Pre-filled Injection Device with Telescopic Shield and Cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pre-filled injection devices with needle cannulas are vulnerable to damage and bacterial growth between injections, leading to risks of needle stick injuries, infections, and clogging, as they are often unprotected and require manual handling.
Innovation Solution
A pre-filled disposable injection device with a permanently mounted needle cannula and a telescopic shield that automatically returns to a protective position after use, maintaining the tip in a cleaning solvent between injections, eliminating the need for manual handling and ensuring sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle cannula is left unprotected between injections, then the user can easily access it for injection, but the needle is vulnerable to damage and bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is designed to be movable between an extended protective position and a retracted injection position. During storage and transport, the shield extends to protect the needle cannula. During injection, the shield retracts automatically or manually to expose the needle tip, enabling easy access while maintaining protection when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield acts as an intermediary element between the user and the needle cannula. It provides a barrier that protects the needle from damage and contamination while allowing controlled access during injection. The shield can be equipped with cleaning solvent to actively maintain needle sterility.
2Reliability
If the needle cannula is protected in a container between injections, then sterility is maintained, but the user must manually reposition the container after each injection
Solution Approach 1:
The protective shield and cleaning function are merged into a single integrated component. The shield itself carries the cleaning solvent and performs both protection and cleaning functions, eliminating the need for separate containers and manual repositioning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield automatically returns to the protective position after injection through spring mechanism or resilient means, and the cleaning solvent is automatically applied to the needle tip. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual intervention for both protection and cleaning operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual handling of the needle is required between injections, then the user can inspect and maintain the needle, but this increases the risk of needle stick injuries and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning solvent in the shield automatically cleans the needle tip between injections without requiring manual handling. The shield mechanism automatically positions itself to protect and clean the needle, eliminating user exposure to the sharp needle while maintaining its sterility and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning solvent is pre-loaded in the shield to clean the needle tip before each injection. This preliminary cleaning action occurs automatically when the shield is in the protective position, ensuring the needle is ready for use without requiring manual inspection or handling by the user.
4Reliability
If the shield carries a cleaning solvent chamber, then the needle tip is cleaned between injections, but the user must monitor and refill the solvent
Solution Approach 1:
The entire injection device including the shield with cleaning solvent is designed as a disposable unit. After a predetermined number of injections or when the solvent is depleted, the entire device is discarded and replaced with a new one, eliminating the need for solvent monitoring and refilling operations.
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 significantly reduces the risks of needle damage and infections by maintaining the needle cannula in a sterile, protected state throughout the injection process, preventing bacterial growth and clogging, and allowing for a continuous series of injections without manual handling.
Implementation Method 1
resilient means are provided for automatically returning the shield to its first position following both the initial injection and any of the subsequent injections
Implementation Method 2
The tip of the needle cannula is maintained inside the cleaner between injections
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pre-filled disposable injection device and a needle cannula in combination. The prefilled disposable injection device (1) is made from a housing (2) containing a non-exchangeable cartridge (10) for storing a liquid drug sufficient for a number of injections. The proximal end of the pre-filled injection device (1) carries the dose setting button (3) and the distal end carries the needle cannula (20) having a lumen (21) through which the settable dose is expelled. The distal end (23) of the needle cannula (20) is covered by a telescopic needle covering shield (30) which shield (30) can operate between a first position covering the tip (24) of the needle cannula (20) and a second retracted position allowing an injection to be performed. The shield (30) carries a cleaner (50) which cleans at least the tip (24) of the needle cannula (20) between successive injections such that the prefilled injection device can be used without changing the needle cannula (20) during its life cycle.