Needle Guard Lock Assembly for Low-Force Robust Lockout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medicament delivery devices, such as autoinjectors, often have flimsy needle guard locks that can be easily broken, posing a risk of needle stick injuries and requiring a compromise between activation force and lockout mechanism strength, especially for high viscosity liquids.
Innovation Solution
A robust medicament delivery member guard lock assembly with a housing, medicament delivery member guard, lock activation sleeve, and medicament delivery member guard lock, featuring a flexible arm pivotally attached to a base, which allows for a robust lockout mechanism that avoids the need for compromise between activation force and lockout strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a flimsy needle guard lock is used, then the activation force is reduced, but the lock strength is insufficient and can be easily broken
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic locking mechanism where the arm can pivot between locked and unlocked positions. The spring provides continuous dynamic force to maintain the locked position, while allowing controlled movement during activation. This dynamic design enables the lock to be both strong (resisting accidental activation) and easy to activate (when intentional force is applied).
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate functional components: the arm for locking engagement, the spring for providing locking force, and the interaction surfaces for activation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the arm for strength, the spring for force storage, and the interfaces for controlled activation - resolving the contradiction between lock strength and activation ease.
2Strength
If a robust needle guard lock is used, then the lock strength is improved, but the activation force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded arm creates a dynamic system where the locking force is continuously applied but can be rapidly released through a small activation movement. The spring stores energy during normal operation and releases it during activation, enabling a strong lock that requires minimal activation force.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation mechanism requires only partial movement of the arm from its locked position to trigger the unlocking sequence. The spring's stored energy provides the excessive force needed to overcome the locking engagement, allowing a robust lock to be activated with minimal user input force.
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 assembly provides a robust needle guard lock that prevents retraction of the needle guard after use, enhancing safety and usability for high viscosity liquids while maintaining ease of activation.
Implementation Method 1
a medicament delivery member guard lock arranged in the housing adjacent to the lock activation sleeve. The medicament delivery member guard lock comprises a base and a flexible arm pivotally attached to the base
Data Source
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AI summary
The application describes a medicament delivery member guard lock assembly (58) for a medicament delivery device (10), the medicament delivery member guard lock assembly (58) comprising: a housing (40) extending along an axis (20) in an axial direction (22) from a proximal end (14) to a distal end (16), the housing (40) comprising a recess or a slit (45); a medicament delivery member guard (60) slidably arranged in the housing (40), the medicament delivery member guard (60) extending from a proximal end (14) to a distal end (16); a lock activation sleeve (80) slidably arranged in the housing (40) at the distal end (16) of the medicament delivery member guard (60); and a medicament delivery member guard lock (100) arranged in the housing (40) adjacent to the lock activation sleeve (80), wherein the medicament delivery member guard lock (100) comprises a base (102) and a flexible arm (104) pivotally attached to the base (102), wherein the flexible arm (104) comprises a proximal part (106) and a distal part (108), wherein the flexible arm (104) is attached to the base (102) between the proximal part (106) and the distal part (108), and wherein the proximal part (106) of the flexible arm (104) is arranged adjacent to the recess or slit (45) in the housing (40). Various related medicament delivery devices, medicament delivery device components, sub-assemblies and methods are also described.