Needle Insertion Mechanism With Impact-Resistant Slider Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection and infusion devices suffer from unintentional needle insertion due to mechanical impact, leading to potential needle misfiring and increased risk of needle stick injuries, especially during transport or drops, and lack robust safety mechanisms to prevent premature activation of the needle insertion mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A needle insertion mechanism with an active drive and a releasable coupling arrangement, featuring a slider that is moved to discrete positions with a blocking member to prevent unintentional movement, using form-fit or friction-fit engagements and an actuation threshold to withstand impact forces, ensuring reliable needle insertion only when desired.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle insertion mechanism is made automatic with release mechanisms, then the usability and ease of operation are improved, but the risk of unintentional needle insertion due to mechanical impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing a blocking member that proactively prevents unintentional slider movement before impact can cause misfiring. The blocking member is positioned to mechanically obstruct the slider's path, countering the potential harmful effect of impact forces that would otherwise trigger unintended needle insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member serves as an intermediary element between the slider and the impact force. It mediates the interaction by absorbing and redirecting impact forces away from the slider's movement path, preventing direct transmission of shock that would trigger unintended activation while allowing controlled operation when desired.
2Ease of operation
If the slider is easily movable for controlled insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the susceptibility to impact-induced misfiring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member is positioned in advance to prevent slider movement that could be triggered by impact. It creates a mechanical barrier that must be overcome for slider movement to occur, thereby preventing impact-induced misfiring while allowing controlled movement when the blocking member is properly actuated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static blocking configuration to a dynamic state when controlled actuation occurs. The blocking member can be moved out of the way through controlled actuation, allowing the slider to move freely when desired, while maintaining protection during unintended impact events.
3Reliability
If safety mechanisms are added to prevent unintentional insertion, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member is integrated with the existing slider mechanism rather than being a completely separate system. It combines the safety function with the existing structure, using the same actuation system to control both the blocking member and slider, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety function is segmented into a distinct blocking member component that can be independently positioned and actuated. This modular approach allows the safety mechanism to be added as a discrete element rather than redesigning the entire insertion mechanism, thereby limiting the increase in complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Needle insertion mechanism comprising a housing and a needle holder, the needle holder being linearly guided by the housing to be moved along the needle-axis. A slider linearly guided by the housing and transversally moveable with respect to the needle-axis from a first to a second slider position. The needle holder is operatively coupled to the slider when the slider is in the first position, thereby keeping the needle holder in a retracted position against the bias of a spring acting on the needle holder. In the second position the slider is decoupled from the needle holder and the holder is moved into inserted position by the spring. A blocking member arranged between the slider and the housing blocking the movement of the slider into the second position, the blocking member being moved by an active drive thereby unblocking the movement of the slider and subsequently moving the slider to the second slider position