Medicament Delivery Device Dual Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medicament delivery devices are complex with numerous components, making them difficult to handle, and often result in medicament leakage before reaching the intended injection depth, reducing efficacy. Additionally, there is a risk of medicament container breakage during activation.
Innovation Solution
A medicament delivery device with a tubular housing and coaxial sleeve, featuring a medicament container holder with dual locking mechanisms and a dampening member, allowing a single spring to perform both penetration and injection, ensuring the injection only occurs when the needle reaches full depth and minimizing container stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple springs are used to perform penetration and injection separately, then the injection can be controlled to start only when the needle reaches full depth, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single spring is functionally segmented into two distinct phases: a first phase where the spring expands to move the container holder and needle assembly during penetration, and a second phase where the spring continues expanding to drive the plunger rod for injection. This functional segmentation allows one physical spring to replace what would traditionally require two separate springs, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable depth control
Solution Approach 2:
The locking means are pre-configured to engage during the penetration phase and automatically release when the needle reaches the predetermined injection depth. This preliminary setup of the locking mechanism ensures that the injection phase only begins after proper penetration is achieved, maintaining reliability without requiring additional active control components
2Device complexity
If a single spring performs both penetration and injection, then the number of components is reduced, but medicament may leak before reaching the intended injection depth
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between two distinct operational modes controlled by the locking means: a penetration mode where the locking engagement prevents plunger movement and thus prevents medicament leakage, and an injection mode where the locking means releases and allows plunger movement. This dynamic control allows a single spring to drive both phases while preventing premature medicament delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The locking means act as an intermediary mechanism between the spring's expansion force and the plunger rod. During penetration, the locking means intercept the spring force and redirect it solely to moving the container holder and needle, preventing transmission of force to the plunger. Once penetration is complete, the locking means releases, allowing the spring force to then drive the plunger for injection
3Extent of automation
If multiple components are used for automatic functions, then the functions can be performed automatically, but the handling becomes difficult and tolerance chains become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the penetration and injection functions into a single integrated operational sequence driven by one spring. The container holder assembly, needle, and plunger rod are combined into a unified mechanism where the spring's expansion naturally progresses through penetration first, then injection, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the automatic function while improving ease of operation
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 design reduces the number of components, simplifies handling, prevents medicament leakage, and minimizes the risk of container breakage, ensuring reliable and controlled medicament delivery with improved efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
drive means comprising a plunger rod having opposite proximal and distal ends, and a force spring means
Data Source
AI summary
A medicament delivery device has a housing and a sleeve; a shield within and protruding from the housing; a container having a delivery member, a chamber containing a medicament, and a piston; a drive mechanism having a spring and a plunger rod in contact with the piston; and a container holder having a first locking device releasably connected to a corresponding locking device on the sleeve for holding the holder in an initial state against the drive mechanism and a second locking device surrounded by the sleeve and releasably connected to a corresponding locking device on the plunger rod for protecting the piston from force from the drive mechanism until the holder has moved a certain predetermined distance. The shield releases the first locking device when the shield is pressed against a medicament delivery site, whereby the drive mechanism forces the holder the certain predetermined distance.