Needle-Retracting Injector With Staged Actuator Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament delivery devices, particularly large volume devices, are cumbersome and require complex multi-step operations for needle extension and medicament dispensing, posing challenges for patient-friendly use.
Innovation Solution
A medicament delivery device with a unified actuator mechanism that moves the needle from a retracted to an extended position and dispenses medicament in a single motion, utilizing a housing, biasing members, locking members, and an actuator that transitions through intermediate positions to ensure safe and efficient delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a unified actuator mechanism is used to perform both needle extension and medicament dispensing in a single motion, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the needle extension function and medicament dispensing function into a single unified actuator mechanism. The actuator moves through an intermediate position to first extend the needle and then dispense the medicament, reducing the number of操作步骤 from multiple separate actions to a single continuous motion. This merging of functions directly improves ease of operation while the internal mechanical design manages the resulting complexity.
2Reliability
If locking members are used to prevent accidental needle extension, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking members are pre-configured in the device to engage with the actuator mechanism before use. The locking members are positioned to automatically engage with the actuator at specific positions, preventing accidental needle extension without requiring user activation. This preliminary configuration ensures safety (reliability) is built into the device structure, while the automatic engagement mechanism manages the complexity by eliminating the need for separate locking operations.
3Reliability
If an intermediate position is introduced in the actuator mechanism, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator's movement path is segmented into distinct positions: a retracted position, an intermediate position, and an extended position. The intermediate position serves as a safety checkpoint where the needle is extended but medicament dispensing is prevented until the actuator completes its full travel. This segmentation of the motion sequence enhances safety by separating the needle extension function from the dispensing function, while the mechanical guidance system manages the complexity of the multi-position mechanism.
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 device is compact, easy to use, and ensures safe, single-motion operation for both needle extension and medicament dispensing, enhancing patient convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing member, and wherein the first biasing member moves the needle from the retracted position to the extended position
Implementation Method 2
a second biasing member, and wherein the second biasing member moves the dispensing member within the housing to dispense medicament from the reservoir
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device. The medicament delivery device comprises a housing, a needle, a medicament delivery mechanism and an actuator. The needle is moveable from a retracted position, wherein the needle is fully received in the housing, to an extended position, wherein the needle protrudes out of the housing. The medicament delivery mechanism comprises a reservoir and dispensing member each disposed in the housing, first and second biasing members, and first and second locking members. The actuator is moveable relative to the housing from an initial position to an intermediate position such that the actuator exerts a force on the first locking member to urge the first locking member from a locked state to an unlocked state wherein the first biasing member moves the needle from the retracted position to the extended position. The actuator is moveable relative to the housing from the intermediate position to a second position such that the actuator exerts a force on the second locking member to urge the second locking member from a locked state to an unlocked state wherein the second biasing member moves the dispensing member within the housing to dispense medicament from the reservoir when the reservoir contains medicament.