Injection Device Dose Indicator Signaling End of Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients using injection devices may not reliably perceive the completion of medication distribution due to the absence of movement, necessitating active signaling for product distribution completion.
Innovation Solution
A drive and metering device with a dose display element that rotates back to its zero dose position at the end of the distribution, actively signaling the user through a mechanical mechanism involving a spring and clutch system, ensuring intuitive operation and clear dose adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a passive dose indicator is used that only shows the remaining dose through a window, then the device structure is simple, but patients cannot reliably perceive the completion of medication distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to the dose indicator element to provide active visual signaling. The indicator transitions from a first color (e.g., green) when dose remains to a second color (e.g., red) when the dose is complete or nearly complete. This color change mechanism reliably signals dose completion to patients without requiring complex additional components, thus improving perception reliability while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
2Reliability
If the dose indicator rotates back to zero position during dispensing, then active signaling of dose completion is achieved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the dose completion signaling function with the existing dose indicator element. The same indicator that displays the remaining dose also provides active completion signaling through color change and/or rotation to zero position. This integration avoids adding separate signaling mechanisms, achieving reliable dose completion signals while minimizing mechanism complexity by combining multiple functions into a single element.
3Ease of operation
If manual tensioning of the drive spring is required for each dispensing, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically pre-tensioning the drive spring during the dose setting phase. When the user rotates the dosing knob to set the desired dose, the mechanism automatically winds and stores energy in the drive spring. This preliminary tensioning action eliminates the need for separate manual tensioning operations before each dispensing, significantly improving ease of operation. The complexity increase is minimal as it integrates into the existing dose setting mechanism.
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 effectively signals the end of medication distribution to the user, ensuring complete administration of the product dose with minimal user effort and clear dose setting, facilitating multiple distribution strokes without manual tensioning.
Implementation Method 1
The drive and metering device further comprises a first spring, in particular a torsion spring, with which the dose indicator element is connected in a rotationally fixed and axially displaceable manner, wherein the first spring rotates the dose indicator element back to its initial position
Implementation Method 2
The drive and metering device further comprises a second spring, in particular a compression spring, with which the drive element is connected in a rotationally fixed and axially displaceable manner, wherein the second spring can be pre-tensioned for product discharge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The device has a dosage indicator (10) that is arranged in a dose scale (10b). A pointing device (4d) is tangible by the user of a drive and metering portion (3), for setting the dose. A value of the dose scale is read corresponding to the set dose. A dispensing spring (11) required for the distribution of the product energy and for product distribution to a driving portion (8). A total paying stroke is provided with partial playing stroke during which the dose indicator is rotationally fixed in relation to the pointing device.