Infusion Device Gear Assembly Initialization Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid infusion devices face challenges in safely inserting and removing reservoirs without inadvertently delivering fluid or damaging the drive system, particularly due to misalignment of gears during reservoir engagement and disengagement.
Innovation Solution
The infusion device incorporates a gear assembly with rotational freedom in a direction opposite the delivery direction, allowing the gear to accommodate misalignment by providing slack when the reservoir is inserted or removed, utilizing a motor and mechanical elements to manage gear displacement and prevent unintended fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the gear assembly is fixed in position during reservoir insertion, then alignment precision is improved, but the risk of misalignment damage and inadvertent fluid delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gear assembly is designed to be dynamically adjustable during reservoir insertion. The gear can shift position along the drive shaft to accommodate misalignment between the reservoir and drive system, transitioning from a static fixed position to a dynamic adjustable position that adapts to varying alignment conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the gear assembly during the reservoir insertion process. By allowing the gear to move to different positions along the drive shaft, the system adapts the alignment parameter to match the reservoir position, preventing both misalignment damage and inadvertent fluid delivery.
2Ease of operation
If the gear assembly allows rotational freedom during reservoir insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of inadvertent fluid delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary alignment action by allowing the gear assembly to rotate freely during the initial phase of reservoir insertion. This preliminary rotational freedom enables the gear to find its proper engagement position with the reservoir shaft before fluid delivery begins, ensuring safe alignment before the harmful effect of fluid delivery could occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control to monitor the engagement status of the gear assembly with the reservoir. When proper engagement is detected, the system provides feedback to lock the gear in place and enable fluid delivery. This feedback mechanism ensures that rotational freedom is maintained only during alignment, and delivery is prevented until proper engagement is confirmed.
3Manufacturing precision
If the gear assembly is constrained during reservoir removal, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gear assembly transitions from a constrained fixed position during normal operation to an unconstrained movable position during reservoir removal. This dynamic adjustment allows the gear to freely move along the drive shaft and rotate during removal, making the operation easier while maintaining precision during active fluid delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus are provided for infusion devices and related operating methods. An exemplary infusion device includes a housing to receive a shaft coupled to a plunger disposed in a reservoir and a gear assembly including a first gear to engage the shaft, wherein the first gear exhibits rotational freedom in a direction opposite a delivery direction. One exemplary method of operating the infusion device comprises identifying a reset condition and in response to the reset condition, operating a motor having a rotor coupled to the gear assembly to provide the rotational freedom for the first gear.