Spring-Powered Needle-Less Injector with Field-Filling Adaptor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Needle-less injection devices face challenges with safety and reliability due to accidental discharge risks and the need for external power sources, and they require a large supply of liquid formulation for multiple doses, making them impractical for use in remote areas.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held, spring-powered needle-less injector with a trigger stop mechanism for safety and a field-filling adaptor system that allows pre-dosing of vials with a connector and skin tensioner for efficient and reliable delivery of liquid medicaments without external power, enabling filling of vials in the field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spring-powered mechanism is used to drive the piston, then the device can operate without an external power source, but the reliability of delivering a full known dose is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded to a specific compression state that stores exactly the energy required to deliver one full dose. This preliminary action ensures that when triggered, the spring releases a predetermined amount of energy to drive the piston and deliver the complete known dose, resolving the reliability concern while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring constant and pre-compression distance are carefully selected and calibrated to provide the exact pressure and force needed to drive the piston through the entire vial contents. By optimizing these parameters, the device reliably delivers the full dose without requiring external power sources.
2Ease of operation
If an exposed trigger or extendable piston mechanism is used, then the device can be actuated, but the risk of accidental discharge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger mechanism is nested within the inner housing rather than being exposed on the outer surface. The piston and drive mechanism are also contained within the housing. This nested arrangement protects the actuation components from inadvertent contact while maintaining ease of deliberate operation, thereby reducing accidental discharge risk.
Solution Approach 2:
A trigger linkage or release mechanism serves as an intermediary between the user's finger and the piston drive. This intermediary requires deliberate two-handed operation or a specific sequence of actions to activate, preventing accidental discharge while still allowing easy intentional actuation. The trigger stop mentioned in the background acts as such an intermediary safety feature.
3Productivity
If a large reservoir containing multiple doses is used, then the device can treat numerous patients, but the user must carry a large supply of liquid formulation
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-dose capability is achieved by segmenting the total liquid volume into multiple separate single-dose vials rather than using one large reservoir. Each vial contains a precise single dose, and the device can be reloaded with multiple vials. This segmentation reduces the weight the user carries at any one time while maintaining the ability to treat numerous patients through multiple reloads.
Solution Approach 2:
After each dose is delivered, the used vial is discarded and replaced with a fresh one. The device itself is recovered and reused. This approach allows the user to carry only one single-dose vial at a time (minimal weight) while the reusable device provides the multi-dose capability through repeated use with fresh vials.
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 provides a safe, reliable, and efficient method for delivering precise doses of liquid medicaments without external power, reducing the risk of accidental discharge and the need for large liquid supplies, making it suitable for use in various environments, including remote areas.
Implementation Method 1
spring-powered needle-less injector device that can deliver a dose of liquid
Implementation Method 2
The movement of the inner housing to the firing position also results in the movement of a protrusion relative to the inner housing such that the protrusion no longer obstructs the movement of the trigger
Implementation Method 3
the jet will be a very fine jet that will impact a section of taut skin at an angle of incidence of preferably 90 degrees. The protrusion then moves away from the trigger when the inner housing is moved into the firing position
Implementation Method 4
Most of the energy of the stream is used to penetrate the skin when the jet impacts at approximately 90 degrees to the skin
Implementation Method 5
The adaptor is positioned on the nozzle end of the vial, wherein when the adaptor is positioned on the vial the nozzle, inlet opening and needle are in fluid communication. A plunger is movably disposed within the vial for drawing the liquid formulation from the container into the vial
Data Source
AI summary
A vial filling system for a needle-less injector, the system including an adaptor (70). The adaptor (70) has a housing including a top and a side wall extending downwardly from the top. A recess (72) is disposed in the side wall of the adaptor for receiving a vial. The vial (18) has an inner cavity for receiving a liquid formulation. An inlet opening (80) is located in the top of the adaptor, wherein when the vial is inserted into the recess the inlet opening is aligned with a nozzle of the vial. A needle (82) extends from the top of the housing and in communication with the inlet opening. The needle is constructed and arranged to pierce a container of liquid formulation. A plunger (38) is movably disposed within the cavity of vial for drawing the liquid formulation from the container into the cavity of the vial.