Needle Pen Cap Integrating Sealed Cleansing Swab

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of needle pens for self-administered fluid medications often fail to properly clean the injection site due to the lack of a convenient and sanitary method, especially in non-sterile public locations, leading to a risk of bacterial transmission and infection.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a cleansing swab loaded with a cleansing fluid within the needle pen cap assembly, which includes a sealing mechanism to prevent evaporation and facilitate easy access for site sterilization without the need for additional supplies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users carry separate cleansing materials (cotton swabs, cleansing fluid bottles, gauze), then the injection site can be properly cleaned, but the device complexity and user burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection site cleaning reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of separate supplies to carry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate cleansing supplies (cotton swab, cleansing fluid, sealing mechanism) into a single integrated cleansing swab assembly that attaches to the needle pen. This merging eliminates the need to carry multiple separate items while maintaining complete cleansing functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between cleaning reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The needle pen assembly is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it not only delivers medication but also provides a complete cleansing system with swab, fluid reservoir, and sealing mechanism. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate supplies, reducing user burden while ensuring proper injection site preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If a sealing mechanism is added to prevent evaporation of cleansing fluid, then the cleansing fluid remains effective longer, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleansing fluid effectiveness durationVSAvoidsealing mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleansing fluid reservoir is nested within the swab assembly structure, with the sealing mechanism integrated into the same compact unit. This nesting allows the sealing function to be incorporated without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the seal works within the existing structural envelope of the swab assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleansing swab assembly appears to be designed as a disposable component that is used once and then discarded. This approach allows for a simple sealing mechanism that ensures fluid effectiveness during the brief period of use and storage, without requiring complex reusable sealing systems. The entire assembly can be replaced after a single use, maintaining simplicity while ensuring duration of effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If the cleansing swab is integrated within the needle pen cap assembly, then packaging and storage are simplified, but the ease of access for cleaning the site may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging and storage convenienceVSAvoidaccess to cleansing swab

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The needle pen system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the medication delivery mechanism and the cleansing swab assembly. The cleansing swab is attached to the cap assembly as a separate but integrated component, allowing it to be easily accessed by simply removing the cap. This segmentation maintains packaging simplicity while ensuring easy access during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleansing swab is pre-positioned and pre-loaded within the cap assembly before use. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the user needs to clean the injection site, the swab is already in place and ready for immediate access by simply removing the cap, eliminating any additional steps or complexity in the cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Provides a simple, sanitary, and convenient method for cleaning the injection site prior to medication delivery, reducing the risk of infection and eliminating the need to carry separate cleansing materials.

Implementation Method 1

The cleansing swab includes an absorptive material loaded with a cleansing fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS11253687B2Cleansing swab for needle pen assembly

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 GILMAN MICHAEL J

AI summary

A needle cap assembly for use in combination with a needle pen comprising: (i) a needle cap having a needle cannula for injecting a fluid medication into an injection site, (ii) an internal cap configured to be disposed over an injection end of the needle cap, (iii) an external cap having a cavity configured to envelop the internal and needle caps, (iv) a sealing tab configured to seal a cavity of the external cap for enclosing or housing the needle cap assembly, and (v) a cleansing swab disposed in internally of the needle cap assembly. The cleansing swab is disposed internally of the needle cap and includes an absorptive material loaded with a cleansing fluid to clean an injection site prior to injection of fluid medication.