Medicament Delivery Safety Mechanism for Shock Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medicament delivery devices are prone to accidental activation due to mechanical shock, which can expose the medicament delivery member and lead to unintended medicament expulsion when dropped, especially if the device is in a vertical orientation upon impact.

Innovation Solution

A safety mechanism featuring a medicament delivery member sleeve with a resilient proximal end portion that compresses and radially expands upon impact, preventing the sleeve from moving to its retracted position and maintaining the medicament delivery member in the extended position, thus preventing accidental activation. This sleeve is designed with a weakened sidewall and through-openings to absorb axial forces and maintain the medicament delivery member in a safe position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the needle shield sleeve is locked in the extended position using mechanical means, then the medicament delivery member is protected, but mechanical shock may damage the locking means and cause accidental exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of medicament delivery memberVSAvoiddamage to locking means from mechanical shock

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a resilient structure at the proximal end portion of the needle shield sleeve that acts as a shock-absorbing element. This resilient structure is positioned beforehand to cushion against axial forces from drops or impacts, preventing damage to the mechanical locking means between the needle shield sleeve and container driver locking means, thereby maintaining reliable protection of the medicament delivery member even under mechanical shock conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the needle shield sleeve is made deformable to absorb shock, then mechanical shock damage is reduced, but the sleeve may fail to maintain its locked position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical shock absorptionVSAvoidmaintenance of locked position

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the needle shield sleeve into distinct functional zones: a resilient proximal end portion for shock absorption and a distal portion for maintaining locking engagement. The resilient structure is localized to the proximal end, allowing it to deform and absorb axial forces without compromising the structural integrity and locking capability of the distal portion that engages with the container driver locking means

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different mechanical properties to different parts of the needle shield sleeve: the proximal end portion is made resilient and deformable for shock absorption, while the distal portion maintains rigid structural properties for reliable locking engagement. This local differentiation of material properties allows the sleeve to simultaneously absorb mechanical shock and maintain its locked position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 safety mechanism effectively absorbs mechanical shock, preventing the medicament delivery device from accidental activation and maintaining the medicament delivery member in a safe, covered position even after exposure to significant axial forces, ensuring the medicament remains protected.

Implementation Method 1

enabling compression of the proximal end portion in the distal direction upon impact of an axial force greater than a threshold value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical shock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the proximal end portion is arranged to expand radially upon compression, to a radial dimension greater than the corresponding dimension of the proximal opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadial expansion upon compression: Poisson's Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12042638B2Safety mechanism for a medicament delivery device and a medicament delivery device comprising the same

Publication Date: 2024.07.23 SHL MEDICAL AG

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a safety mechanism for a medicament delivery device for mechanical shock absorption, which safety mechanism has a medicament delivery member sleeve, a housing having a proximal opening arranged to receive the medicament delivery member sleeve, wherein the medicament delivery member sleeve is axially displaceable inside the housing, between an extended position in which a proximal end portion of the medicament delivery member sleeve extends proximally from the housing and a retracted position in which the proximal end portion is received by the housing, wherein the proximal end portion has a resilient structure, enabling compression of the proximal end portion in the distal direction upon impact of an axial force greater than a threshold value.