Microinfuser Automatic Needle Retraction for Prolonged Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic injection devices face challenges in maintaining contact between the device and the patient's skin for prolonged drug delivery, especially for volumes above 1 mL, and risk needle-stick injuries during self-injection.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing, reservoir, needle carrier, and injection needle that transitions between initial, use, and shielded positions, featuring a needle actuator and indicator system for automatic needle retraction after use, ensuring safe and efficient fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the injection needle remains extended for prolonged fluid delivery, then the fluid delivery duration is improved, but the risk of needle-stick injuries increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection needle transitions from a static extended state during injection to a dynamic retracted state after use. The needle actuator enables the needle to move between extended and retracted positions, allowing prolonged fluid delivery capability while automatically eliminating the harmful exposed needle state after administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aspect (exposed needle) is extracted from the system after use. The needle actuator automatically retracts the injection needle into the housing, removing the harmful exposed element while preserving the useful injection function during the administration phase.
2Reliability
If the needle actuator automatically retracts the injection needle, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle actuator is designed to automatically perform the retraction function without requiring user intervention. The spring-loaded mechanism self-activates after injection to retract the needle, providing the safety function autonomously while avoiding the need for complex electronic controls or additional actuation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle actuator operates in periodic cycles: extended during injection, then automatically retracted after a predetermined time or upon detection of injection completion. This periodic operation provides intermittent safety protection without requiring continuous complex monitoring systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the injection needle is retracted into the housing, then the needle-stick injury risk is reduced, but the fluid communication is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into functional zones: an injection zone with a needle opening for fluid delivery and a retraction zone where the needle returns. The needle carrier and actuator mechanism separate the injection function from the safety function, allowing the needle to be retracted without blocking the fluid pathway during administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two states: during injection, the needle is extended to maintain fluid communication; after injection, the needle automatically retracts to eliminate injury risk. The needle actuator coordinates this transition to ensure fluid communication is restored or maintained as needed while providing safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for delivering a fluid includes a housing defining an interior space and having a bottom surface configured for contacting a patient. The bottom surface defines a needle opening. The device also includes a reservoir disposed within the interior space of the housing for containing a fluid therein, a needle carrier disposed within the housing, and an injection needle supported by the needle carrier and defining a lumen. The lumen of the injection needle is configured to be placed in fluid communication with the reservoir. The injection needle is transitionable from an initial position in which the injection needle is disposed within the housing, to a use position in which the injection needle extends through the needle opening, and a substantially shielded position in which the injection needle is disposed within the housing and the lumen of the needle is blocked by a portion of the housing.