Lockable Syringe With Visual Indicator Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical settings, there is a risk of using the wrong pre-filled syringe due to the lack of a secure mechanism to differentiate between various drugs, leading to potential medical errors, and existing syringes lack an ergonomic and cost-effective locking mechanism that ensures safe drug administration.
Innovation Solution
A lockable syringe with a locking mechanism comprising a plunger and a rotating locking ring featuring visual indicators, which must be aligned to unlock and dispense the drug, ensuring the operator verifies the drug before administration, and an adapter that connects to the syringe body without compromising the seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to the syringe, then the safety and reliability of drug administration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a locking ring with visual indicators, a plunger with corresponding indicators, and an adapter. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Visual indicators in different colors are used on the locking ring and plunger to provide immediate visual feedback on the locking status and drug identification. This color-coding system enhances reliability by making the state of the syringe immediately recognizable to the user without adding mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If visual indicators and locking mechanism are implemented, then the reliability of drug verification is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism components (locking ring, plunger, adapter) are designed as disposable elements that are molded with the syringe body. This approach allows for cost-effective manufacturing using standard injection molding processes, making the enhanced reliability feature economically viable for single-use applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves multiple functions: it provides the mounting structure for the locking ring, maintains the seal between the syringe body and locking mechanism, and integrates with the plunger assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs.
3Ease of operation
If the locking mechanism requires alignment of visual indicators, then the ease of operation for verifying drug is improved, but the time required for verification increases
Solution Approach 1:
Visually distinct colored indicators on the locking ring and plunger provide immediate recognition and verification. The operator can quickly identify the correct alignment by matching colors, significantly reducing verification time while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The syringe is pre-assembled with the locking mechanism and visual indicators already aligned in the correct positions. The locking ring and plunger are pre-configured so that proper alignment occurs naturally during the normal operation sequence, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures and reducing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A lockable syringe, which includes a syringe body having a longitudinal axis and including a distal end and a proximal end, and a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be attached to the proximal end of the syringe body. The locking mechanism includes: a plunger having at least one distal plate, and a rod with visual elements for marking an unlock position; and a locking ring which is free in its rotation about the longitudinal axis of the syringe body, the locking ring has at least two visual indicators on its outer surface, and the locking ring has elements for blocking the plunger stroke in a locked position.