Medicament Container Support Assembly Tolerance Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medicament delivery devices face challenges in securely supporting medicament containers due to engineering tolerance variations, leading to potential slippage, contamination, and inaccuracies in the distance between the medicament delivery member and the delivery site, which can result in improper delivery operations.

Innovation Solution

A support assembly comprising a container support member, a deformable member, and a rear support member that exerts a clamping force to deform and compensate for engineering tolerances, ensuring a stable and accurate positioning of the medicament container, preventing rattling and shock dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a rigid support structure is used to fix the medicament container position, then the distance between delivery member and delivery site can be fixed, but the device cannot handle forces from drops or shocks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance between delivery member and delivery siteVSAvoidability to handle drop forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure changes its physical state from rigid to flexible under load. The beam element is designed to bend when subjected to drop forces or shocks, allowing the device to absorb impact energy while maintaining proper container positioning during normal operation. This parameter change enables the structure to be both precise and resilient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure transitions from a static rigid configuration to a dynamic flexible one when forces are applied. The beam can deflect and return to its original position, providing adaptive support that responds to external forces while maintaining functional integrity. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between fixed positioning and shock resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a flexible support is used to absorb shocks, then the device can handle drop forces, but the distance between medicament container and delivery member becomes variable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle drop forcesVSAvoiddistance between container and delivery member

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The beam element is designed with specific dimensional parameters (length, thickness, material properties) that allow it to bend only under extreme loads while remaining effectively rigid during normal operation. This controlled parameter change ensures that flexibility is activated only when necessary for shock absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure provides full rigidity for normal operational conditions, maintaining precise positioning. Flexibility is activated only partially when drop forces or shocks exceed normal operating thresholds, allowing the structure to absorb impact energy without compromising positioning accuracy during standard use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the support structure is made more complex to ensure both precision and shock resistance, then both positioning accuracy and durability improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboth positioning accuracy and durabilityVSAvoidsupport structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of complex rigid mechanisms with multiple components, the invention uses a simple flexible beam element that provides both positioning and shock absorption functions. This single flexible component replaces what would otherwise require multiple rigid parts and shock-absorbing mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while achieving dual functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 support assembly provides a robust and reliable solution for axially supporting medicament containers, maintaining accurate distance between the delivery member and the user, preventing container slippage and ensuring precise medicament delivery operations.

Implementation Method 1

the deformable member is deformed by a clamping force generated by the container support member and the flange of the medicament container, such that the deformation of the deformable member is configured to compensate an engineering tolerance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20230055427A1A medicament container support assembly

Publication Date: 2023.02.23 SHL MEDICAL AG

AI summary

A support assembly for a medicament container of a medicament delivery device is provided with a container support member having a proximal end and a distal end and configured to partially receive a medicament container, a deformable member arranged between a distal portion of the container support element and the proximal end of a flange of the medicament container, a rear support member arranged to be moved in contact with the distal end of the flange of the medicament container; where the deformable member is deformed by a clamping force generated by the container support member and the flange of the medicament container, such that the deformation of the deformable member is configured to compensate an engineering tolerance of the medicament delivery device.