Medical Delivery Device Threaded Rod Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical delivery devices are complex and cumbersome for precise dosing and self-administration of liquids, particularly for small volumes, and often require trained personnel, limiting their use for patient self-administration.
Innovation Solution
A medical delivery device featuring a rod element with a stem and a dosage member, where the stem extends into the dosage member's chamber body, allowing for precise dosing through a thread arrangement, enabling easy rotation and axial movement, and a switching mechanism to separate dosing and delivery statuses, facilitating convenient self-administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If syringes are used to deliver liquid pharmaceutical substances, then precise dosing can be achieved, but the device becomes complex and requires trained personnel for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a cartridge containing the pharmaceutical substance, a hub assembly with a needle, and a actuator mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall operation for the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is nested within a protective sheath that is integrated into the hub assembly. The cartridge is inserted into the hub, creating a compact nested structure that reduces complexity and prevents accidental needle exposure during storage and transport.
2Measurement precision
If syringes are used for liquid delivery, then precise dosing is possible, but self-administration becomes challenging for patients
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a self-contained system where the patient can independently prepare and administer the medication. The cartridge pre-contains the precise dose, and the actuator mechanism is designed to be operated with simple finger movements, eliminating the need for training in complex syringe techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The pharmaceutical substance is pre-loaded into the cartridge at the manufacturing stage with precise dosing already configured. This preliminary action removes the need for the patient to perform complex dosing calculations or manual filling operations.
3Ease of operation
If prefilled syringes are used, then self-administration is enabled, but manufacturing becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the pharmaceutical substance containment (cartridge) from the delivery mechanism (hub and needle assembly). This allows the cartridge to be manufactured using standard vial or pre-filled syringe techniques, while the hub assembly can be produced separately and assembled, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub assembly is designed to accept different cartridge types and configurations, allowing a single hub design to serve multiple dosing requirements and pharmaceutical substances, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and tooling costs.
4Ease of operation
If injection pens are used for diabetes therapy, then self-administration is facilitated, but the devices remain relatively complex
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is extracted as a separate, replaceable component that can be attached to the hub assembly only when needed. This eliminates the need for complex needle retraction mechanisms or integrated needle-cartridge designs, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates a dynamic actuator mechanism that transitions from a loading position to an injection position through simple user manipulation. This dynamic design allows the device to adapt to different injection sites and patient needs without requiring multiple complex components.
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 allows for precise dosing and convenient self-administration of liquids, reducing the need for trained personnel and simplifying the process, while ensuring accurate and safe delivery of medications.
Implementation Method 1
the rod element is movable along its longitudinal axis relative to the delivery orifice of the dosage member by the first thread arrangement of the stem of the rod element and a second thread arrangement travelling along each other
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
Medical delivery device (10) comprises a rod element (30) and a dosage member (60). The rod element (30) has a stem (310) with a longitudinal axis (380), a first thread arrangement (3320, 3330), a distal end and a proximal end. The dosage member (60) comprises a delivery orifice (620) and a chamber body (610) with a distal end, a proximal end and a hollow interior. The stem (310) of the rod element (30) extends into the interior of the chamber body (610) of the dosage member (60) and the delivery orifice (620) is arranged adjacent to the proximal end of the stem (310) of the rod element (30). In a dosing status of the medical delivery device (10), the rod element (30) is movable along its longitudinal axis (380) relative to the delivery orifice (620) of the dosage member (60) by the first thread arrangement (3320, 3330) of the stem (310) of the rod element (30) and a second thread arrangement (650) travelling along each other. Thereby, a dosage chamber (6110) is formed in the interior of the chamber body (610) of the dosage member (60) between the stem (310) of the rod element (30) and the delivery orifice (620) which dosage chamber (6110) increases when the rod element (30) moves away from the delivery orifice (620). The dosage member (60) comprises the second thread arrangement (650). Thereby, in the dosing status of the medical delivery device (10), the first thread arrangement (3320, 3330) of the rod element (30) engages the second thread arrangement (650) of the dosage member (60).