Intravitreal Fluid Delivery With Separate Priming and Administration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing administration devices for intravitreal fluid delivery are not user-friendly, prone to misapplication, misuse, contamination, incorrect dosing, and air bubble inclusion, and have complex manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A mechanical administration device with a dual-actuation mechanism, featuring a first actuation part for priming and a second actuation part for administering, separated by a 90-degree rotation, ensuring intuitive use and minimizing risks of misuse and incorrect dosing, with a securing member to prevent back-movement and provide haptic feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single actuation mechanism is used for both priming and administering, then the device structure is simpler, but the risk of misapplication and incorrect dosing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation mechanism structureVSAvoidrisk of misapplication
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The actuation mechanism is divided into two separate parts: a first actuation part for priming and a second actuation part for administering. This segmentation ensures that each function has its own dedicated control, preventing misapplication and incorrect dosing while maintaining clear user guidance through distinct mechanical actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If priming and administering are combined in one step, then the operation is faster, but the risk of air bubble inclusion and contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadministration speedVSAvoidair bubble inclusion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The administration process is segmented into two distinct steps: priming (removing air bubbles) and administering (delivering the fluid). The first actuation part performs priming by moving the stopper to a first position, while the second actuation part performs administering by moving the stopper to a second position. This sequential separation eliminates air bubbles before fluid delivery, preventing contamination and harmful inclusions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a rotation-locked mechanism is added to separate actuation parts, then the safety against misuse improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against misuseVSAvoidmechanism structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The second actuation part is configured to rotate relative to the retainer, and a rotation-locked mechanism prevents the first actuation part from being actuated unless the second actuation part is in the correct rotational position. This asymmetric design ensures that only the properly oriented actuation can proceed, protecting against misuse while maintaining intuitive user guidance through distinct mechanical actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Manufacturing precision

If multiple actuation steps are introduced, then the precision of fluid delivery improves, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing precisionVSAvoiduser-friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates haptic feedback through the rotation-locked mechanism, which provides tactile confirmation when the second actuation part is in the correct position for administering. This feedback ensures that users can intuitively understand the proper sequence of operations without complex instructions, maintaining ease of use while achieving precise fluid delivery through the two-step actuation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4255530B1Administration device for in particular intravitreal administration of a fluid
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INT GMBH
  • EP4255530B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4255530B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4255530B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An administration device for intravitreal administration of a fluid is proposed, wherein a second actuation part of the administration device is configured to axially block a plunger rod and/or a first actuation part of the administration device, where in the second actuation part is to be actuated in order to axially release the plunger rod and/or the first actuation part such that the first actuation part can be actuated. The administration device comprises a securing member, wherein the securing member is configured to block a back-movement of the plunger rod and/or the first actuation part at least in an initial position and/or in an administration position of the plunger rod and wherein the securing member is configured to block actuation of the second actuation part before reaching the administration position of the plunger rod.