Front-Supported Syringe Assembly to Prevent Barrel Breakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing injection devices risk breaking glass syringes, especially when delivering viscous medicaments, due to undesirable tension on the barrel during injection, which can lead to glass fragments and uncontrolled medicament ejection, posing safety and dosage issues.

Innovation Solution

The syringe holder supports the syringe at its front end, providing a reaction surface for compressive force during medicament delivery, and uses flexible fingers to avoid needle damage during assembly, allowing a two-stage assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the syringe is supported at the rear end during injection, then the device structure is simple, but the barrel experiences tensile force that causes breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesyringe support structureVSAvoidsyringe barrel integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional support location by moving the syringe support from the rear end to the front end of the barrel. This inversion changes the force distribution from tensile (rear support) to compressive (front support), thereby preventing barrel breakage while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the support parameter from rear-end support to front-end support, which fundamentally alters the mechanical force parameter acting on the barrel. This parameter change transforms the stress state from tensile to compressive, resolving the breakage issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Force

If rigid fingers are used to support the syringe, then the support force is sufficient, but the needle may be damaged during assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesyringe support forceVSAvoidneedle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible fingers instead of rigid fingers to support the syringe. These flexible fingers can deform during assembly to accommodate the needle, preventing needle damage, while still providing sufficient support force through elastic deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible fingers act as a cushioning element during assembly, absorbing impact and stress before it can reach the needle. This beforehand cushioning protects the needle from damage while maintaining adequate support force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20260054012A1Injection device

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 SHL MEDICAL AG

AI summary

The present disclosure provides injection device comprising a housing in which can be mounted a syringe comprising a barrel for holding a volume of medicament, a needle at one end of the barrel and a plunger axially-moveable in the barrel to a forwardmost position, the injection device further comprising a syringe support means for supporting the barrel at an axial location at or forward of the forwardmost position of the plunger and having a reaction surface for the syringe, whereby in use said reaction surface provides an axial compressive force on said barrel when a forward axial force is applied to the plunger.