Medical Agent Delivery Device with Locking and Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical systems are ill-equipped to handle novel pathogens, leading to challenges in vaccine production, PPE and testing supply shortages, and psychological barriers that hinder effective contact tracing and routine medical services during pandemics.
Innovation Solution
A delivery device with a housing, a base, a plunger sled, and delivery sharps, featuring bias members and a locking mechanism to facilitate safe and efficient administration of medical agents such as vaccines and antivirals, using intramuscular or subcutaneous needles, including microneedles, with a mechanism to ensure proper deployment and flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is used to prevent premature displacement of the plug and plunger sled, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage the plug and plunger sled in their initial positions before use, preventing premature displacement. The lock member is pre-configured to block the plug's movement path and the plunger sled's translation path, ensuring reliability without requiring complex manual locking procedures.
2Ease of operation
If bias members are used to automatically return the plug and plunger sled to their initial positions, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bias members (springs) are configured to automatically return the plug and plunger sled to their initial positions after use without requiring manual intervention. The first bias member urges the plug back to its starting position, while the second bias member returns the plunger sled, enabling self-service operation and improving ease of use.
3Manufacturing precision
If flow control mechanisms are implemented to regulate medical agent delivery, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control mechanism utilizes changes in the plug's position parameter to regulate medical agent delivery. By moving the plug between different positions, the flow path cross-sectional area is changed, thereby controlling the flow rate and amount of medical agent delivered through the needle without requiring complex electronic or mechanical flow control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An example agent administration device may comprise a housing. The device may further comprise a sharp assembly including a delivery sharp. The sharp assembly may be reciprocally displaceable along a guide channel of the housing. The device may further comprise an access port in fluid communication with the delivery sharp. The device may further comprise an actuation assembly configured drive the sharp assembly, via urging of a single bias member, from a storage state in which the delivery sharp is within the housing, through a first extended position in which the delivery sharp extends a maximum distance from the housing and to a partially retracted position in which the delivery sharp extends a lesser distance from the housing.