Medicament Power Unit Spring Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medicament delivery devices often require complex components and handling mechanisms, leading to difficulties in operation and accuracy, particularly in ensuring precise depth of penetration and minimizing medicament expulsion during injection.
Innovation Solution
A power unit for medicament delivery devices featuring a coaxial plunger rod driver and force spring element, with holding and blocking elements to manage the plunger rod's movement, allowing for a single unit operation that simplifies the injection and penetration processes while preventing back movement to ensure accurate dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single spring is used for both penetration and injection operations, then the number of components is reduced, but the precision of medicament delivery depth is compromised due to medicament expulsion during penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The power unit is divided into separate functional components: a first spring element dedicated to penetration operation and a second spring element dedicated to injection operation. This segmentation allows each spring to be optimized for its specific function, preventing medicament expulsion during penetration while ensuring accurate medicament delivery during injection.
Solution Approach 2:
A plunger rod driver acts as an intermediary component between the two spring elements and the plunger rod. It receives force from both spring elements and transmits it to the plunger rod, coordinating the penetration and injection operations while maintaining precise control over medicament delivery depth.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple components are used to ensure precise medicament delivery, then delivery accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components (two spring elements, plunger rod driver, plunger rod, stopper) are merged into a single integrated power unit assembly. This unified structure maintains precise medicament delivery capability while simplifying handling, as the entire assembly moves together as one unit during penetration and injection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The power unit components are arranged in a nested configuration where the plunger rod driver is positioned within the power body, the plunger rod is positioned within the plunger rod driver, and the stopper is positioned within the medicament container. This nested arrangement maintains precision while compacting the overall structure for easier handling.
3Device complexity
If a single spring pushes the medicament container in proximal direction, then component count is reduced, but medicament is expelled during penetration affecting treatment accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The propelling force is segmented into two distinct phases: the first spring element provides force during penetration when the medicament container moves in proximal direction, and the second spring element provides force during injection when the plunger rod moves relative to the container. This segmentation prevents medicament expulsion during penetration by controlling the timing and direction of force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The first spring element is pre-loaded to provide the necessary force for penetration before the injection phase begins. This preliminary action ensures that the medicament container is properly positioned and secured before the second spring element initiates the injection, preventing any unwanted medicament expulsion.
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 solution reduces the complexity of medicament delivery devices, enhances handling ease, and ensures precise medicament delivery by maintaining the plunger rod in tensioned states for controlled injection and penetration, minimizing medicament expulsion and improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a force spring element operably connected between the plunger rod and the power body to move the plunger rod in the proximal direction
Data Source
AI summary
A medicament delivery device is provided having a power body having opposite proximal and distal ends, a plunger rod driver coaxial and movably arranged in relation to said power body, a plunger rod coaxial and movably arranged in relation to said plunger rod driver, a force spring element operably connected between the plunger rod and the power body The plunger rod driver has a first holding elements arranged to interact with second holding elements on the plunger rod and with the power body for releasably holding the plunger rod with the force spring element in an injection tensioned state.