Needle Shield Removal Assembly Gripper Holder Offset Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needle shield removal assemblies for drug delivery devices often result in damage to components, such as scrapes or flakes on the gripper holder, during assembly, leading to reduced structural stability and user confidence due to high removal forces required, especially when stored at low temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A needle shield removal assembly with a gripper holder and needle shield gripper configuration that reduces mechanical contact in sensitive regions, using features like angular offsets, deformable materials, and protrusions to prevent damage during assembly, ensuring a reliable and secure connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high removal forces are applied to remove the needle shield, then the needle shield can be removed effectively, but damage occurs to the gripper holder (scrapes or flakes)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle shield removal effectivenessVSAvoiddamage to gripper holder

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful contact between the needle shield gripper and the gripper holder in sensitive regions is eliminated by offsetting the holder interface features from the opening. This extraction of the problematic interaction allows high removal forces to be applied without damaging the gripper holder, resolving the contradiction between removal effectiveness and component protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The holder interface features act as an intermediary mechanism that transmits the removal forces from the needle shield gripper to the gripper holder without direct contact in sensitive regions. By positioning these interface features away from the opening, forces are transmitted through a protected path, preventing damage while maintaining effective needle shield removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the needle shield gripper is securely connected to the gripper holder, then structural stability is improved, but mechanical contact in sensitive regions causes scrapes and flakes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stability of assemblyVSAvoidscrapes and flakes in sensitive regions

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful mechanical contact in sensitive regions is removed by offsetting the holder interface features from the opening. This allows the needle shield gripper to be securely connected to the gripper holder for structural stability without generating scrapes or flakes in the sensitive regions near the opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection interface is designed with localized features positioned at specific locations away from the opening. This local positioning ensures that the secure connection provides structural stability while avoiding contact with sensitive regions, thereby preventing the generation of harmful scrapes and flakes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If holder interface features are positioned close to the opening for easy assembly, then assembly is simplified, but mechanical contact damages the gripper holder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoiddamage to gripper holder during assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holder interface features are offset from the opening to eliminate direct mechanical contact in sensitive regions during assembly. This positioning maintains assembly simplicity while preventing damage to the gripper holder, as the interface features engage without contacting the vulnerable areas near the opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20230347071A1Needle Shield Removal Assembly, Method for Assembling Thereof and Drug Delivery Device

Publication Date: 2023.11.02 SANOFI SA(FR)

AI summary

A needle shield removal assembly includes a needle shield gripper configured to operatively engage a needle shield, and a gripper holder, wherein the needle shield gripper is secured to the gripper holder via a connection interface, wherein the connection interface is formed by a holder interface feature engaging a gripper interface feature, wherein the gripper holder has an opening configured to receive the needle shield gripper and/or the needle shield, wherein the holder interface feature is offset from the opening, wherein the gripper holder defines a receiving space within which the needle shield gripper is received, wherein the receiving space has an axial extension, and wherein the needle shield gripper and the gripper holder are adjusted to one another to reduce mechanical contact of a) the gripper holder and a bent region of the needle shield gripper and/or b) the gripper holder and an edge of the needle shield gripper.