Mechanical Fluid Delivery Device with Spring-Driven Piston
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ambulatory fluid delivery systems for medicaments like insulin are cumbersome, difficult to operate, and expensive, lacking options for quick and accurate dose variation under varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A compact, mechanical, and hydraulic fluid delivery device with a housing, fluid reservoir, and biasing members that allow for both continuous and bolus dosing, featuring a needle with distinct positions and a piston mechanism for controlled fluid delivery, along with thermal regulation to maintain consistent dosing across environmental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic pump systems are used for continuous fluid delivery, then delivery continuity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic pump systems with a purely mechanical spring-driven piston mechanism. The biasing member (spring) provides continuous mechanical force to drive the piston, eliminating the need for electronic components while maintaining reliable continuous delivery through mechanical means alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-driven mechanism is self-regulating and requires no external power source or electronic control. The biasing member automatically maintains pressure on the fluid reservoir, and the system self-regulates flow through the needle positioning mechanism, reducing complexity while ensuring continuous delivery.
2Device complexity
If mechanical spring-driven mechanisms are used for fluid delivery, then device complexity is reduced, but delivery precision under variable environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a needle positioning mechanism as an intermediary between the spring force and fluid delivery. By precisely controlling needle insertion depth and positioning, the system compensates for variations in spring force due to temperature and pressure changes, maintaining dosing accuracy despite environmental variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows adjustment of dosing parameters through needle positioning and selection of different fluid reservoir configurations. This enables compensation for environmental variations by changing operational parameters rather than relying on fixed electronic control, maintaining precision while using simple mechanical components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If quick dose variation capability is added to the device, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic needle positioning mechanism that can be quickly adjusted between different positions (retracted, partially inserted, fully inserted) to vary dose delivery. This mechanical dynamic adjustment provides quick adaptability without complex electronics, maintaining ease of operation through simple positional changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing mechanism is segmented into discrete positional states of the needle (retracted, intermediate, fully inserted), allowing quick transition between different dose levels. This segmentation provides versatile dose variation capability while keeping operation simple, as users only need to select from predefined positional states rather than continuously adjust parameters.
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 device provides simple, intuitive, and cost-effective ambulatory fluid delivery with safety and consistency, enabling precise control over fluid dosing and reducing the impact of environmental conditions on delivery accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
A biasing member has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the biasing member is coupled to the housing and the distal end of the biasing member is configured to deliver a force to the fluid reservoir.
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulic pump chamber and a flow restrictor fluidly coupling the hydraulic pump chamber and the hydraulic basal chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery device comprises a housing having a fluid reservoir. A needle is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir in an engaged position and out of fluid communication with the fluid reservoir in armed and storage positions. A proximal end of a biasing member is coupled to the housing and a distal end of the biasing member is configured to deliver a force to the fluid reservoir. A piston member extends through the biasing member and is coupled to the distal end of the biasing member. The piston member is fixed with respect to the housing in a locked position such that the biasing member does not deliver the force to the fluid reservoir and moveable with respect to the housing in a released position such that the biasing member delivers the force to the fluid reservoir. Transitioning the needle from the storage position to the armed position transitions the piston from the locked position to the released position.