Modular Medicament Injector With Interchangeable Pods and Auto-Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament injectors face challenges in reducing bulk, errors, complexity, and improving versatility, safety, and speed in medicament delivery, particularly in time-critical situations.
Innovation Solution
A modular medicament injector with an applicator that allows for interchangeable pod or cartridge assemblies, featuring a drive element, barrier member, and locking mechanisms to ensure safe and efficient medicament delivery, including automatic ejection and needle protection modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable pre-filled medicament cartridges are used, then versatility and speed of medicament delivery are improved, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The injector system is divided into a reusable applicator body and disposable pre-filled cartridges. The applicator contains the drive mechanism and injection needle, while the cartridges contain pre-measured medicament doses. This segmentation allows multiple cartridges to be used with a single applicator, providing versatility without requiring multiple complete injectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate different types of pre-filled cartridges through a standardized interface. The drive mechanism and injection needle are configured to work with various cartridge designs, enabling a single applicator to perform multiple medicament delivery functions.
2Speed
If barrier members are made movable to enable quick access, then speed of medicament delivery is improved, but reliability and safety may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier member is pre-configured in a locked position that prevents access to the medicament cartridge interior. The barrier includes a movable portion that can be actuated by the drive mechanism to expose the medicament. This preliminary locking action ensures safety before use, while the pre-configured movement path enables quick access during injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive mechanism automatically actuates the movable barrier portion during the injection process. The barrier transitions from a locked to unlocked state as the drive element engages the cartridge, eliminating the need for manual manipulation and reducing the risk of user error while maintaining quick access.
3Ease of operation
If automatic ejection of cartridges is implemented, then ease of operation and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator automatically ejects the used cartridge from the applicator body after the injection is complete. The drive mechanism or a separate ejection element pushes the cartridge outward through the opening, allowing the user to simply remove the cartridge without manual manipulation of locking mechanisms or other complex operations.
4Reliability
If needle protection mechanisms are added, then safety is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The needle protection function is integrated into the cartridge assembly rather than being a separate component. The cartridge housing or cap serves as both the medicament container and the needle protective cover. When the cartridge is inserted into the applicator, the needle is automatically exposed; when removed, the needle is automatically protected.
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 enhances the versatility, safety, and speed of medicament delivery by enabling quick assembly and automatic ejection of pods, reducing errors and complexity, and ensuring secure needle protection during various clinical scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
The pod or cartridge assembly is resiliently biased to extend about a needle in a locked protected needle pre-injection mode, with retraction thereof into the applicator functioning to deploy the needle
Implementation Method 2
The medicament is biased outwards from the needle when the pod or cartridge assembly is inserted into the applicator and the pod or cartridge assembly is moved from the locked protected needle pre-injection mode to an unlocked protected needle pre-injection mode and then to a partially retracted mode or injection mode
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided according to one aspect, a medicament injector including an applicator with a drive element and an interchangeable pod or cartridge assembly loadable into the applicator so as to couple thereto. Retraction of the pod or cartridge assembly actuates the drive element to engage the pod or cartridge assembly so as to output a medicament therefrom. The applicator is configured to automatically eject the pod or cartridge assembly from the applicator thereafter. The medicament injector includes a barrier member configured such that removal thereof to enable access to a medicament requires the pod or cartridge assembly to couple to and/or be inserted within the applicator according to another aspect. The barrier member is snap-fit in place until the pod or cartridge assembly is inserted into the applicator according to an additional aspect.