Reusable Injector With Damping And Completion Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current injector devices for medicaments lack versatility in handling different formulations and often fail to provide reliable indication of completion, leading to potential misuse or inefficiency in medicament delivery.
Innovation Solution
The injector device features a modular design that accommodates syringes with different medicament formulations without modification, utilizing a constant force spring and damping mechanisms to ensure safe and consistent injection, and incorporates a sudden completion indicator for precise delivery feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the injector device uses a single syringe configuration, then the device structure remains simple, but the device cannot accommodate different medicament formulations with varying viscosities
Solution Approach 1:
The injector device employs a universal syringe carrier design with adjustable damping elements that can accommodate syringes containing different medicament formulations with varying viscosities. The carrier structure includes modular components that can be configured for different injection requirements without changing the basic device architecture, enabling one device to perform multiple functions across different medicament types.
2Speed
If the syringe carrier moves quickly to the forward position, then injection speed is improved, but the ampoule may break due to excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The injector device incorporates damping elements positioned within the syringe carrier that engage before the ampoule reaches its final position. These dampers are pre-configured to provide progressive resistance that slows the carrier's movement as it approaches the forward position, cushioning the impact and preventing ampoule breakage while maintaining efficient injection speed throughout most of the travel distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping characteristics of the syringe carrier are dynamically adjusted based on the detected viscosity of the medicament formulation. The system modifies the damping force parameters in real-time, increasing resistance for high-viscosity formulations and maintaining lower resistance for low-viscosity formulations, thereby optimizing both injection speed and ampoule protection for each specific medicament type.
3Loss of information
If the completion indicator is visible throughout the injection process, then user awareness is improved, but the indicator may cause premature user action before injection completion
Solution Approach 1:
The completion indicator in the injector device operates on a periodic activation basis, remaining concealed during the injection process and only becoming visible at the precise moment of injection completion. This timing mechanism ensures that users receive information about completion status without being influenced by premature visual cues, maintaining both user awareness and injection reliability through controlled information delivery.
4Reliability
If the outer housing is held in the extended position without a locking mechanism, then the device structure remains simple, but the housing may move unintentionally causing premature injection
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism for the outer housing is designed as a self-actuating system that automatically engages when the housing reaches the extended position and automatically releases when the trigger is actuated. The mechanism uses the housing's own movement and the trigger's force to control locking and unlocking, eliminating the need for separate control systems or additional user actions, thereby providing reliable position stability with minimal added complexity.
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 and safe delivery of various medicament formulations with reduced syringe breakage risk and provides clear, audible feedback on completion, enhancing user safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The injection assembly includes a ram driven by a constant force spring. Releasing the constant force spring drives the syringe carrier from the rearward position to the forward position
Implementation Method 2
The first and second dampers cooperate to inhibit breaking of the ampoule during movement of the syringe carrier and movement of the plunger
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
An injector device includes an injector body that receives a syringe; and an injection assembly being configured to dispense medicament from the syringe in a dispensation step. Certain types of injector devices include a sudden completion indicator that indicates when the injection is completed. Certain types of injector devices are configured to dispense two different medicament formulations having different viscosities from syringes without making any changes to the injector devices other than to switch out the syringes. Certain types of injector devices include safety arrangements that inhibit firing of the injector device until front and rear housing assemblies are disposed in predetermined rotational and axial positions relative to each other.