Hinged Pen Needle Storage with Anti-Rotation Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pen needle containers are large and bulky, making them inconvenient for users to carry, and lack a means for easily dispensing new needles or storing used needles.
Innovation Solution
A multi-pack assembly with a hinged shell housing that allows for easy access and storage of both new and used pen needles, featuring sterility barriers and a mechanism to prevent rotation of needles during use and storage, enabling secure and compact carrying of multiple needles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If existing pen needle containers are designed to store multiple needles, then the storage capacity is improved, but the container size becomes large and bulky, making it inconvenient for users to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is divided into multiple separate compartments, each capable of holding a single pen needle. This segmentation allows the container to maintain a compact size while providing storage for multiple needles through modular organization rather than a single large space
Solution Approach 2:
The pen needles are stored in a nested configuration where multiple needles are arranged concentrically or in a compact stacked manner within the container, maximizing space utilization and reducing the overall container volume while maintaining storage capacity for multiple needles
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing pen needle containers are designed for storage, then the storage function is provided, but they lack mechanisms for easy dispensing of new needles or secure storage of used needles
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is designed to perform multiple functions: it stores new sterile pen needles, provides a designated compartment for used needles, and includes a dispensing mechanism. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate containers and tools, improving versatility without compromising ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The container includes an automatic dispensing mechanism that allows users to easily retrieve new needles without manual manipulation or complex operations. The design enables the container to serve itself by automatically presenting the next needle for use, reducing the operational effort required
3Ease of manufacture
If pen needles are stored without individual protection, then the storage simplicity is improved, but sterility cannot be maintained and needles may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Each pen needle is placed in its own individual compartment within the storage container, providing physical separation and protection. This segmentation maintains sterility by preventing contamination between needles while keeping the overall storage structure simple and compact
Solution Approach 2:
Each needle compartment is sealed with a flexible barrier or thin film that maintains sterility while allowing the container to remain compact. These flexible seals provide reliable protection without requiring complex rigid structures, balancing sterility maintenance with storage simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for storing both new and used pen needles of an injection apparatus, comprising a plurality of storage units each configured to store a pen needle having a needle fixed to a hub, the plurality of storage units being hingedly connected, and each including a storage end, and a dispensing end having an anti-rotation structure, wherein the anti-rotation structure working in conjunction with the hub of the pen needle to prevent rotation of the pen needle when the pen needle is in a dispensing position.