Computerized Injector Cassette Locking With Motorized Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computerized injectors for medication administration lack efficient mechanisms for securely locking and releasing cassette assemblies, ensuring proper needle attachment and orientation, and fail to provide comprehensive control over the injection process.
Innovation Solution
A computer-controlled injector with a housing that includes a cassette assembly receiving volume, locking elements, and an injection drive mechanism with a motor for driving a piston, featuring a plunger rod and lock release element to securely lock and release the cassette assembly, ensure needle attachment, and control the injection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If locking elements are added to secure the cassette assembly, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is integrated into the plunger rod structure, combining the injection function with the locking function. The locking element is a feature of the plunger rod itself rather than a separate component, which reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliable locking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element automatically engages with the cassette assembly upon insertion and is released by the computer-controlled motor through the plunger rod's rearward displacement. This self-locking and self-releasing mechanism eliminates the need for separate manual locking operations or additional actuating mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If a computer-controlled motor is used to operate locking elements, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computer-controlled motor serves multiple functions: it drives the plunger rod for medication injection and simultaneously operates the locking element for cassette assembly securing and releasing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate actuators and simplifies the overall control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor's rotational motion is coupled to both the plunger rod's linear movement for injection and the locking element's movement for securing/releasing. By merging these control functions into a single motor system, the patent reduces control complexity while achieving automatic operation.
3Reliability
If locking elements are biased radially inwardly, then reliability of locked orientation is improved, but force required for release increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical biasing force that would require significant manual force to overcome is replaced by a computer-controlled motor that applies controlled force through the plunger rod. This substitution allows for reliable locking during normal operation while enabling easy release through electronic control, eliminating the need for users to exert large forces.
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 solution provides secure locking and release of cassette assemblies, ensures proper needle attachment and orientation, and enhances control over the injection process, improving the reliability and efficiency of medication administration.
Implementation Method 1
a spring disposed between the lock release element and the cassette assembly, the spring is compressed upon locking of the cassette assembly to the housing and released and adapted to bias the cassette assembly to extend forwardly out of the housing upon unlocking
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-controlled injector, including a housing arranged along a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a cassette assembly, containing a medicament cartridge; the housing includes a cassette assembly receiving volume and a cassette assembly insertion and removal opening communicating with the cassette assembly receiving volume; at least one locking element for locking the cassette assembly with respect to the housing upon axial insertion of the cassette assembly into the housing; and an injection drive mechanism including a computer-controlled motor for driving a piston, forming part of the medicament cartridge, for injecting a medicament, the computer-controlled motor also being operative for operating the at least one locking element for releasing the cassette assembly from the housing.