Injection Device Dosage Windows Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing injection devices often confuse users, especially those with impaired vision, due to small scales, limited number visibility, and simultaneous display of current and adjacent dosages, making dosage setting difficult.

Innovation Solution

An injection device with a body and a rotatable dose set sleeve featuring alternating dosage indicator windows that display consecutive dosage numbers, aiding visually impaired users by ensuring only one number is visible at a time through separate windows, with magnifying lenses for clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single window with a pointer is used for dosage setting, then the device structure is simple, but it is difficult for users with impaired vision to match the scale line to the pointer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosage setting mechanismVSAvoiddosage setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The single window is segmented into multiple dosage indicator windows (first, second, and third windows) that display different dosage numbers sequentially. This segmentation allows users to see larger, more distinct numbers in separate windows rather than trying to read small numbers in a single window, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If only even numbers are displayed on the scale line, then the scale is compact, but users are required to interpolate the dosage values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescale line areaVSAvoiddosage setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dosage display is segmented across multiple windows showing both odd and even numbers sequentially. The first window displays even numbers, the second window displays odd numbers, and the third window displays the next even number. This segmentation allows all dosage values to be displayed explicitly without interpolation while keeping the scale line compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If the numbers and scale lines are made small, then the device size is reduced, but the user visibility and ease of reading is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoiddosage reading
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dosage display is divided into multiple separate windows, each showing a portion of the dosage scale. This segmentation allows each window to display larger, more readable numbers while the overall device remains compact. The multiple windows effectively distribute the display area, improving readability without significantly increasing device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of information

If multiple adjacent dosage numbers are visible simultaneously in the window, then the user can see the current and surrounding dosages, but this may confuse the user about which number to select

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosage context informationVSAvoiddosage selection clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dosage display is segmented into multiple windows that show dosage numbers in a sequential pattern (even, odd, even). This segmentation creates clear visual separation between different dosage values, reducing confusion about which number to select while still providing context through the sequential display pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each window is designed with specific local qualities - different windows display different types of numbers (even vs. odd) in a predictable sequence. This local differentiation helps users understand which window to reference for their desired dosage while maintaining overall context through the established display pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3511040B1Injection device with plural dosage setting windows
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 BECTON DICKINSON & CO
  • EP3511040B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3511040B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3511040B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An injection device (100) including a body (108, 332) for containing and dispensing a medicament, the body (108, 332) having a plurality of dosage indicator windows (120, 124; 336, 340, 344) for indicating a desired dosage of medicament, and a dose set sleeve (192, 326, 352) rotatably connected with the body (108, 332) for setting the desired dosage, the dose set sleeve (192, 326, 352) having a plurality of dosage numbers (196, 348) disposed thereon. Upon rotating the dose set sleeve (192, 326, 352) to set the desired dosage, the dosage numbers (196, 348) are consecutively visible through alternating ones of the plurality of dosage indicator windows (120, 124; 336, 340, 344).