Needle Cover Pin-and-Ramp Locking for Complete Medicament Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament delivery devices face challenges in maintaining a stable holding position during injection, leading to discomfort, incomplete delivery, and potential early removal due to difficulty in holding the device in place.
Innovation Solution
A medicament delivery device with a needle cover that moves through distinct positions, utilizing a guide member and pin mechanism with ramps and locking abutment surfaces to ensure secure positioning and automatic medicament dispensing, allowing for easy handling and complete delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device is held manually in the holding position during medicament dispensing, then the injection can be performed, but it causes user discomfort, pain, and potential early device removal
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically maintains itself in the holding position through the guide member and pin mechanism during medicament dispensing, eliminating the need for manual holding. The needle cover is self-retaining in the holding position, providing hands-free operation and preventing user discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member and pin mechanism pre-position the needle cover in the holding position before medicament dispensing begins. The ramps are pre-configured to automatically engage and lock the needle cover in place, ensuring stable positioning is established in advance rather than requiring continuous manual effort.
2Device complexity
If a simple needle cover mechanism is used, then the device structure is simple, but the needle cover cannot be securely locked in the holding position
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism transitions from a static simple cover to a dynamic system where the guide member rotates relative to the needle cover during operation. The pin moves through different positions along the guide path, enabling automatic engagement with ramps and locking surfaces to secure the holding position dynamically during medicament dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the guide member with guide path, the pin with multiple positions, the ramps (first and second), and the locking abutment surface. Each segment performs a specific function in the sequence of positioning and locking the needle cover.
3Device complexity
If the needle cover remains in the initial position after injection, then the structure is simple, but it exposes the needle and creates safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The guide path is pre-configured with the locking abutment surface positioned to automatically engage the pin after medicament dispensing is complete. As the needle cover returns to or moves toward the initial position, the pin is guided to engage the locking abutment surface, automatically securing the needle cover in place without requiring additional user action.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically locks the needle cover in the initial position after use through the self-engaging pin and locking abutment surface mechanism. This self-locking feature prevents needle exposure and safety hazards without requiring manual intervention or complex additional locking components.
4Device complexity
If manual holding is required during injection, then the mechanism is simple, but it results in incomplete medicament delivery and early device removal
Solution Approach 1:
The needle cover and guide member mechanism automatically maintains the holding position throughout the entire medicament dispensing process without requiring manual intervention. This self-positioning capability ensures complete medicament delivery by preventing premature device removal or position changes that would interrupt the injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member and pin mechanism pre-establishes stable positioning in the holding position before medicament dispensing begins. This preliminary secure positioning ensures that the device remains stable throughout the injection process, allowing complete and uninterrupted medicament delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A medicament delivery device has a needle, a body and a needle cover which is axially movable from an initial position to a holding position to a locked position in which the needle cover covers the distal end of the needle. The device has a biasing member configured to bias the needle cover distally, and a guide member configured to rotate relative to the needle cover. One of the guide member and the needle cover has a pin and the other of the guide member and the needle cover has a guide path for guiding the pin. The guide path has a first ramp, a second ramp and a locking abutment surface. When the needle cover is in the locked position then the locking abutment surface is configured to engage the pin to prevent the needle cover from moving proximally away from the locked position.