Injection Training Damper Unit with Nested Piston

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automatic injection training devices lack accurate simulation of resistance during medicament injection and are not easily reusable, necessitating improved designs for frequent and realistic training.

Innovation Solution

The training device incorporates a damper unit with a piston assembly and actuation assembly, featuring a first energy accumulating member, such as a helical spring, to simulate the resistance of a regular injection device, allowing for realistic damping and easy reloading, with a reload unit facilitating the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a training device uses a simple discharge mechanism without damping, then the device structure is simpler, but the simulation accuracy of injection resistance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimulation accuracy of injection resistanceVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The damper unit is nested within the housing assembly, with the piston assembly contained within the damper housing. This nested configuration allows the damping mechanism to be integrated into the existing device structure without significantly increasing overall complexity, while still providing accurate simulation of injection resistance through the fluid-filled piston system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The damper unit utilizes a fluid (hydraulic or pneumatic) contained within the piston assembly to create resistance during the discharge mechanism's movement. The fluid's incompressibility and viscosity provide a realistic simulation of the resistance encountered during actual medicament injection, thereby improving simulation accuracy without requiring complex mechanical spring systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If a training device uses a non-reloadable design, then the device structure is simpler, but the productivity and frequency of use are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency of useVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a reusable housing assembly containing the discharge mechanism and damper unit, and a replaceable cartridge containing the medicament reservoir and needle. This segmentation allows the cartridge to be quickly exchanged between uses while the expensive housing assembly remains in place, thereby increasing productivity without significantly increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cartridge is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use, while the housing assembly is recovered and reused. This approach allows frequent replacement of consumable parts (cartridges) without requiring complex reloading mechanisms in the permanent housing, thus improving productivity while maintaining reasonable device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If a training device uses a complex reset procedure, then the reliability of the discharge mechanism is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge mechanism reliabilityVSAvoidreset ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The complex reset and reloading procedures are extracted from the main housing assembly and transferred to the disposable cartridge. The cartridge is pre-assembled and pre-loaded with the medicament reservoir and needle in a controlled manufacturing environment, ensuring reliability without requiring complex user operations. The user simply replaces the entire cartridge rather than performing complex reset procedures, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining discharge mechanism reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 provides a realistic simulation of medicament injection with adjustable resistance, enabling frequent use and easy reloading, enhancing training accuracy and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a first energy accumulating member, in particular a first helical spring, which is operationally associated with the damper housing such that, due to an output axial force from the first energy accumulating member, the damper housing is moveable in relation to the piston assembly and in relation to the outer housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy storage: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the damper housing and the piston assembly are configured such that the damper housing slides in a proximal direction relative to the piston assembly during injection simulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2907126B1Automatic injection training device
Publication Date: 2019.01.23 SHL MEDICAL AG
  • EP2907126B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2907126B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2907126B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5C

AI summary

Automatic injection training device with a housing assembly comprising an outer housing, an actuation assembly, and a damper unit comprising a damper housing and a piston assembly that is arranged in said damper housing. The damper housing slides in a proximal direction relative to the piston assembly when an injection is simulated.