Parallel Linkage Needle Drive Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual needle insertion for injections often results in tilting and bending of the needle, leading to slow and painful procedures, posing challenges for both users and healthcare professionals.
Innovation Solution
A drive mechanism featuring a parallel linkage system that converts linear movement into transverse motion, utilizing an electrical actuator like a piezo actuator to precisely control the needle's movement between retracted and extended positions, ensuring quick and accurate needle insertion and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual needle insertion is used, then the device complexity is low, but the needle insertion speed is slow and causes pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical insertion with an automated drive mechanism comprising an actuator (electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic) coupled to a parallel linkage system. This substitution enables high-speed needle movement while maintaining mechanical robustness, resolving the contradiction between insertion speed and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a parallel linkage system as an intermediary between the actuator and the needle retainer. This linkage converts linear actuator movement into precise transverse needle motion, enabling controlled high-speed insertion while keeping the overall system manageable in complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual needle insertion is used, then the ease of operation is high, but the needle guidance precision is poor causing tilting and bending
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel linkage system acts as an intermediary mechanical structure that enforces precise transverse motion of the needle retainer. The geometric constraints of the parallel linkage ensure the needle moves straight without tilting or bending, achieving high guidance precision while the actuator handles the complex control automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the actuator's linear movement in the longitudinal direction into transverse movement of the needle in a perpendicular direction through the parallel linkage. This dimensional transformation enables precise needle guidance while simplifying the control mechanism to a single linear actuator motion.
3Productivity
If high-speed needle movement is implemented, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an actuator (electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic) to replace complex multi-stage mechanical transmission systems. The actuator directly drives the parallel linkage, enabling high-speed needle movement with minimal intermediate components, thus improving productivity while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate transmission components from the drive system. By using a direct actuator-linkage-needle retainer configuration, the design achieves high-speed operation without the complexity of gear trains, cam mechanisms, or multiple linkage stages.
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
This solution enables high-speed needle movements with exact guidance, reducing patient discomfort and increasing acceptance, while maintaining mechanical robustness and low manufacturing costs, allowing for both manual and motor-powered operation.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an electrical actuator like a piezo actuator to precisely control the needle's movement
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drive mechanism (9) for a needle insertion arrangement (1), the drive mechanism (9) comprising an actuator (5) coupled to a parallel linkage (10) adapted to convert a linear movement of the actuator (5) in a longitudinal direction (L) to a linear movement of a cross beam (7) in transverse direction (T) substantially at right angles with respect to the longitudinal direction (L).