Plunger Rod Feedback Mechanism for Injection Completion Cues
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices face challenges in providing a safe and user-friendly mechanism for self-injection, with a need for improved feedback mechanisms to ensure proper administration.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device arrangement featuring a housing element, plunger rod, feedback element, and energy members, including a feedback energy member and stop feature, that allows for a tactile and audible feedback upon completion of the injection, ensuring secure and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional drug delivery device uses a spring and trigger button mechanism, then the injection can be administered, but the user experiences mental and physical risks and challenges during self-injection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism comprising a feedback element, feedback energy member, and stop feature that provides tactile and audible signals to the user during injection. The feedback element moves relative to the plunger rod under energy from the feedback energy member, creating perceptible feedback that guides the user through the injection process, reducing uncertainty and mental stress associated with self-injection.
2Loss of information
If a drug delivery device provides force through a spring mechanism, then injection can be administered, but there is no indication to the user when the injection is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism comprising a feedback element, feedback energy member, and stop feature that provides tactile and audible signals to the user during injection. The feedback element moves relative to the plunger rod under energy from the feedback energy member, creating perceptible feedback that guides the user through the injection process, reducing uncertainty and mental stress associated with self-injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes tactile and audible feedback as sensory changes to indicate injection status. The feedback element's movement creates perceivable changes in texture and sound that clearly indicate when the injection is complete, providing information feedback without requiring complex electronic displays or additional components.
3Reliability
If a drug delivery device is designed for single-use or reusable, then the device can be simplified, but there remains a need for improved feedback mechanisms to ensure proper administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism comprising a feedback element, feedback energy member, and stop feature that provides tactile and audible signals to the user during injection. The feedback element moves relative to the plunger rod under energy from the feedback energy member, creating perceptible feedback that guides the user through the injection process, reducing uncertainty and mental stress associated with self-injection.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism is designed to operate automatically without user intervention. The feedback energy member automatically actuates the feedback element during the injection process, providing continuous guidance and confirmation that proper administration is occurring, eliminating the need for external monitoring or complex control systems.
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 device provides a secure and user-friendly injection experience with clear tactile and audible feedback, enhancing the reliability and safety of self-administered drug delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a feedback energy member configured to provide energy in order to induce a movement of the feedback element relative to the plunger rod and/or relative to the housing element in a first axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement for a drug delivery device (1000) comprising: - a housing element (4), - a plunger rod (1) being arranged axially movable with respect to the housing element (4), - a feedback element (12) being arranged axially movable with respect to the housing element (4) and with respect to the plunger rod (1), - a feedback energy member (14) configured to provide energy in order to induce a movement of the feedback element (12) relative to the plunger rod (1) in a first axial direction, - a radially displaceable stop feature (130) and an impact feature (201), wherein - the arrangement has an initial state, in which - the plunger rod (1) is in a proximal position, - the feedback element (12) is arranged in a cavity of the plunger rod (1), - the feedback element (12) is limited in its movement relative to plunger rod (1) in the first axial direction by the stop feature (130) being in a first radial position, - the arrangement is configured to be switched from the initial state into a released state, in which - the plunger rod (1) is moved in a distal direction (D) at least until the plunger rod (1) reaches a feedback position, - the movement of the plunger rod (1) into the feedback position results in the stop feature (130) being radially displaced to enable a movement of the feedback element (12) relative to the plunger rod (1) in the first axial direction beyond the stop feature (130), - the feedback element (12) moves relative to the plunger rod (1) in the first axial direction and beyond the stop feature (130) due to the energy provided by the feedback energy member (14) until the feedback element (12) hits against the impact feature (201), thereby producing a tactile and/or audible feedback.