Medicament Injection Device Automatic Cartridge Holder Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pharmaceutical injection devices require users to operate an eject button to open the cartridge holder, which can be difficult for some individuals, leading to challenges in replacing the pharmaceutical cartridge.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical injection device with a cartridge holder that opens automatically when the piston is moved in the pull-out direction, utilizing a driver, opening component, and detector to control the piston's movement and ensure easy cartridge replacement without needing to press an eject button.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an eject button is used to open the cartridge holder, then the holder can be opened, but it becomes difficult to operate for some users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of opening cartridge holderVSAvoidcomplexity of opening mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge holder opens automatically when the piston is pulled out. The piston's extraction movement triggers the opening mechanism through mechanical linkage, eliminating the need for a separate eject button operation. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by making the opening action occur naturally during the required piston extraction, improving ease of operation without adding complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the cartridge holder is opened automatically with piston movement, then ease of operation is improved, but unintended opening may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cartridge replacementVSAvoidrisk of unintentional opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system requires the piston to be fully extracted from the cartridge before the holder can open. This preliminary action sequence ensures that the opening only occurs when intentionally triggered by complete piston extraction, not during normal injection operations. The mechanical linkage is designed to engage only when the piston reaches its fully extracted position, preventing unintended opening during正常使用.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If an eject button with slide switch is used, then unintended pressing is prevented, but operation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of unintended openingVSAvoiddifficulty of eject button operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The eject button and slide switch components are completely removed from the system. Instead of using a separate button mechanism with safety switches, the invention integrates the opening function directly into the piston extraction movement. This extraction of the problematic eject button subsystem eliminates the operational difficulty while maintaining reliability through the inherent mechanical interlocking of the piston-cartridge holder system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3178505B1Medicament injection device
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 PHC HLDG CORP
  • EP3178505B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3178505B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3178505B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical injection device, and it is an object thereof to make this device easier to use, such as by opening a cartridge holder automatically. In order to achieve this object, the pharmaceutical injection device of the present invention comprises a cartridge holder (7), a main case (1), a piston (10), a motor (13), an opening component (130), an open/closed detection switch (24), and a controller (25). The motor (13) drives the piston (10) in either an insertion direction (C) in which the piston (10) is inserted into a pharmaceutical cartridge (9), or a pull-out direction (D) in which the piston (10) is pulled out of the pharmaceutical cartridge (9). The opening component (130) opens the cartridge holder (7) in conjunction with the movement of the piston (10) in the pull-out direction (D). The open/closed detection switch (24) detects whether the cartridge holder (7) is open or closed. When the open/closed detection switch (24) detects that the cartridge holder (7) is open, the controller (25) controls the motor (13) so as to stop the piston (10).