Magnetic Needle Interface for Reservoir Connection Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Establishing and maintaining a secure connection between a hollow needle and a flexible medicament reservoir is challenging due to difficulties in piercing and stabilizing the needle within the reservoir wall, which can lead to contamination and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

A needle interface comprising an inner ring fixed to the reservoir wall with a magnetizable material and an outer ring attached to the needle, utilizing magnetic attraction to secure the needle in position while preventing contamination, and incorporating features like flow channels and a protective cage to ensure secure and complete fluid delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a needle is connected to a flexible reservoir wall by piercing, then the reservoir can be accessed for fluid delivery, but the connection is difficult to establish and maintain leading to potential contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a needle interface comprising an inner ring and an outer ring as intermediary components between the needle and the reservoir wall. The inner ring is fixed to the reservoir wall while the outer ring is attached to the needle, creating a stable magnetic connection that eliminates direct piercing requirements and prevents contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical piercing connection with a magnetic attraction system. The inner ring contains magnetizable material or magnets, and the outer ring contains corresponding magnetic elements, creating a secure connection through magnetic force rather than mechanical penetration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the needle is securely fixed to the reservoir wall, then connection stability is improved, but the needle may protrude causing safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle positioningVSAvoidneedle stick injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested structure where the inner ring is positioned within the reservoir wall thickness, and the outer ring with the needle is nested around the inner ring. The magnetic attraction between the rings secures the needle while the inner ring's positioning prevents protrusion beyond the reservoir wall outer surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The inner ring is designed with a thickness at least equal to the reservoir wall thickness, allowing it to be embedded within the wall structure. This integration ensures the needle is securely held without protruding beyond the reservoir's outer surface, eliminating needle stick injury hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If the reservoir collapses around the needle, then fluid delivery may be incomplete, but increasing structural support may compromise flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid delivery completenessVSAvoidreservoir flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the reservoir wall into multiple layers with the inner ring positioned between layers, creating a segmented structure. This segmentation provides localized structural support at the needle interface while maintaining the overall flexibility of the reservoir wall for collapse and fluid delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner ring provides localized structural reinforcement at the needle penetration point, preventing reservoir collapse around the needle. The rest of the reservoir wall maintains its flexible properties, allowing the reservoir to collapse for complete fluid delivery while the reinforced area remains structurally stable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively stabilizes the needle within the reservoir, prevents contamination, ensures complete emptying of the reservoir, and mitigates the risk of needle stick injuries through magnetic fixation and protective design.

Implementation Method 1

one of the inner ring and the outer ring comprises at least one magnet and wherein the other one of the inner ring and the outer ring comprises a magnetisable material or a magnet. The two rings form a needle channel through which the needle can pierce a reservoir wall of the reservoir and are arranged to magnetically attract each other thereby defining and maintaining the needle in position within the reservoir.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS10471206B2Needle interface

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 SANOFI AVENTIS DEUT GMBH

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a needle interface for connecting a hollow needle having a proximal tip to a medicament reservoir, the needle interface comprising an inner ring fixed to a reservoir wall of the reservoir and an outer ring attachable to the needle, wherein one of the inner ring and the outer ring comprises at least one magnet and wherein the other one of the inner ring and the outer ring comprises a magnetisable material or a magnet.