Integrated Needle Guard Spring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices lack a simple, cost-effective, and intuitive mechanism for protecting against needle injuries, particularly during the administration of medicaments like FSH or FSH variants, which are prone to contamination and require precise dosing without preservatives.
Innovation Solution
An injection device with a needle guard integrated into the housing as a single part, utilizing a spring mechanism for easy assembly and operation, allowing for safe needle protection and precise dosing without the need for additional tools or preservatives, featuring a cam-shaped engagement member for secure needle positioning and easy user access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a separate spring and needle guard are used, then the device can be assembled with multiple components, but the assembly costs and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the spring and needle guard into a single monolithic component formed by injection molding. This merging of previously separate parts (spring element and needle guard) eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps, directly reducing assembly costs and production complexity while maintaining the functional benefits of the spring mechanism
2Reliability
If a complex needle protection mechanism is used, then needle injury protection is improved, but the device becomes more difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guard is designed with an automatic return mechanism where the integrated spring automatically propels the needle guard back to cover the needle after injection. This self-service feature eliminates the need for manual operation to reset the protection mechanism, maintaining high reliability while simplifying user operation to just pressing the injection button
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate parts are used in the needle guard assembly, then functional flexibility is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements (needle guard, spring mechanism, engagement means) into a single injection-molded component. This merging maintains the functional flexibility of having movable and resilient parts while significantly reducing production costs by eliminating multiple manufacturing steps and assembly operations
Solution Approach 2:
The single integrated component performs multiple functions: it protects the needle, provides automatic return through the integrated spring, and includes engagement means for interaction with the housing. This multi-functionality in a single part achieves functional flexibility without the cost penalty of multiple separate components
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 reduces assembly and production costs, enhances user safety by preventing needle injuries, and ensures the sterility and stability of non-preserved medicaments, allowing for precise dosing and extended storage without preservatives, while maintaining ease of use and efficient administration.
Implementation Method 1
The needle guard (5) can be moved from an extended position, in particular from a needle guard position against the force of a spring, into a retracted position
Implementation Method 2
the spring can exert energy stored in it as a force acting in the distal direction on the needle guard
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~4b
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A device and method for protecting against needle sticks, including a needle protection sleeve for being coupled to an administering device to cover a needle associated with the administering device, wherein the sleeve can be moved against the force of a spring from an extended position to a retracted position and by the force of the spring from the retracted position to the extended position, the spring being carried on the needle protection sleeve.