Medicament Injector Deformable Element Activation Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Some users find it difficult to fully depress the needle cover in auto-injector devices due to the required force or changes in force during activation, leading to incomplete needle insertion, pain, discomfort, and partial medicament delivery.
Innovation Solution
The medicament delivery device incorporates a deformable element within the needle cover that changes configuration from engaged to disengaged as the needle cover moves from the initial to an intermediate position, reducing the force required for activation and ensuring proper needle insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the needle cover is biased by a spring to extend over the needle, then the needle cover can be automatically retracted to uncover the needle, but the force required to depress the needle cover becomes too high for some users
Solution Approach 1:
The activation process is divided into two distinct phases: an initial phase where the deformable element engages with the needle cover to provide mechanical advantage and reduce activation force, and a subsequent phase where the spring mechanism takes over for automatic needle uncovering. This segmentation allows each mechanism to operate in its optimal range.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable element acts as an intermediary between the user's activation force and the spring-loaded needle cover mechanism. It transforms the user's input force into effective needle cover movement while reducing the perceived activation force, and then transitions to allow the spring mechanism to complete the uncovering action.
2Reliability
If the needle cover is held in a holding position for a predetermined period, then complete medicament delivery is ensured, but the device remains in a high-force state requiring user attention
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the deformable element to automatically maintain the needle cover in the activated position throughout the medicament delivery period. The element's deformation state serves as a mechanical latch that holds the needle cover without requiring continuous user force or attention, allowing the device to service itself during the holding period.
3Ease of operation
If the deformable element changes from engaged to disengaged configuration during activation, then the activation force is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable element is implemented as a flexible, thin-walled structure that can elastically deform between engaged and disengaged configurations. This flexible membrane approach reduces complexity compared to rigid mechanical linkages while providing the necessary force transformation and positioning functions.
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 use of a deformable element in the medicament delivery device reduces the activation force needed, ensuring complete needle insertion and proper medicament delivery, thereby enhancing user experience and delivery efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a carrier configured to support a pre-filled syringe, wherein the carrier is disposed within the needle cover and comprises a deformable element configured to change from a first configuration in which the deformable element is engaged with the needle cover to a second configuration in which the deformable element is not engaged with the needle cover
Data Source
AI summary
A medicament delivery device for reducing a force required to activate the device includes a needle disposed at a distal end of the device, a needle cover, and a body. The needle cover is axially movable relative to the body between an initial position in which the needle cover covers the needle and an activated position for dispensing a medicament. The needle protrudes from a distal end of the needle cover when the needle cover is in the activated position. The medicament delivery device includes a carrier configured to support a syringe. The carrier is disposed within the needle cover and includes a deformable element configured to change from a first configuration in which the deformable element is engaged with the needle cover to a second configuration in which the deformable element is not engaged with the needle cover.