Needle Hub Valve With Spherical Element For Multi-Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices are inadequate for delivering multiple drug agents simultaneously in a single injection step, particularly for combination therapies where separate formulations are required due to stability and therapeutic performance considerations.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device with separate storage containers for multiple active drug agents, allowing for combined or sequential administration via a double-ended needle assembly and a valve construction that prevents mixing, featuring a spherical element for sealing inlet openings and minimizing liquid loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single injection device is used to deliver multiple drug agents, then the administration process is simplified and user effort is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple reservoirs and fluid pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a first reservoir for first liquid, a second reservoir for second liquid, and a dispensing interface with separate fluid pathways. Each reservoir can be independently filled, stored, and exchanged. The valve assembly segments the fluid pathways to prevent mixing until dispensing, allowing complex multi-drug delivery through coordinated simple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing interface is designed to universally accept different reservoir types and configurations. The valve assembly can direct fluid from either reservoir independently or in combination, providing multi-functionality. The system can deliver single-drug or combination therapies using the same device platform, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate reservoirs are used for different liquid drugs, then the stability and therapeutic performance are maintained, but the device complexity and difficulty of assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device maintains separate physical reservoirs for different liquid drugs throughout storage and handling, preventing premature mixing and maintaining drug stability. The segmented design allows each reservoir to be optimized for its specific drug formulation while keeping the overall device relatively simple through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism that temporarily holds and directs fluids from separate reservoirs without requiring permanent mixing chambers or complex interconnected pathways. This mediator approach allows simple reservoir design while achieving controlled combination delivery only when needed.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a valve construction is used to prevent mixing of liquid drugs, then the drug stability is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve utilizes a spherical element that moves within a curved chamber to control fluid pathways. This spherical mechanism provides effective sealing and directional control with a simple geometric form, reducing valve complexity compared to multi-component mechanical valves while maintaining reliable drug separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve construction is designed to be self-actuating through pressure differential from the liquid drugs themselves. When a reservoir is pressurized for dispensing, the pressure automatically moves the spherical valve element to open the appropriate pathway without requiring external actuators, motors, or complex control mechanisms.
4Productivity
If multiple drug agents are delivered in a single injection step, then the treatment efficiency is improved, but the precision of dose control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing system is segmented into independent control mechanisms for each reservoir. Each reservoir can be individually filled with a specific dose amount, and the dispensing interface allows independent or coordinated delivery. This segmentation enables precise dose control for each drug agent while maintaining efficient single-step administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The precise dosing is performed in advance during the filling stage, where each reservoir is filled with the exact required dose before use. This preliminary action separates the precision requirement from the dispensing stage, allowing simple dispensing mechanisms to deliver pre-measured doses accurately without requiring complex real-time dosing controls.
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
Enables convenient, single-step administration of multiple drug agents with reduced user effort and minimized mixing, while facilitating easy exchange and reducing waste in the valve construction.
Implementation Method 1
a spherical element movably contained inside the central space configured for translatory movement and configured to seal either the first inlet opening or the second inlet opening
Implementation Method 2
a valve body comprising two inlet openings, one outlet opening and a central space connecting the inlet openings and the outlet opening
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is related to an apparatus comprising: a valve body comprising two inlet openings, one outlet opening and a central space connecting the inlet openings and the outlet opening, and a spherical element movably contained inside the central space configured for translatory movement and configured to seal either the first inlet opening or the second inlet opening, wherein each of the inlet openings are configured for fluid communication with a first reservoir and with a second reservoir and wherein the outlet opening is configured for fluid connection with a septum. This apparatus solves the object to make the exchange of used parts including the valve construction less complex. A further object of the invention is to make the exchange easier to handle. The invention is also related to a medical device comprising a dispense interface and an apparatus of the afore-mentioned type.