Hollow Drive Shaft Autoinjector for Fast Automated Needle Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic autoinjectors require multiple manual steps and have slower needle insertion processes, leading to increased pain perception and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven autoinjector with a hollow drive shaft and lead screw mechanism automates needle cap removal, rapid needle insertion, drug delivery, and dose cassette ejection, using a single motor to reduce manual steps and improve user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If electronic autoinjectors use motor drive mechanism to insert needle into user's tissue, then automation is improved, but insertion speed deteriorates resulting in slower process and increased pain perception
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the needle insertion function from the motor-driven plunger actuation. A spring-loaded mechanism handles rapid needle insertion independently, while the motor drive shaft only controls plunger movement for medicament delivery. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded needle insertion mechanism is pre-charged and ready to deploy immediately when activated. The needle is positioned and spring-loaded in advance, enabling rapid insertion without waiting for motor activation or positioning, thus achieving fast insertion while maintaining automation.
2Ease of manufacture
If electronic autoinjectors are designed as reusable devices, then cost is improved, but device complexity increases requiring extra loading steps of disposable syringe or dose cassette
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven plunger actuation system is designed to work with multiple types of disposable dose cassettes or syringes. The hollow drive shaft and plunger engagement mechanism provide universal compatibility across different medicament delivery formats, allowing a single reusable device to serve multiple functions without requiring separate loading procedures for each type.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex loading procedure is extracted and simplified by designing self-loading or easy-load mechanisms. The disposable dose cassette automatically engages with the motor drive shaft when inserted, eliminating manual assembly steps. The device separates the reusable motorized housing from the simple disposable cartridge, reducing the complexity of the reusable portion while maintaining cost effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If manual loading steps are required for disposable syringe or dose cassette, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring extra user steps
Solution Approach 1:
The dose cassette is designed to automatically engage with the motor-driven hollow drive shaft upon insertion into the device. The plunger, needle, and sealing mechanisms within the cassette self-align and self-engage with the drive shaft, eliminating the need for manual loading steps or complex user assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable dose cassette is pre-assembled and pre-positioned with the plunger, needle, and sealing components in their correct positions before insertion. This preliminary preparation allows the user to simply insert the complete assembly without performing any additional loading or configuration steps.
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 reduces pain perception and user anxiety by automating needle insertion and ejection processes, ensuring proper drug delivery and simplifying the injection process for users with physical or mental challenges.
Implementation Method 1
A motor is provided having a hollow drive shaft. The motor is configured to rotate the hollow drive shaft.
Implementation Method 2
The lead screw nut is configured to rotate upon rotation of the hollow drive shaft. A lead screw is operably connected to the lead screw nut. The lead screw is configured to move within the lead screw nut
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a motor and a hollow drive shaft. The motor is configured to rotate the hollow drive shaft. A lead screw nut is operably connected to the hollow drive shaft. The lead screw nut is configured to rotate upon rotation of the hollow drive shaft. A lead screw is operably connected to the lead screw nut. The lead screw is configured to move within the lead screw nut and the lead screw is configured to pass through at least part of the hollow drive shaft.