Injection Device End-of-Dose Feedback via Rotational Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices for delivering liquid drugs, such as insulin, lack a reliable non-visual feedback mechanism to confirm that a set dose has been injected, particularly for users who are visually impaired or injecting in areas where visual inspection is difficult.
Innovation Solution
An injection device with a dose delivering mechanism that provides a non-visual feedback signal through relative rotational movements between parts, generating an audible or tactile signal only at the end of injection, ensuring precise indication that the set dose has been delivered, which can include changes in rotational velocity or pitch of threaded portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the injection button is pushed to inject the set dose, then the dose is delivered, but the user cannot visually inspect whether the set dose has been injected when injecting in areas where visual inspection is difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a feedback element (such as a window or indicator) provides visual confirmation to the user that the set dose has been injected. The feedback element changes state (e.g., becomes visible, changes color, or displays a specific pattern) when the piston rod has moved the distance corresponding to the set dose, ensuring the user can confirm dose delivery without visual inspection during injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary feedback element that mediates between the piston rod movement and the user's perception. This intermediary translates the mechanical movement of the piston rod into a visible signal that the user can observe after injection, bridging the gap between the injection action and dose confirmation.
2Measurement precision
If the user must visually inspect the dose setting member during injection to confirm correct dose delivery, then dose accuracy can be verified, but this is impossible when injecting in areas where visual inspection is difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback element provides post-injection confirmation that the set dose has been delivered, eliminating the need for visual inspection during injection. The feedback mechanism ensures dose accuracy is verified through a visible indicator that becomes apparent after the injection is complete, maintaining measurement precision while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the verification process from a temporal dimension (visual inspection during injection) to a spatial dimension (visual inspection after injection through the feedback element). This dimensional change allows users to confirm dose accuracy at a different point in the injection process, making injection easier while maintaining precision.
3Reliability
If prior art devices provide audible clicks during the entire injection, then users can hear that injection is occurring, but this does not provide feedback that the set dose has been injected
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback element provides periodic or discrete visual confirmation rather than continuous indication. The feedback mechanism activates at specific intervals or at the conclusion of the injection to provide accurate information about dose delivery, rather than providing continuous feedback that may be ambiguous or unnecessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential feedback information (end of dose indication) from the continuous injection process and presents it separately through the feedback element. This extraction provides clear, unambiguous information about whether the set dose has been injected, improving reliability by focusing on the critical information rather than continuous status.
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 ensures that users can accurately confirm the injection of a set dose without visual inspection, providing a distinct and reliable feedback that the dose has been fully administered, enhancing usability for frequent injectors, including those with visual impairments.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanically biased mechanism, such as a spring
Implementation Method 2
a threaded piston rod which cooperates with a nut, the nut and the piston being capable of rotating relatively to each other
Data Source
AI summary
An injection device with a dose delivering mechanism being adapted to provide a non-visual, e.g. audible and/or tactile, feedback signal when a set dose has been at least substantially injected. A first and a second part of the injection device are adapted to perform a relative rotational movement with respect to each other. The relative rotational movement causes at least two parts of the injection device to abut or engage, and this abutment or engagement causes the non-visual feedback signal to be generated. A very distinct and precise feedback is provided as compared to prior art axial solutions because the generation of the feedback signal is initiated by the relative rotational movement.Feedback signal may be generated by a change in a rotational velocity of at least one part, e.g. by changing the pitch of a threaded portion or by engaging a non-rotating part and a rotating part, thereby causing the non-rotating part to start rotating. May alternatively be generated by building up and releasing a tension.The injection device is suitable for injecting insulin.