Patch Infusion Pump Layout With Non-Rotating Screw Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug infusion devices are large in size and complex in structure, leading to high production costs and poor user experience due to susceptibility to being caught by clothes and increased design complexity.
Innovation Solution
A patch-type drug infusion device with a compact internal structure, utilizing a driving unit with a single driving portion and coaxial or side-mounted driving units to reduce volume and cost, featuring a non-rotating rigid screw mechanism and magnetic or capacitive position detection for precise drug delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If traditional drug infusion device structure is used, then drug infusion function is achieved, but device volume is large and production cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the piston inside the drug storage unit, the driving unit inside the housing with compact arrangement, and the infusion needle integrating with the drug storage unit outlet. This nested configuration maximizes space utilization and minimizes device volume while maintaining all necessary functions, directly addressing the contradiction between small volume and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into integrated components: the driving unit combines power transmission elements (gear, cam, lever) into a single compact mechanism that simultaneously controls piston movement and infusion timing. The infusion needle integrates with the drug storage unit outlet structure. This merging reduces the number of separate parts, simplifying manufacturing while achieving compact size.
2Device complexity
If traditional infusion device structure is used, then drug delivery function is achieved, but internal structure is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the infusion device into distinct functional modules: drug storage unit, piston, driving unit, and infusion needle. Each module has a specific function and can be designed and manufactured independently with standardized interfaces. This segmentation simplifies the overall internal structure by breaking down complexity into manageable segments, reducing design and production costs while maintaining manufacturing precision through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex mechanical transmission mechanisms from traditional infusion devices and replaces them with a simplified driving unit that uses a gear-cam-lever mechanism. This extracted simplified mechanism performs the same function of controlling drug delivery timing and rate but with fewer parts and simpler structure, directly reducing internal structure complexity and associated manufacturing costs.
3Ease of operation
If traditional adhesive attachment is used, then device can be attached to skin, but device is prone to be caught by clothes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible adhesive patch that can conform to the skin surface contours. This thin film adhesive layer provides secure attachment while being flexible enough to move with the body without catching on clothes. The flexible nature of the adhesive patch resolves the contradiction between secure attachment (good user experience) and small device size by allowing the device to conform to the body rather than protruding rigidly.
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 compact design reduces device volume and production costs while enhancing infusion accuracy and user convenience by minimizing mechanical complexity and improving structural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the metal piece and the corresponding position detector constitute a capacitor, and the linear movement of the metal piece causes a change in capacitance making the corresponding position detector generate an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
the position detector is magnetic induction detector, the linear movement of the magnetic metal piece causes a change in the magnetic field around each position detector making each position detector generate a magnetic signal
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5~6a
AI summary
A patch-type drug infusion device includes an infusion unit (102). The infusion unit (102) comprises a drug storage unit(s), a piston(s) (120), a rigid screw(s) (130), a rotating shaft (160), a rotatable driving unit(s) (150), a driving wheel(s) (140) provided with wheel teeth (141), a power unit(s) (180) and a rebound unit(s) (170). The driving unit (150) can rotate around the rotating shaft (160), driving the driving portion (151) of the driving unit (150) to push the wheel teeth (141) to rotate the driving wheel (140) which engages the rigid screw (130) to move forward in a non-rotating way. The device also includes a position detector(s) (190), a program unit (101), an infusion needle (103) and an adhesive patch (100). The program unit (101) is connected to the infusion unit (102) to control drug infusion and convert received electrical or magnetic signals into the piston (120) position information. This patch-type drug infusion device simplifies the design and the manufacturing, and reduces the design and production costs.