Needle Hiding Element Dynamics for Injector Usability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reusable injectors with needle hiding elements face difficulties in easy attachment and detachment due to the need to retract the needle hiding element against a biasing spring, making the process cumbersome for users.

Innovation Solution

A needle hiding element that is slidably attached to the injector housing, allowing for easy transition between extended and retracted positions, with a snap-fit locking feature and flexible arms for user-controlled positioning, facilitating easy attachment and detachment of the needle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a needle hiding element is added to hide the needle during manipulation, then safety and user comfort are improved, but the complexity of attaching and detaching the needle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle visibilityVSAvoidneedle attachment and detachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The needle hiding element is designed to be movable between extended and retracted positions. During needle attachment/detachment, the element can be retracted to provide access. During injection, it extends to cover the needle. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by making the hiding element operational only when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The needle hiding element is separated from the main housing as a distinct, movable component. This segmentation allows it to be independently controlled - retracted when needle access is needed and extended when hiding is required, thus resolving the contradiction between hiding functionality and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the needle hiding element is held in retracted position against biasing spring force, then needle access is enabled, but the force required for operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle accessVSAvoidforce to retract needle hiding element

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static hidden state to a dynamic accessible state by allowing the needle hiding element to move. The biasing spring provides automatic return force, reducing the manual force needed - the user only needs to overcome spring force temporarily to retract, then the spring automatically extends it back, resolving the force contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing spring acts as a counterforce mechanism. When the user retracts the needle hiding element, the spring stores energy. When released, the spring's counterforce automatically pushes the element back to its extended hiding position, reducing the continuous force the user would otherwise need to apply to maintain retraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS20240017019A1System and method for needle hiding in injectors

Publication Date: 2024.01.18 PFIZER INC

AI summary

An injector, comprising a housing arranged along a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a medicament cartridge; an injection drive mechanism for driving a piston, the piston forming part of the medicament cartridge, the injection drive mechanism injecting a medicament when the piston is forwardly displaced; and a needle hiding element, which is slidably attached to the housing and positionable in at least one of an extended orientation and a retracted orientation, wherein in the extended orientation the needle hiding element protrudes forwardly from the housing and in the retracted orientation, the needle hiding element is locked relative to the housing.