Needle Insertion Mechanism with Spiral Spring and U-Shaped Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated medicament delivery devices often protrude from the user's body, causing discomfort and potential snagging on clothing or objects due to their size, particularly the height dimension.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a cannula or needle insertion mechanism with components like springs, actuator arms, and rails to reduce size and improve efficiency of insertion and retraction, using a spiral spring and U-shaped rail configuration to minimize height and ensure smooth deployment and retraction of the needle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the automated medicament delivery device is made compact, then the device size is reduced, but the insertion and retraction mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is nested within the cannula, and the insertion mechanism components are nested within each other along the rail system. The actuator arm rotates within a confined space, and the spring is housed within the device body, allowing compact packaging while maintaining functional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism transitions from static to dynamic operation during insertion and retraction. The actuator arm rotates dynamically, the spring compresses and expands dynamically, and the needle and cannula move dynamically along the rail, enabling compact design through motion rather than fixed structural extensions.
2Length of stationary object
If the device height is reduced, then comfort and snagging issues are improved, but the insertion speed and efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral spring uses curved geometry to store and release energy efficiently within a compact height. The U-shaped rail provides a curved guide path that enables rapid insertion motion while maintaining a compact vertical profile, reconciling height reduction with insertion speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism uses periodic rotation of the actuator arm driven by the spring's oscillating energy release. This periodic motion converts the spring's stored energy into rapid, controlled insertion and retraction cycles, maintaining high speed within a compact form factor.
3Device complexity
If a single actuator arm is used, then the mechanism complexity is reduced, but the control precision for needle and cannula movement may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped rail acts as an intermediary guide that translates the rotational motion of the single actuator arm into precise linear movement of both the needle and cannula. The rail's geometry ensures that both components move synchronously with controlled precision, compensating for the simplicity of the single actuator design.
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator arm performs multiple functions: it drives the spiral spring, rotates to control the insertion motion, and through the rail connection, simultaneously controls both the needle and cannula. This multi-functionality reduces overall complexity while maintaining precision through the coupled mechanical system.
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 mechanism allows for rapid, painless insertion and retraction of the needle, reducing user discomfort and minimizing device protrusion, while maintaining efficient medicament delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator including a spiral spring and a single actuator arm
Data Source
AI summary
Needle insertion mechanisms include arrangements of components, such as one or more of springs, actuator arms, or rails, that are configured to reduce and improve one or more of size or shape of the needle insertion mechanism and maintain the efficiency of the insertion and retraction actions thereof.