Medication Injector Air-Bleed Valve for Bubble-Free Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injector pens do not effectively remove air bubbles from liquid medicine without losing the medicine, as they lack a mechanism for air passage adjacent to the stopper.
Innovation Solution
A valve positioned in the sidewall of the tubular body with a tube extending through the stopper to allow air passage adjacent to the stopper, facilitating air removal from the liquid medicine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If air bubbles are removed from liquid medicine by conventional methods, then air bubbles are eliminated, but liquid medicine is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the air removal function from the medicine dispensing path by creating a separate air egress path through the sidewall valve and tube. Air bubbles are diverted through this separate path while liquid medicine continues through the original needle path, eliminating the trade-off between air removal and medicine loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The sidewall valve and tube act as an intermediary air egress path that mediates between the air bubbles trapped in the cartridge and the external environment. This intermediary structure allows air to escape without requiring the liquid medicine to leave the cartridge through the needle.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a valve is added to the sidewall for air removal, then air bubbles can be removed without medicine loss, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall valve is designed to be manually operated by the user through simple external manipulation (such as pressing or rotating). This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex automated air removal systems, motors, or sensors, keeping the device simple while effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial dimension to air removal by creating a sidewall opening that provides a third dimension for air egress, independent of the longitudinal medicine dispensing path. This dimensional separation allows air and medicine to be handled independently without interfering with each other.
3Measurement precision
If air is removed from the cartridge, then accurate dosing is ensured, but the operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall valve can be opened to remove air bubbles before the actual dosing process begins. This preliminary air removal action ensures that the subsequent dosing operation is quick and accurate without interruption, separating the air removal step from the timing-critical dosing step.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve mechanism allows for rapid air egress through the sidewall tube, enabling air bubbles to be quickly expelled from the cartridge. This fast air removal minimizes the time added to the overall process while ensuring accurate dosing is achieved.
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 efficient bubble removal from liquid medicine without loss, ensuring accurate dosing and preventing air injection, thus maintaining the integrity of the medication.
Implementation Method 1
The tube is configured for passage of air adjacent to the stopper to remove the air from liquid medicine in the cartridge
Data Source
AI summary
A medication injector assembly allowing for bubble removal without loss of liquid medicine includes a tubular body fitted containing a cartridge proximate to its first end, to which a needle is selectively attachable so that the needle is in fluidic communication with the cartridge. A plunger and an actuator, which are operationally engaged, are positioned in the tubular body. The actuator is positioned to selectively motivate a stopper of the plunger incrementally through the cartridge to dispense a dose of a liquid medicine from the cartridge through the needle. A valve is positioned in a sidewall of the tubular body proximate to its second end. A tube extends from the valve through the stopper so that the valve is in fluidic communication with the cartridge. Air that is adjacent to the stopper passes through the tube to remove the air from the liquid medicine.