Medicinal Fluid Dispensing Apparatus with Rate Control Chip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensing devices for ambulatory patients are not adequately designed for uninterrupted drug or fluid infusion across various healthcare settings, including hospitals, surgery centers, and austere environments, and lack features to prevent medication errors and simplify infusion therapy initiation without medical professional assistance.
Innovation Solution
A compact fluid dispensing apparatus with a housing, penetrating sub-assembly, rate control chip, collapsible container, and variable force springs that allows for hermetic sealing and sterilization, enabling controlled and uniform dispensing of medicinal fluids like Bupivacaine, with a simple and compact design suitable for point-of-care use, including during transportation and rehabilitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional gravity flow and hypodermic syringe methods are used, then simplicity of device is maintained, but fluid dispensing cannot be controlled uniformly and continuously for ambulatory patients
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a self-contained reservoir with integrated constant-force spring mechanism that automatically dispenses fluid at a uniform rate without requiring external power sources or complex control systems. The reservoir itself serves as both storage and dispensing mechanism, eliminating the need for separate pumps or motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a constant-force spring mechanism that maintains substantially constant pressure on the fluid reservoir throughout dispensing, ensuring uniform flow rate. This parameter control (constant force) compensates for the changing volume of fluid in the reservoir, maintaining consistent dispensing characteristics.
2Reliability
If hermetic sealing and sterilization features are added, then reliability and sterility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The penetrating member integrates multiple functions: it pierces the sealed reservoir, establishes fluid communication, and enables dispensing through a single component. The seal and dispensing mechanisms are combined in one integrated assembly, reducing overall complexity while maintaining hermetic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir is designed as a disposable, pre-sterilized component that is hermetically sealed until use. After single-use dispensing, the entire reservoir is discarded, eliminating the need for complex sterilization and sealing mechanisms in reusable systems.
3Measurement precision
If flow rate control assembly is added, then fluid flow control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control function is extracted from complex mechanical assemblies and implemented through a simple adjustable aperture or orifice in the penetrating member. This minimal control element provides sufficient flow rate adjustment without adding significant complexity to the overall system.
4Volume of moving object
If compact design is implemented, then portability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The penetrating member is inserted into and nested within the reservoir structure, with the constant-force spring mechanism contained within the housing. This nested arrangement achieves compact dimensions while using simple sequential assembly steps that do not require complex manufacturing processes.
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 apparatus ensures uninterrupted fluid infusion, reduces medication errors, and allows for quick initiation of infusion therapy without medical professionals, while being easy to manufacture and operate, with precise fluid flow control and hermetic sealing to maintain sterility.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of variable force springs that function to thrust the collapsible container into penetrating engagement with the penetrating member of the penetrating assembly and then to collapse the collapsible container to deliver the medicinal fluid to the patient
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A dispensing device and the method of making same for dispensing medicaments to a patient that includes a housing, a first assembly connected to the first end of the housing that includes a body portion, and a penetrating sub-assembly. The first assembly also includes a rate control chip of novel construction that is connected to the penetrating sub-assembly and functions to control the rate of flow of medicinal fluid to the patient. Disposed within the housing is a second assembly that includes a shuttle, a collapsible container carried by the shuttle and a plurality of variable force springs that function to thrust the collapsible container into penetrating engagement with the penetrating member of the penetrating assembly and then to collapse the collapsible container to deliver the medicinal fluid to the patient. Connected to the second end of the housing is a novel third assembly that includes an operating member that functions to controllably move the shuttle forwardly of the housing.