Needle Guard Removal Mechanism for Autoinjectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices with removable needle guards pose safety risks due to the complexity and reliability issues when removing the guard, particularly in autoinjectors, as they can be difficult to use safely and may lead to needle pricks during the removal process.
Innovation Solution
A needle protection system featuring a removable needle guard with a hollow lateral body and a rigid outer structure including a radial projection, combined with an outer cap having grip means such as radial shoulders or deformable tabs, allows for simple and reliable removal of the guard by moving the cap longitudinally, ensuring safe and efficient needle exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a removable needle guard is used to protect the needle, then needle sterility is maintained, but safety risks increase due to difficulty in removing the guard
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard is nested within the outer cap, forming a compact integrated structure. The guard's radial projection engages with the cap's grip means, allowing the guard to be held securely during storage while enabling simple removal by axial movement of the cap.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guard transitions from a static protected state to a dynamic removable state. The radial projection and grip means create a mechanical interface that allows the guard to be easily moved axially from the blocking position to the retracted position, changing the operational state without compromising sterility.
2Reliability
If the needle guard is made of flexible material for isolation, then sterility is maintained, but structural reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard combines flexible isolator material for sterility maintenance with a rigid outer structure providing structural integrity. The radial projection is formed on the rigid outer structure, ensuring mechanical strength while the flexible isolator portion maintains the sterile barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guard is divided into distinct functional portions: a flexible isolator portion for maintaining sterility and a rigid outer structure for providing structural strength and forming the radial projection. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its specific function.
Data Source
AI summary
An injection device including a needle protection system, said injection device including a delivery needle (10) that is provided with a delivery orifice (11), said protection system comprising a removable needle guard (20) that, in a non-dispensing position, is adapted to be arranged on said needle (10) so as to protect and isolate said delivery orifice (11) of said needle (10), said needle guard (20) including an isolator portion (21) made of flexible material, said delivery orifice (11) of the needle (10) being poked into said isolator portion (21) in the non-dispensing position, said needle guard (10) including at least one outwardly-radial projection (25), said protection system further comprising an outer cap (30) that is provided with grip means (35, 35′, 36; 38; 300) that are adapted to co-operate with said at least one radial projection (25) of said needle guard (20), such that moving said outer cap (30) in the longitudinal direction of said needle (10), away from said delivery orifice (11), removes said needle guard (20) from the non-dispensing position, said at least one radial projection (25) being arranged at the distal axial end of said needle guard (20), said at least one radial projection (25) being formed on a rigid outer structure (28) of said needle guard (20).