Medicament Cartridge With Integral Thread and Inverted Septum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medication delivery pens require a cartridge retainer, which can lead to particle contamination and increased complexity, and result in a dead volume of medicament that cannot be injected due to the design of the stopper and septum configuration.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design with an integral connection thread and a stopper that minimizes uninjectable volume, eliminating the need for a cartridge retainer, featuring a direct connection to the pen needle and dosing mechanism, and incorporating a septum that allows multiple punctures without crimping ring particles and visible dosage indicia for precise medicament delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cartridge retainer and crimping ring are used to secure the septum, then the septum is held in place, but particle contamination increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the crimping ring from the assembly, extracting the source of particle contamination. The septum is secured directly to the cartridge body through an integrated sealing surface, eliminating the need for the crimping ring that generates particles during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the septum securing function directly into the cartridge body structure. The cartridge body includes a built-in sealing surface that directly engages the septum, merging the functions of the cartridge body, crimping ring, and sealing mechanism into a single integrated component.
2Reliability
If a cartridge retainer is used to hold the cartridge, then the cartridge is secured, but device complexity increases and assembly is simplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cartridge securing function directly into the dosing mechanism housing. The housing includes an integrated cartridge receiving structure with a sealing surface that directly engages the cartridge, eliminating the need for a separate cartridge retainer component.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing mechanism housing serves multiple functions: it houses the dosing mechanism, secures the cartridge through an integrated receiving structure, and provides sealing surfaces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components like cartridge retainers.
3Reliability
If a traditional stopper and septum configuration is used, then the medicament is contained, but dead volume increases and cannot be injected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional arrangement by placing the septum at the distal end of the cartridge (opposite from the usual proximal end arrangement). This inversion allows the stopper to be positioned closer to the needle hub, eliminating the dead volume that would otherwise remain between the stopper and septum in the traditional configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cartridge interior into a medicament storage region and a delivery region, with the stopper positioned to minimize the non-injectable volume. The segmented design allows precise control of the medicament volume that can be delivered.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge for containing and dispensing a medicament, the cartridge including a cartridge body having an interior cavity therein, a stopper movably disposed within the interior cavity, and a septum disposed at an opposite end of the interior cavity from the stopper, for containing the medicament within the interior cavity. The cartridge also includes a connection thread integrally formed as a unitary construction of the cartridge body, the thread being disposed at a first end of the cartridge body for connecting a pen needle directly to the cartridge body to pierce the septum and provide communication between the medicament and a patient end of the pen needle.