Needle Storage Magazine Assembly for Medication Pens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medication pens face inefficiencies and inconveniences due to the reuse of needles, which can lead to patient discomfort, reduced needle effectiveness, and sanitary concerns, as patients may reuse needles due to financial concerns or lack of access to supplies.
Innovation Solution
A magazine assembly that stores multiple needles configured to engage a medication pen via an adapter, preventing reuse by allowing only single use of each needle and providing convenient access to a new needle, with a housing that includes hub chambers, connectors, and enclosures to securely store and dispense needles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a patient carries multiple single-use needles separately, then needle availability is improved, but packaging size and portability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual needle packages into a single magazine assembly that holds multiple needles in one compact unit. The magazine integrates several needle storage chambers and dispensing mechanisms into one housing, allowing patients to carry multiple needles in a smaller overall volume compared to separate packages.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine assembly nests multiple needles within its internal structure, with each needle stored in its own chamber within the magazine housing. This nested arrangement allows multiple needles to be contained within a single compact magazine unit, reducing the total volume required for storage and transport.
2Reliability
If needles are stored in individual packages, then sterility is improved, but access convenience and speed are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine pre-organizes multiple sterile needles in ready-to-access positions within its chambers. The first needle is positioned for immediate access upon opening the magazine, and subsequent needles are pre-arranged in sequence, eliminating the time required to search for or retrieve needles from separate packages.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine divides its internal storage into separate sealed chambers for each needle, maintaining individual sterility barriers. Each needle remains in its own enclosed space until retrieval, preserving sterility while allowing rapid sequential access as each chamber can be independently opened.
3Reliability
If an adapter mechanism is added to enable magazine engagement, then needle reuse prevention is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the magazine and the injection device. It includes a needle hub that interfaces with the magazine's connector while also attaching to the injection device, providing a mechanical mediation that enables the magazine system to control needle usage while maintaining compatibility with standard injection devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter and magazine system incorporates self-checking mechanical features such as detents, lugs, and connector geometries that automatically prevent removal of used needles. The system's own structural design enforces single-use operation without requiring external monitoring or complex electronic controls.
Data Source
AI summary
A magazine assembly (1) that stores a plurality of needles (56) configured to engage a medication pen (2) via an adapter (4) for medication delivery, the magazine assembly (1) comprising a magazine housing (20) enclosing a plurality of hub chambers (22) each enclosing one of a plurality of needle hubs (50), a connector (28) in each of the plurality of hub chambers (22), each connector (28) engages one of the plurality of needle hubs (50), and a plurality of enclosures (30) each sealing the plurality of hub chambers (22), wherein a selected enclosure of the plurality of enclosures (30) is removed to expose a selected needle hub (52) of the plurality of needle hubs (50), the adapter (4) attaches to the medication pen (2) to engage the selected needle hub (52) while disengaging the selected needle hub (52) from the hub chamber (22), and the selected needle hub (52) is removed from the magazine housing (20) to prepare the medication pen (2) for medication delivery.