Injection Device Rotational Dose Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices require users to apply significant force for dose administration, which can be challenging for individuals with impaired dexterity, and often lack effective dose indication, particularly for visually impaired users.
Innovation Solution
A compact drug delivery device with a resilient member, such as a torsion spring, that provides the necessary force for dose ejection and a dose setting mechanism allowing only rotational movement within the housing, featuring a gauge element for visual dose indication without translational components, and a limiter mechanism for setting maximum and minimum doses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a resilient member (spring) is used to provide ejection force, then the force required by the user for dose administration is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member (spring) is pre-loaded during device assembly or initial activation and automatically provides the ejection force during dose administration without requiring the user to manually load or adjust spring tension. The system serves itself by converting the pre-stored mechanical energy into the driving force for needle and cartridge ejection, eliminating the need for user intervention during the ejection process.
2Loss of information
If a dose indicator barrel undergoes combined rotational and translational movement, then the dose can be indicated, but the housing must be longer to accommodate the barrel
Solution Approach 1:
The dose indicator system uses rotational movement in the angular dimension to indicate dose information, rather than requiring linear translational movement that would extend the housing length. The dose indicator barrel rotates within a fixed housing, and dose markings are displayed through a window on the housing, converting a potential length requirement into a rotational display mechanism that maintains compact housing dimensions.
3Length of moving object
If the dose indicator is made rotatable for multiple revolutions, then the device can be compact, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dose indicator barrel is pre-marked with dose values at specific angular positions corresponding to different dose settings. During device assembly, the barrel is pre-positioned or pre-oriented so that the markings align correctly with the display window. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time calibration mechanisms during operation, allowing multiple revolutions for compactness without proportionally increasing mechanism complexity.
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 device requires low user force for dispensing and provides improved dose indication, ensuring accurate and accessible medication administration for users with varying dexterity and visual abilities, maintaining a compact size without protruding components during dose setting.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient member is a helical spring adapted to provide a force in the axial direction of the injection device, the force being necessary for ejecting a dose from the injection device
Implementation Method 2
a lead screw or piston rod and means for driving the lead screw or piston rod during dose dispensing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention refers to an injection device comprising a housing (10; 410), a resilient member (90; 510) adapted to provide a force necessary for ejecting a dose from the injection device, and a dose setting member (80, 60) operatively connected to a dose indicator (120; 480) which is positioned within the housing (10; 410). The dose setting member (80, 60; 420, 440) and the dose indicator (120; 480) cooperate to set the dose to be ejected from the injection device. The dose indicator (120; 480), during dose setting, is adapted to undergo a mere rotational movement within the housing (10; 410) and relative to the housing (10; 410).