Modular Discharge Unit for Pharmaceutical Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing discharge units for pharmaceutical media are not suitable for use by multiple patients without risking cross-contamination, and they result in significant loss of pharmaceutical medium during head exchanges and priming processes, which is particularly problematic during mass vaccinations.
Innovation Solution
A modular discharge unit design comprising two sub-devices that can be coupled and decoupled without tools, with an internal volume of less than 15 μl in the outlet channel section, featuring an outlet valve that separates potentially contaminated medium, and a turbulence device that prevents contamination from propagating to the reusable sub-device, allowing for minimal medium loss and efficient reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dispensing head and nasal applicator are replaced before use by another patient, then cross-contamination is prevented, but significant loss of pharmaceutical medium occurs due to refilling the dispensing channel
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing unit is divided into two separable sub-units: a reusable sub-unit containing the pump and a disposable sub-unit containing the outlet channel section with discharge opening. This segmentation allows the disposable part to be replaced without replacing the entire dispensing head, minimizing medium loss to a maximum of 15 μl while preventing cross-contamination.
2Shape
If the dispensing head occupies a considerable portion of the dispensing channel, then atomization function is maintained, but substantial loss of pharmaceutical medium occurs during replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet channel section with the discharge opening is extracted as a separate disposable sub-unit that can be quickly replaced. This extraction allows the atomization function to be maintained in the disposable part while minimizing the volume of pharmaceutical medium that needs to be refilled, reducing loss to a maximum of 15 μl.
3Productivity
If a large number of dispensing units are manufactured for mass vaccinations, then availability is improved, but manufacturing time and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing unit is segmented into reusable and disposable sub-units that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This allows the reusable pump unit to be manufactured once and used multiple times with different disposable outlet channel sections, significantly reducing manufacturing time and increasing flexibility for mass vaccinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable sub-unit with the pump is designed with universal coupling interfaces that can accommodate different disposable sub-units. This universality allows a single reusable pump unit to serve multiple patients by simply changing the disposable outlet channel section, eliminating the need to manufacture separate complete dispensing units for each patient.
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 enables the discharge unit to be used by multiple patients without intermediate priming, minimizing pharmaceutical medium loss to a maximum of 15 μl during part exchanges, thus reducing the risk of cross-contamination and improving flexibility and efficiency, especially in mass vaccination scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a pump can convey the medium from the media reservoir to the outlet
Implementation Method 2
a turbulence device that prevents contamination from propagating to the reusable sub-device
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
1. Discharge unit for discharging pharmaceutical mediums and a set having such a unit. 2.1 The invention relates to a discharge unit (10, 250) for discharging pharmaceutical mediums from a medium storage (80) having a first discharge opening (260), a pump (26, 32), an inlet channel (24) for connecting the medium storage (80) to the pump (26, 32), and having an outlet channel (36, 264) for connecting the pump (26, 32) to the first discharge opening (260). 2.2 The first discharge opening (260) is part of a first subassembly (250) of the discharge unit, and the pump (26, 32), at least a segment (36) of the outlet channel (36) and an outlet valve (42, 44) provided in the outlet channel (36), is part of a second subassembly (10) of the discharge unit, wherein the first subassembly (250) is configured such that it can be coupled to the second subassembly (10), and can be decoupled therefrom, without the need for tools. An inner volume of a segment of the outlet channel extending from the outlet valve (42, 44) to the first discharge opening (260) is smaller than 15 µl, preferably smaller than 5 µl, most preferably smaller than 1 µl. 2.3 The invention can be used as a dispenser for mass inoculations.