Internal Lead Screw Medication Patch Pump
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medication delivery devices, such as patch pumps, face challenges in minimizing size while maintaining accuracy and reliability, particularly in insulin therapy for diabetes management, where the driving mechanisms and fluid reservoirs occupy significant space.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a syringe-style drug container with a lead screw mechanism where the lead screw is axially fixed within the barrel, allowing for reduced overall length of the driving components, and a collapsible drive mechanism using linkage sets to advance the plunger, along with a pressure-based insulin volume sensor for precise measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional driving mechanism with a single advancing lead screw is used inside the fluid reservoir, then the device can dispense medication, but the overall size of the patch pump becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The lead screw mechanism is nested inside the fluid reservoir barrel, with the lead screw positioned within the barrel rather than outside. This nesting arrangement allows the driving components to occupy the same spatial envelope as the fluid reservoir, eliminating the need for additional external space and thereby minimizing the overall device size while maintaining the dispensing function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional external lead screw arrangement to an internal lead screw configuration, effectively utilizing the internal dimensional space of the fluid reservoir. By repositioning the lead screw within the barrel's internal volume, the design transforms the spatial arrangement from external to internal, maximizing space utilization and reducing the device footprint
2Length of moving object
If the lead screw is disposed outside the barrel, then the driving mechanism can be simple, but the overall length of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lead screw is nested within the fluid reservoir barrel, with its length extending only along a portion of the barrel's internal length. This configuration allows the lead screw to be contained within the barrel rather than extending beyond it, thereby minimizing the overall device length while the threading mechanism provides the necessary driving function through the barrel wall
3Volume of moving object
If a compact driving mechanism is used to minimize device size, then the patch pump becomes more wearable, but accurate fluid measurement becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates measurement markings on the fluid reservoir barrel that align with corresponding markings on the plunger or barrel scale. This feedback mechanism allows the user to visually monitor the volume of fluid remaining in the reservoir and the distance the plunger has traveled, providing accurate measurement capability within the compact device design. The aligned markings create a visual feedback system that enables precise fluid volume tracking without requiring additional measurement components
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
This configuration achieves significant space savings, enhances the compactness of medication delivery devices, and ensures accurate fluid measurement and dispensing, improving user comfort and device reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a syringe-style drug container with a lead screw mechanism where the lead screw is axially fixed within the barrel, allowing for reduced overall length of the driving components
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a medication delivery system comprising: a container for a medium: a plunger disposed in the container; and a lead screw axially fixed with respect to the container and in threaded engagement with the plunger, where the lead screw is disposed inside of the container, and the rotation of the lead screw causes axial displacement of the plunger with respect to the container. A patch pump comprising the medication delivery system and a medicament delivery device comprising the medication delivery system are also disclosed.