Injector With Universal Cartridge Pathway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional injectors are typically manufactured to operate with specific cartridge dimensions, making them incompatible with cartridges exhibiting larger manufacturing tolerances or differing dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The development of an injector with a modular design that includes a pathway capable of receiving both standard and radially differently dimensioned cartridges, utilizing adapter collars with cantilevered fingers to stabilize and align cartridges with the injection needle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the injector is manufactured to operate with a particular corresponding cartridge, then the injector achieves precise operation with that specific cartridge, but it becomes incompatible with cartridges exhibiting larger manufacturing tolerances or differing dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The pathway is designed with a universal geometry that can accommodate multiple cartridge types (glass and molded polymer) with different dimensions and tolerances. The pathway's enlarged cross-sectional area and specific dimensional tolerances allow it to reliably receive and operate with various cartridge configurations, making the injector compatible with both precision molded cartridges and lower-precision glass cartridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The pathway dimensions are intentionally enlarged beyond the minimum required for a specific cartridge type. By increasing the pathway's cross-sectional area and adjusting its dimensional tolerances, the design creates a tolerance buffer that accommodates variations in cartridge dimensions, allowing reliable operation with cartridges exhibiting larger manufacturing tolerances.
2Ease of manufacture
If glass cartridges are used which have greater variation among cartridges, then manufacturing cost is reduced and prevalence increases, but precision and dimensional consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pathway dimensions are deliberately enlarged and its tolerances adjusted to create a tolerance buffer. This parameter change allows the pathway to accommodate the greater dimensional variation inherent in glass cartridges while maintaining reliable operation, thereby enabling the use of lower-cost glass cartridges without sacrificing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pathway is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate both high-precision molded polymer cartridges and lower-precision glass cartridges. This multi-functionality allows manufacturers to choose cost-effective glass cartridges while the pathway's design ensures consistent reliable operation despite the greater dimensional variation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pathway is enlarged to accommodate different cartridge dimensions, then cartridge compatibility is improved, but the pathway volume and injector size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pathway's cross-sectional area is selectively enlarged at specific locations where dimensional variation occurs in different cartridge types. Rather than uniformly increasing the entire pathway volume, the design applies local dimensional adjustments and tolerance buffers only where needed to accommodate cartridge variations, thereby maintaining compatibility while minimizing overall volume increase.
Data Source
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AI summary
An injector includes a body, an injection needle movably mounted to the body and a pathway within the body sized for receiving either of a first cartridge or a differently dimensioned second cartridge therein. The pathway includes a coupler mounted at a distal end that is engageable with the first cartridge or the second cartridge for to fluidly connect with the injection needle. At least two adapter collars are mounted within the pathway. A first adapter collar is configured to receive either one of the two cartridges therethrough upon insertion into the pathway, and configured to engage a portion of the first cartridge to stabilize the first cartridge within the pathway. A second adapter collar is also configured to receive either one of the two cartridges therethrough upon insertion into the pathway, but configured to engage a portion of the second cartridge to stabilize the second cartridge within the pathway.