Magnetic Alignment Detection for Medical Infusion Pump Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical infusion pump systems face challenges in providing atraumatic needle insertion and ensuring proper alignment and connection of components, which can lead to user discomfort and inefficiencies in medication delivery.
Innovation Solution
A medical device system featuring a housing configuration with magnetically interactive components that detect alignment and provide a signal for controlling the operation of a drive device, ensuring proper engagement and reducing user trauma during needle insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a needle is quickly forced through the skin using a spring mechanism, then the insertion is less traumatic to the patient, but the device complexity increases due to the spring mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The needle insertion mechanism uses the patient's own body movement (arm movement) to trigger the spring mechanism and drive the needle through the skin. The device self-activates without requiring external power or complex control systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining the quick insertion benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static state to an active needle insertion state through dynamic patient movement. The spring mechanism remains dormant until activated by the patient's arm motion, providing quick insertion only when needed while keeping the device simple during normal wear.
2Reliability
If magnetic alignment detection is implemented to ensure proper component engagement, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional magnetic components and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment detection systems with magnetic field-based detection. Magnets embedded in the device interact with magnetic sensors to detect proper alignment and engagement of components, simplifying the mechanical structure while improving connection reliability through magnetic field sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic fields serve as an intermediary between physical component alignment and electronic detection. The magnets and magnetic sensors create an intermediate magnetic interaction layer that translates mechanical positioning into detectable signals, enabling reliable alignment detection without direct mechanical contact or complex mechanical sensors.
3Device complexity
If manual needle insertion is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the patient trauma increases due to the manual insertion process
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded and positioned ready for action before patient use. The needle is held in a retracted position with the spring already charged, so that upon activation by patient movement, the needle is quickly driven through the skin without requiring complex real-time control during insertion.
4Adaptability or versatility
If components are designed to be selectively engaged and disengaged, then the adaptability of the device is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase to ensure proper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses asymmetric magnetic pole arrangements and non-symmetric mechanical engagement features to guide component alignment. The asymmetric design creates unique magnetic field patterns and mechanical interfaces that naturally guide components into correct positions, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining selective engagement capability.
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 system ensures atraumatic needle insertion and secure component alignment, enhancing user comfort and the accuracy of medication delivery by controlling the drive device based on magnetic interactions.
Implementation Method 1
A medical device system featuring a housing configuration with magnetically interactive components that detect alignment and provide a signal for controlling the operation of a drive device
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a first housing portion (FHP) and a second housing portion (SHP) configured to be to be movable relative to each other from a first position to operatively engage at a second position to couple at least one of a drive device and a needle-inserting device supported by one of the FHP and the SHP to a reservoir supported by the other of the FHP and the SHP. Electronic circuitry configured to detect at least one of a first magnetic interaction between a magnet and at least one of a first magnetically attractive material and a first magnet-responsive device and a second magnetic interaction between the magnet and at least one of a second magnetically attractive material and a second magnet-responsive device, and to provide a signal or a change in state in response to detecting at least one of the interactions.