Replaceable Insulin Pen Cap with Integrated Timer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current insulin pens lack a simple and cost-effective method for users to determine if a prescribed dose has been administered, posing risks of missed or incorrect dosages due to routine administration leading to health complications.
Innovation Solution
A replaceable cap for insulin pens featuring a timer unit, switch mechanism, and digital display that resets when the cap is placed or removed, indicating the elapsed time since the last use, integrated into a standard-sized cavity for mass production and easy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a timer device with two detachable portions is used to track insulin dosing, then the dosing time can be monitored, but the device becomes complex and requires user sophistication and discipline to use properly
Solution Approach 1:
The timer function is segmented from the main insulin pen and integrated into a replaceable cap, allowing the timer components (battery, display, circuit board) to be housed separately in the cap while the pen remains unchanged. This segmentation enables independent replacement of the cap with different timer functionalities without affecting the pen structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap serves multiple functions: it protects the needle, provides dosing time tracking via timer, and can be replaced to change timer settings or battery life. The universal cap design with standard dimensions allows it to fit various insulin pen models, making the timer system adaptable across different devices.
2Reliability
If a dedicated timer device is carried separately to monitor insulin administration, then dosing records can be kept, but the user must carry additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The timer function is merged with the cap that already accompanies the insulin pen. By integrating the timer components (battery, display, microcontroller) into the cap structure, the system combines two previously separate items (pen + timer device) into a single integrated unit, eliminating the need to carry separate equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer components are nested within the cap structure. The battery, circuit board, and display are housed inside the cap's internal cavity, with the display visible through a window on the cap exterior. This nesting allows the timer to be contained within the existing cap form factor.
3Ease of operation
If existing insulin pens are used without modification to track dosing, then the preferred delivery system can be maintained, but there is no simple way to tell whether a dose has been administered
Solution Approach 1:
The cap acts as an intermediary between the user and the insulin pen, providing dosing information without requiring modification to the pen itself. The cap detects pen presence through electrical contacts and provides timer functionality through its own display, serving as a mediator that adds information capabilities to the existing pen system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical inspection method (visually checking the pen or injection area) is replaced with an electronic timer system in the cap that automatically tracks and displays dosing time. The electrical contacts in the cap detect pen presence and trigger the timer, substituting manual checking with automated electronic monitoring.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a replaceable cap with timer is designed to fit standard insulin pens, then the solution can be applied to various pen designs, but the cap dimensions must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed with universal dimensions that allow it to fit multiple insulin pen models. The internal cavity of the cap is sized to accommodate the standard pen diameter, and the electrical contacts are positioned to match common pen configurations, enabling one cap design to serve multiple pen types.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cap versions can be manufactured with slightly different dimensional parameters to fit specific pen models. The basic cap design allows for parameter adjustments in the internal cavity dimensions and contact positions while maintaining the overall cap structure and timer functionality.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A replaceable pen cap (10) for an insulin pen (12) is provided. The cap includes an elongate hollow body (14) with a first open end (16) which can be placed over a front part (26) of the pen and a second closed end (18) opposite the first end. The body has two main injection moulded plastic parts (40, 42) that connect together to form the body of the cap, the two parts holding a control unit (52) captive between them in a cavity (48) defined between the two parts. The control unit (52) includes a switch mechanism configured to be actuated when the cap is placed on the pen and/or when the cap is removed from the pen.