Fluid Dispensing Stopper Prevents Drain-Back

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nasal inhalation devices experience fluid drain-back issues, leading to medicament precipitation and contamination, necessitating re-priming and reducing the effectiveness of the device.

Innovation Solution

A fluid dispensing device with a reversible stopper is used to prevent fluid drain-back by creating a negative pressure effect at the nozzle tip, minimizing the need for re-priming and reducing evaporation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mechanical pump dispenser is used to deliver fluid through a nozzle, then fluid can be dispensed via sequential metered pump actuations, but fluid may drain back down the interior of the nozzle under normal atmospheric pressure, leading to medicament precipitation and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid dispensing operationVSAvoidfluid delivery reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A stopper is provided that can be positioned in advance to seal the dispensing orifice after fluid delivery. This preliminary sealing action prevents drain-back of fluid into the nozzle interior, eliminating the need for re-priming and preventing medicament precipitation and contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper acts as an intermediary element between the fluid delivery system and the atmosphere. It seals the dispensing orifice to create a closed system, preventing atmospheric pressure from causing fluid to drain back into the nozzle while allowing controlled fluid delivery when the stopper is removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the dispensing orifice is left open after use, then the device is ready for next use, but fluid egress by evaporation occurs and drain back into the nozzle interior happens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice readiness for useVSAvoidfluid loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper is positioned in advance to seal the dispensing orifice after fluid delivery. This preliminary sealing action prevents both evaporation of fluid from the open orifice and drain-back into the nozzle, minimizing fluid loss while maintaining device readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper converts the potentially harmful effects of an open orifice (evaporation and drain-back) into beneficial outcomes by sealing the orifice. The sealing action transforms the risk of fluid loss into protection of fluid integrity, while the removable nature of the stopper ensures the device remains adaptable for next use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If a stopper is placed over the dispensing orifice to prevent drain back, then fluid drain back is prevented and re-priming is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid delivery reliabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper function is extracted as a separate, removable component rather than being integrated into the main pump mechanism. This allows the stopper to be a simple, independent element that can be easily added and removed, minimizing the increase in device complexity while effectively preventing drain-back.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper is designed to be discarded after use or recovered and reused. This approach simplifies the device structure by using a disposable or easily replaceable component rather than a complex integrated mechanism, maintaining reliability while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 solution effectively minimizes fluid drain-back and re-priming requirements, maintaining the integrity and usability of the device over time.

Implementation Method 1

The stopper acts to prevent the normal draining back action by setting up a 'negative pressure' effect between the stoppered end and potentially draining back fluid in the nozzle tip

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure effect: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The stopper also acts such as to reduce fluid egress by evaporation as would tend to occur at an open (i.e. unstoppered) dispensing orifice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS7854352B2Fluid dispensing device with stopper

Publication Date: 2010.12.21 GLAXO GROUP LTD

AI summary

A fluid dispensing device is disclosed having a body housing a pump action fluid discharge device having a dispensing nozzle. The fluid dispensing device comprises a body defining a cavity and a dispensing nozzle having a dispensing orifice, a fluid discharging device housed in the cavity, the fluid discharging device having a hollow casing defining a reservoir for containing a volume of fluid and a plunger slidingly engaged within the hollow casing, the plunger having a tubular portion which extends from a first end of the hollow casing for co-operation with the dispensing nozzle to enable pumped delivery of fluid from the reservoir to the dispensing nozzle, wherein the dispensing orifice of the dispensing nozzle is provided with a reversible stopper.