Injection Supporting Device with Needle Shield for Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for intra dermal injections require bespoke syringes with short needles and profiled ends, which are more expensive and not suitable for standard pre-filled syringes, and lack effective control over injection depth.
Innovation Solution
An injection supporting device with a housing and needle shield that allows standard pre-filled syringes to be used for intra dermal injections, featuring a needle shield that slides between guarding and injection positions, controlled by a resilient member to stabilize and protect the needle, and an annular sealing member to prevent medicament leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bespoke pre-filled syringes with short needles and profiled ends are used for intra dermal injection, then injection depth control is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a needle shield as an intermediary component that attaches to standard pre-filled syringes. This shield has a limited aperture that physically restricts the maximum injection depth, enabling precise intra dermal injection control without requiring expensive bespoke syringes. The shield acts as a mediator between the standard syringe and the patient's skin, ensuring accurate depth control while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle shield is designed to be compatible with standard pre-filled syringes, making a universal solution that works across different syringe types. This multi-functional approach allows the same shield design to be used with various syringes, eliminating the need for specialized bespoke syringes and reducing overall device cost while maintaining injection precision.
2Ease of manufacture
If standard pre-filled syringes are used for intra dermal injection, then device cost is reduced, but injection depth control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The needle shield serves as a depth-control intermediary that attaches to standard syringes. Its limited aperture physically prevents the needle from penetrating deeper than the intra dermal layer, thereby providing precise injection depth control while allowing the use of cost-effective standard pre-filled syringes.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle shield introduces a localized depth restriction at the needle aperture. By modifying only the local quality of the injection interface (the shield's aperture size) rather than the entire syringe, the system achieves precise depth control while maintaining the cost advantages of standard syringes.
3Measurement precision
If a needle shield is introduced to control injection depth, then injection precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection system is segmented into two independent components: the standard pre-filled syringe and the separate needle shield. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall design. The shield is a simple attachment piece with a limited aperture, avoiding complex mechanisms while achieving precise depth control.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the syringe to add depth control features (which would increase complexity), the patent inverts the approach by adding a restrictive element (the shield with limited aperture) that passively controls depth. This inversion simplifies the overall system by using a straightforward physical barrier rather than complex active control mechanisms.
4Reliability
If the needle shield is made retractable for needle protection, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle shield transitions from a static to a dynamic component by making it retractable. The shield can move between covering and exposing the needle, providing active protection when not in use while maintaining accessibility during injection. This dynamic behavior enhances safety without requiring complex locking or actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable needle shield is designed to be manually retracted by the user through simple pressure or pulling motion. This self-service mechanism allows the shield to be moved without requiring additional actuators, motors, or complex control systems, thereby maintaining simplicity while providing needle protection functionality.
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
Enables accurate and controlled intra dermal injections using standard syringes, reducing pain and preventing needle exposure, while making expensive bespoke syringes dispensable and allowing for reusable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member coupled to the needle shield and the housing for urging the needle shield towards the guarding position
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an injection supporting device (1) for a syringe (5). The syringe (5) comprises a cartridge (51) for a medicament and may comprise an injection needle (6) extending in a z-direction from the cartridge (51) to dispense the contents of the cartridge (51). Alternatively the injection needle (6) may be part of the injection supporting device (1) itself. The injection supporting device (1) comprises a housing (2) to receive at least a part of the cartridge (51), a needle shield (3) and a resilient member coupled to the needle shield (3) and the housing (2). The needle shield (3) comprises a distal portion (31) and a proximal portion (33), a distal opening (311) in a front end of the distal portion (31) and a needle guide for guiding the injection needle (6) towards the distal opening (311). The needle shield (3) is slidably attached to the housing (2) and slidable relative to the housing (2) along the z-direction between a guarding position covering a tip (61) of the injection needle (6) and an injection position in which a front end portion (62) of the injection needle (6) extends through the distal opening (311) of the needle shield (3). The resilient member urges the needle shield (3) towards the guarding position.