Needle Control and Drug Mixing in Fluid Delivery Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery devices lack a secure and efficient mechanism for needle control and drug mixing, often resulting in accidental needle exposure and inadequate mixing of medicaments before administration.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery device with a locking assembly that prevents needle assembly movement unless a cartridge is engaged, combined with a hydraulic system for precise needle positioning and a dual-chamber cartridge for mixing medicaments and diluents before use, ensuring safe and effective administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking assembly is added to prevent needle movement unless cartridge is engaged, then needle safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking assembly integrates the cartridge engagement detection and needle movement restriction functions into a single mechanical structure. The interlocking mechanism between cartridge and device housing automatically locks the needle in place when cartridge is engaged, eliminating the need for separate locking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed so that cartridge engagement itself performs the locking action before needle deployment. The mechanical interlock is pre-configured to engage automatically when cartridge is inserted, preventing needle movement in advance of any potential accidental exposure.
2Measurement precision
If a dual-chamber cartridge system is implemented for drug mixing, then mixing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into two separate chambers: a medicament chamber and a diluent chamber. This segmentation allows precise control over each component before mixing, ensuring accurate dosing while keeping the mixing mechanism simple through separate storage compartments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a hydraulic mechanism where a plunger compresses the diluent chamber, forcing the diluent through a mixing chamber to combine with the medicament. This hydraulic action provides precise mixing control through fluid pressure without requiring complex mechanical mixing components.
3Measurement precision
If needle assembly is designed to move laterally and vertically in sequence, then administration precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, transitioning from a static position to lateral movement for site positioning, then vertical movement for injection depth control. This dynamic design allows precise administration while using simple mechanical guide rails and actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle assembly movement is decomposed into two independent dimensions: lateral movement for horizontal positioning and vertical movement for injection depth. This dimensional separation simplifies control mechanisms while achieving precise two-dimensional positioning accuracy.
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 secure needle control, preventing accidental exposure and ensuring accurate mixing of medicaments, enhancing user safety and administration efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic system for precise needle positioning
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A fluid delivery device comprises a housing having a base including a bottom surface; a locking assembly including a cartridge receiver configured to receive a cartridge, the cartridge having a fluid reservoir and a septum configured to be generally perpendicular to the bottom surface when the cartridge is engaged with the cartridge receiver; and a needle assembly having a needle, the needle having a delivery end, a fluid coupling end, and a central portion located between the delivery end and the fluid coupling end, the needle assembly configured to move in laterally relative to the base to a first position and vertically relative to the base to a second position. The locking assembly prevents the needle assembly from moving to one or both of the first and second positions unless the cartridge is engaged with the cartridge receiver.