Injection Device Trainer Reset Connector Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional syringes are complex and potentially unsafe for patients, particularly those with limited dexterity, due to accidental needle exposure and difficulty in aligning the needle correctly, and there is a need for a device to train users on injection device usage without actual injections.
Innovation Solution
An injection device trainer with a movable actuator and shield mechanism, allowing simulation of needle exposure and retraction, and a locking system for safe and reliable operation, enabling multiple training sessions and accurate simulation of injection processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional syringe is used, then the device structure is simple, but the safety is poor due to accidental needle exposure and difficulty in aligning the needle correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The injection device is divided into separate functional components: a needle assembly, a shield mechanism, and a plunger assembly. The shield can independently cover or expose the needle, while the plunger independently controls medicament delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving safety through controlled needle exposure while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A shield mechanism acts as an intermediary between the needle and the external environment. The shield provides a physical barrier that can be selectively positioned to cover or expose the needle, mediating the safety requirement without requiring complex locking mechanisms or multiple hands for operation.
2Ease of operation
If a needle shield and plunger mechanism is added to improve safety and ease of operation, then the ease of operation is improved for single-motion injection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield mechanism and plunger mechanism are integrated into a single device body, sharing common structural elements and movement paths. The shield moves along the same longitudinal axis as the plunger, and both components interact with the same housing features. This merging allows the device to provide enhanced safety and ease of operation while minimizing the increase in overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device body and housing structures serve multiple functions: they contain the needle assembly, guide shield movement, support the plunger mechanism, and provide finger engagement surfaces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate structural elements, allowing enhanced operation capabilities without proportional increases in device complexity.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is implemented to prevent reuse and ensure hygiene, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage in a predetermined sequence after the injection is completed. The shield's retraction triggers the locking action, ensuring that the needle is secured before the user can attempt to reuse the device. This preliminary locking action ensures hygiene compliance without requiring user intervention or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is self-activating based on the mechanical state of the device components. As the shield retracts and the plunger delivers the full dose, the mechanism automatically transitions to a locked state that prevents further needle exposure or medicament delivery. This self-service locking eliminates the need for external monitoring or complex user-operated safety features.
4Productivity
If an injection device trainer is created to allow repeated training, then the productivity of training is improved, but the device complexity increases compared to a single-use device
Solution Approach 1:
The trainer device allows the needle assembly to be removed, discarded, and replaced after each training session. The shield and plunger mechanisms remain intact and are recovered for repeated use. This selective discarding of only the needle component enables multiple training sessions while maintaining the core mechanical teaching functions, balancing productivity improvement with controlled complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The trainer incorporates movable and adjustable components that can be reset between training sessions. The shield can be manually repositioned, the plunger can be returned to its initial position, and the needle assembly can be exchanged. These dynamic features allow the device to transition between training cycles, providing repeated training capability while keeping the overall structure manageable through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
An injection device and an injection device trainer for training a user to use an injection device. Each one of the injection device and the injection device trainer can include: a body portion; an actuator positioned towards a proximal end of the body portion, the actuator moveable from a proximal position to a distal position; a shield positioned towards a distal end of the body portion, the shield moveable between: an initial position; an extended position that is more distal relative to the body portion than the initial position; and a connector that connects the actuator to the shield such that movement of the actuator from the distal position towards the proximal position pulls the shield from the extended position to the initial position.