Medicament Delivery Subassembly Needle Cover Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament delivery devices require a user to manually activate a button, which can make it difficult to hold and use the device ergonomically, especially when administering injections at hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
A subassembly for a medicament delivery device that includes a housing, a plunger rod, a support structure, and a sleeve portion. The support structure deflects between radial inner and outer positions to release the plunger rod, and the sleeve portion is displaced by a needle cover to activate the device without the need for a manual activation button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual activation button is used, then the device can be activated reliably, but it becomes difficult to hold and use ergonomically at different body locations
Solution Approach 1:
The activation function is extracted from a separate button and integrated into the needle cover itself. The needle cover's distal end is configured to directly engage and displace the sleeve portion, eliminating the need for a separate activation button and simplifying the overall device structure while improving ergonomics.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle cover serves dual functions: protecting the needle during storage and transport, and activating the plunger rod mechanism during injection. By making the needle cover the activation element, the device reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the activation process.
2Reliability
If the support structure is made rigid to reliably support the plunger rod, then locking reliability is improved, but the activation mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a static rigid component to a dynamic flexible component that can deflect between radial inner and outer positions. This flexibility allows the structure to automatically lock the plunger rod in the retracted position while enabling easy activation through needle cover displacement, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure's rigidity parameter is changed by making it flexible rather than rigid. This flexibility allows the structure to deflect radially during activation while maintaining sufficient stiffness to provide reliable locking support for the plunger rod in its retracted position.
3Ease of operation
If a separate activation button is provided, then activation control is precise, but the number of parts and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The activation function is merged with the needle cover, combining two previously separate functions (needle protection and activation control) into a single integrated component. This reduces the total number of parts while maintaining precise activation control through the sleeve portion and contact surface mechanism.
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
This configuration allows for a more intuitive and ergonomic activation of the medicament delivery device, enabling users to hold and use the device comfortably, even when administering injections at different locations on the body.
Implementation Method 1
the support structure being configured to deflect between a radial inner position, in which proximal displacement of the plunger rod is restricted, and a radial outer position for allowing proximal displacement of the plunger rod
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve portion comprises a proximal end arranged to cooperate with a distal end of a needle cover of the medicament delivery device, such that a distal displacement of the needle cover effects a distal displacement of the sleeve portion from the initial biased proximal position to a distal position
Implementation Method 3
The sleeve portion and the support structure further comprise interacting contact surfaces extending in the radial direction, the contact surface of the sleeve portion facing in the distal direction, while the contact surface of the support structure facing in a proximal direction
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a subassembly of a medicament delivery device. The subassembly includes a housing, a plunger rod, and a support structure connected to the housing and arranged radially outside the plunger rod. The support structure includes a distal abutment surface portion. The support structure is further configured to deflect between a radial inner position, in which proximal displacement of the plunger rod is restricted, and a radial outer position for allowing proximal displacement of the plunger rod. The subassembly further includes a sleeve portion arranged to distally displace from an initial biased proximal position to a distal position. The sleeve portion and the support structure have interacting contact surfaces extending in the radial direction. The contact surface of the sleeve portion faces in a distal direction, while the contact surface of the support structure faces in a proximal direction.