Pivoting Needle Holder for Auto-Injector Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auto-injector devices are cumbersome and prone to needle clogging due to the medicament coming into contact with the needle during storage, increasing the complexity and time required for injection, especially for patients with impaired physical abilities.
Innovation Solution
A medicament injection device with a pivotable needle holder that automatically positions the needle for injection, reducing the number of steps required and preventing prolonged contact between the medicament and needle, thus minimizing clogging, and featuring a locking mechanism to secure the needle in place during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is kept in contact with the cartridge for easy access, then the needle can be quickly positioned for injection, but the medicament clogs the needle during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The needle holder is made pivotable relative to the cartridge holder, allowing the needle to dynamically change position between a retracted storage state (away from medicament) and an extended injection state (engaging the cartridge). This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction by preventing contact during storage while enabling quick access during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into functionally independent components: the cartridge holder for medicament storage, the pivotable needle holder for needle positioning, and the actuating mechanism for controlled movement. This segmentation allows the needle to be physically separated from the medicament reservoir during storage, eliminating clogging risk while maintaining operational readiness.
2Reliability
If multiple steps are used for needle assembly and positioning, then the needle can be properly secured, but the injection process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-assembled and sealed in its holder during manufacturing, eliminating the need for users to perform assembly steps. The pivotable mechanism is pre-configured so that a single actuation automatically positions and secures the needle in the correct orientation, reducing multiple manual steps to one simple action.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of needle positioning, needle securing, and cartridge engagement are merged into a single pivoting action. The locking mechanism is integrated into the pivotable connection, so that one motion simultaneously achieves alignment, secures the needle, and prepares it for injection, eliminating the need for separate securing steps.
3Device complexity
If the needle holder is fixed and not movable, then the device structure is simple and stable, but the needle cannot be properly positioned for injection
Solution Approach 1:
A single pivoting joint is introduced to transform the static needle holder into a dynamic component that can rotate between storage and injection positions. This minimal dynamic element provides the necessary positioning capability while maintaining overall structural simplicity and stability during both retracted and extended states.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle holder is given rotational freedom in a dimension perpendicular to the main injection axis, allowing it to pivot between a retracted position (parallel to injection path) and an extended position (perpendicular to injection path). This dimensional freedom enables proper positioning without adding complex mechanical structures.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a medicament injection device comprising a housing, a cartridge holder mounted in the housing and configured to receive a cartridge containing a medicament, an injection needle having a proximal end and a distal end, an injection needle holder to which the injection needle is fixed. The medicament injection device comprises an actuating mechanism for pivoting the injection needle holder relative to the cartridge holder between a storage position in which, when the cartridge is received in the cartridge holder, the distal end of the injection needle is spaced from the cartridge, and a use position in which, when the cartridge is received in the cartridge holder, the distal end of the injection needle can engage the cartridge.