Magnetic Drive System for Automatic Injection Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic injection devices lack a compact and discrete design that allows for easy handling and extended wear, while also requiring precise control over the delivery of pharmaceutical products.
Innovation Solution
An automatic injection device with a magnetic drive system that includes a driving element and a movable element with outer and inner magnets, allowing for precise control of the stopper movement within the drug container without physically entering it, enabling metered delivery of pharmaceutical products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional mechanical drive system is used to move the stopper, then the device can achieve reliable stopper movement, but the device size increases and becomes difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical drive system with a magnetic drive system. The outer magnet and inner magnet interact through magnetic fields to move the stopper, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages, gears, or direct mechanical contact. This substitution significantly reduces the device volume while maintaining reliable stopper movement, as the magnetic field can transmit force through the container wall without requiring physical space for mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the outer magnet (located outside the drug container) and the inner magnet (located inside the container). This intermediary allows force transmission without direct mechanical contact, enabling compact device design while maintaining reliable stopper actuation. The magnetic field penetrates the container wall to transfer motion from the external drive mechanism to the internal stopper.
2Ease of operation
If the device is made compact for easy handling, then ease of operation improves, but precise control over pharmaceutical delivery becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a sensor that detects the position of the inner magnet, which is coupled to the stopper movement. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to monitor the stopper position in real-time and adjust the magnetic drive accordingly. The electronics control the outer magnet's movement based on sensor feedback, enabling precise delivery control even in a compact device format. The feedback loop ensures accurate metered delivery by continuously monitoring and adjusting the injection parameters.
3Volume of moving object
If a magnetic drive system with outer and inner magnets is used, then device compactness improves, but the complexity of the drive system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic drive system serves multiple functions: the outer magnet provides both the driving force and acts as a position indicator for the sensor; the inner magnet couples the magnetic field to the stopper while also serving as a position reference. The sensor simultaneously detects magnet position and provides feedback for control. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced magnetic drive mechanism.
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 magnetic drive system provides precise control over the delivery of pharmaceutical products, allowing for a compact device that can be easily handled and worn, while ensuring accurate and controlled injection according to desired parameters.
Implementation Method 1
The movable element includes an outer magnet at least partially surrounding the drug container and an inner magnet inside the drug container
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic injection device has an insertion needle configured to be inserted into a patient and a drug container which contains a pharmaceutical product. The drug container includes a stopper. The automatic injection device also has a fluid path which fluidly connects the drug container to the insertion needle. The automatic injection device further has a drive system configured to cause parallel linear movement of the stopper to force the pharmaceutical product into the fluid path. The drive system has a driving element and a movable element. The automatic injection device additionally has electronics configured to provide a signal to the drive system to move the stopper and have means for sensing the stopper position. The movable element has an outer magnet at least partially surrounding the drug container and an inner magnet inside the drug container.