Medicament Delivery Subassembly with Non-Contact Sensor Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autoinjectors and pen-injectors face limitations in power delivery due to the limited non-linear force provided by springs and the high electricity consumption required for electrical motors, which can lead to frequent battery charging or replacement.
Innovation Solution
A subassembly for a medicament delivery device that includes a compact electrical engine, such as a MEMS machine, which generates propellant gas through electrochemistry or heating, and an electronic triggering device with a non-contact sensor to activate the engine, allowing for efficient and reliable medicament expulsion without mechanical failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If springs are used to push the plunger, then the device structure is simple, but the force provided is limited and non-linear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring system with an electrical motor system. The motor can be configured to accurately control the force applied to the plunger, providing linear and controllable force instead of the limited non-linear force from springs. This substitution resolves the contradiction by sacrificing some mechanical simplicity for significantly improved force characteristics.
2Force
If electrical motors are used to push the plunger, then the force can be accurately controlled, but the electricity consumption is high requiring frequent battery charging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a periodic triggering mechanism where the electrical motor is activated only when needed (upon detecting plunger position or injection completion) rather than running continuously. This periodic activation significantly reduces electricity consumption while maintaining accurate force control when the motor is active, resolving the contradiction between force control accuracy and energy consumption.
3Force
If high output force from electrical motor is used, then the medicament can be expelled effectively, but the battery requires charging or changing every time before use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a triggering device that activates the electrical motor only for the specific duration and force needed to complete the injection, rather than requiring the battery to be fully charged and ready in advance. The motor provides excessive force only when needed (during the actual injection process) and remains inactive otherwise, reducing battery maintenance requirements while ensuring effective 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 provides a compact, high-force powerpack for medicament delivery devices, reducing power consumption and eliminating mechanical failure risks, while ensuring accurate and reproducible activation of the medicament expulsion mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical engine is configured to generate propellant gas by electrochemistry way, e.g. electrolysis
Implementation Method 2
Alternative, the electrical engine is configured to generate the propellant gas by heating the liquid substance and generate vapor
Implementation Method 3
the propellant gas is configured to flow into the medicament container and propel a plunger in the proximal direction of the medicament container
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a subassembly (2) of a medicament delivery device (1) for expelling medicament from a medicament container (7), the subassembly comprising: a housing (3) having a proximal end (3a) and a distal end (3b); an electrical engine (13) configured to, upon activation, cause expulsion of the medicament out from the medicament container, an electronic triggering device (19) configured to activate the electrical engine, the electrical engine and the electronic triggering device being accommodated in the housing; the electronic triggering device comprises an electronic non-contact sensor (21, 60) configured to sense a movable trigger (6) comprising a sensing area (47) wherein, in response to sensing the sensing area, the electronic triggering device is configured to provide a triggering signal to activate the electrical engine.