (59) for delivering fluid discharged from pump chamber (35) to outlet (10); the trigger mechanism (6) being movable from cocked configuration, preventing transfer of biasing mechanism (5, 101) force to the casing (20) to prevent casing (20) movement towards the outlet (10), to triggered configuration, enabling transfer of biasing mechanism (5, 101) force to the casing (20) to cause casing (20) movement towards the outlet (10) to discharge fluid from the pump chamber (35). The biasing mechanism (5, 101) comprises one or more flexible catch members (104) which in cocked configuration are catched and in triggered configuration are decoupled from the housing (2, 3). The trigger mechanism (6) comprises a manually movable button (100) at the housing basal end (3) comprising an obstructer (114) that in cocked configuration engages the catch members (104) to prevent decoupling.