Injection Device Trainer Locking Mechanism for Safe Needle Shield Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional syringes pose risks of accidental needle sticks and alignment issues, and training on injection devices is challenging without actual use, often requiring non-active substances for hygiene reasons.

Innovation Solution

An injection device trainer with a movable shield and locking mechanism that simulates the use of an injection device, allowing multiple practice sessions and ensuring safe and reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional syringe is used, then the structure is simple, but the patient may accidentally stick themselves or someone else with the needle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccidental needle sticksVSAvoidsyringe structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The syringe is divided into separate functional components: a shield component that can move between covered and exposed positions, and a plunger component. This segmentation allows the shield to be independently controlled to prevent accidental needle sticks while maintaining the simplicity of the injection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shield component acts as an intermediary between the needle and the user/patient. It provides a protective barrier that can be positioned to cover the needle, preventing accidental contact, while allowing controlled exposure when needed for injection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a conventional syringe is used, then the construction is simple, but it is difficult to align the needle with the target site correctly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneedle alignmentVSAvoidsyringe construction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield component is positioned and aligned with the target site before the needle is exposed and the injection is administered. This preliminary positioning action ensures correct alignment of the needle with the target site, improving accuracy while maintaining simple construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a single-use injection device is used, then hygiene and health benefits are improved, but training opportunities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygiene and healthVSAvoidtraining capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shield component is designed to be movable between different positions (covered and exposed) and can be reset after use. This dynamic design allows the device to be reused for training purposes while maintaining hygiene through proper cleaning and resetting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed to be cleaned and reset after single-use injection, allowing recovery and reuse for training purposes. The shield and plunger components can be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled to prepare the device for subsequent training sessions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Reliability

If training is conducted without actual injection practice, then hygiene is maintained, but training efficacy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehygieneVSAvoidtraining efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The injection device is designed as a functional copy that replicates the operations of a real injection device without containing actual medicament. It includes a chamber that can be filled with practice substance, allowing users to practice the complete injection procedure including shield movement, needle exposure, and plunger actuation while maintaining hygiene.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3860684B1Locking member for an injection device and an injection device trainer
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS INC
  • EP3860684B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3860684B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3860684B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2E

AI summary

An injection device and an injection device trainer (1) for training a user. Each one of the injection device and the injection device trainer includes: a body portion (3); an actuator (9) positioned towards a proximal end of the body portion, the actuator moveable from a proximal position to a distal position; a shield (11) positioned towards a distal end of the body portion, the shield moveable between: an initial position; a retracted position that is more proximal relative to the body portion than the initial position; and an extended position that is more distal relative to the body portion than the initial position; and a locking member (47) rotatable between a first orientation in which the locking member resists movement of the actuator from the proximal position to the distal position; and a second orientation in which the locking member permits the actuator to move from the proximal position to the distal position.