Labyrinth Pump Vessel Air Ingress Dosing Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pharmaceutical product dispensing devices struggle to maintain consistent dosing accuracy, especially towards the end of the product's life and during storage in random orientations, due to air retention and incomplete closure of the nonreturn valve, affecting the last doses dispensed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a labyrinth-type product passage extending the upstream end of the pump, which creates a twisting path for fluid flow, limiting or preventing air passage from the pump into the vessel, ensuring consistent dosing regardless of the product level and storage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the device is stored in random orientations (including head down position), then the device is easier to store and transport, but air passes from the pump into the vessel through the nonreturn valve, compromising dosing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A labyrinth-forming member is introduced as an intermediary element between the pump chamber and the vessel. This member creates a tortuous path that acts as a barrier to air flow while allowing product flow, preventing air from reaching the vessel during storage in any orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The passage is segmented into multiple sections by the labyrinth-forming member, creating a series of barriers that air must navigate through. This segmentation effectively blocks air passage while maintaining product flow capability
2Reliability
If the nonreturn valve is designed to close the passage, then air passage is prevented, but the valve does not completely close when the device is stored head down, allowing air to pass into the vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The labyrinth-forming member serves as an intermediary barrier that supplements the nonreturn valve's closure function. Even when the valve does not completely close due to gravitational effects during head-down storage, the labyrinth structure prevents air from passing through to the vessel
Solution Approach 2:
The labyrinth-forming member provides a pre-established barrier against air passage before air can potentially leak through an incompletely closed nonreturn valve during storage, compensating for potential valve closure deficiencies
3Ease of operation
If air is retained in the pump during initial mounting, then the pump is ready for immediate use, but air progressively passes into the vessel during storage, affecting the content of the last doses
Solution Approach 1:
The labyrinth-forming member acts as a permanent barrier that prevents air trapped during initial mounting from reaching the vessel during storage. This intermediary structure maintains dose consistency throughout the device's lifecycle, including the last doses
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 labyrinth-type passage effectively prevents air from influencing the dispensed product, maintaining consistent dose delivery until the end of the product's life, regardless of the vessel's fill level or storage orientation.
Implementation Method 1
a passage in which the product that is situated therein must follow a twisting path to emerge therefrom. Such a passage is configured to create a 'labyrinth' effect, which an effect of resistance to the flow of a fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A pump for connecting the inside and the outside of a product vessel for pharmaceutical use including an upstream end for passing a product intended for extending into the vessel and for being in fluid communication with the vessel and, downstream from the upstream end, a check valve switching between configurations for sealing and passing a product. The upstream end is extended upstream by a member forming a passage of a product in a labyrinth, referred to as labyrinth-forming member.