Injector Delayed Cartridge Piercing via Deflectable Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cartridges in injectors are often left in an unsealed state for extended periods, leading to leakage, contamination, or substance drying/solidification, which can obstruct the fluid pathway and render the injector unusable, and once unsealed, they cannot be reused.
Innovation Solution
An injector design featuring a cartridge door with a deflectable interference member that maintains the cartridge in a sealed state until activation, using a pierceable septum and a cartridge piercing needle that only penetrates upon actuation, preventing premature unsealing and ensuring the cartridge remains sealed until use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cartridge is unsealed during loading into the injector, then the substance can be accessed for injection, but the cartridge becomes susceptible to leakage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is pre-loaded into the injector while sealed, and the sealing mechanism is activated in advance to maintain seal integrity before the actual injection operation. This allows the cartridge to be loaded without compromising seal integrity, as the sealing action occurs prior to any potential leakage or contamination risks.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing member or sealing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the cartridge opening and the external environment. This sealing intermediary prevents direct exposure of the substance to contaminants while still allowing the cartridge to be loaded and accessed for injection when needed.
2Reliability
If the cartridge remains sealed until activation, then leakage and contamination are prevented, but the cartridge cannot be accessed for injection until the sealing mechanism is activated
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism is designed to be dynamic, transitioning from a sealed state during storage and loading to an unsealed state during injection. This dynamic sealing allows the cartridge to maintain integrity until activation, then readily allow access for injection when the sealing member is moved or repositioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is positioned and loaded in advance with the sealing mechanism in place, preparing the system for future injection. The sealing action is performed preliminarily to maintain integrity, and the unsealing action is performed only when injection is required, ensuring both seal integrity and operational ease.
3Ease of operation
If the cartridge is left unsealed for extended periods, then the injection needle can be positioned, but the substance may dry or solidify and obstruct the fluid pathway
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is loaded and sealed in advance, with the sealing mechanism activated before needle positioning. This preliminary sealing prevents substance exposure to air and contaminants during the entire process of needle positioning and injection preparation, ensuring the substance remains in a liquid state and the fluid pathway remains patent.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member acts as an intermediary barrier between the substance and the external environment during needle positioning. This prevents evaporation and contamination that would cause the substance to dry or solidify, while still allowing the needle to be positioned for injection when the sealing mechanism is activated.
4Ease of operation
If the cartridge is unsealed prematurely, then the substance can be accessed, but the cartridge cannot be re-used if injection is not performed
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is loaded and sealed in advance, maintaining its integrity for future use. The sealing mechanism is activated preliminarily to prevent premature unsealing, allowing the cartridge to be stored and reused if injection is not immediately performed, while still enabling substance access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member serves as a protective intermediary that maintains cartridge integrity between loading and injection. This allows the cartridge to be reused if injection is delayed, as the sealing prevents contamination and substance degradation, while still enabling access when the sealing mechanism is activated for injection.
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 design prevents leakage and contamination, maintains the cartridge in a usable state, and ensures the substance remains effective for injection, allowing for safe storage and easy reusability if not initially used.
Implementation Method 1
A deflectable interference member has a resting position configured to limit an insertion depth of the cartridge into the interior channel of the cartridge door to a sealed position, wherein the cartridge piercing needle does not fully penetrate the pierceable septum
Implementation Method 2
The cartridge piercing needle is configured to fully penetrate the pierceable septum of the cartridge to fluidly connect the substance within the cartridge with the injection needle
Implementation Method 3
movement of the activation button assembly from the unactuated position to the actuated position thereof, in the closed position of the cartridge door, deflects the interference element out of the resting position thereof, thereby enabling further advancement of the cartridge into the interior channel of the cartridge door to an unsealed position
Data Source
AI summary
An injector includes an injector housing, an activation button assembly translatable from an unactuated position to an actuated position and a cartridge door movably mounted to the injector housing between an open position and a closed position. A deflectable interference member has a resting position configured to limit an insertion depth of a cartridge into an interior channel of the cartridge door to a sealed position, wherein the cartridge piercing needle does not fully penetrate a pierceable septum of the cartridge. Movement of the activation button assembly from the unactuated position to the actuated position thereof, in the closed position of the cartridge door, deflects the interference element out of the resting position thereof, thereby enabling further advancement of the cartridge into the interior channel of the cartridge door to an unsealed position, wherein the cartridge piercing needle fully penetrates the pierceable septum.