Power Switch Reuse for Injection Device State Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug delivery devices lack effective mechanisms to sense and indicate multiple stages of operation, leading to potential user confusion and errors during the administration process.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a power switch to interrupt and re-establish a power supply circuit, allowing the device to toggle through stages of operation, including activation, discharge, and disengagement, with coded outputs to inform the user of the device's status and completion of delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a power switch is reused as a sensor to indicate multiple stages of operation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of operation stages may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The power switch is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the power activation switch and as a sensor to detect multiple operation stages (ready, engaged, disengaged). By making the switch multi-functional, the patent reduces the number of separate components needed while still capturing sufficient operational state information through coded output patterns.
2Loss of information
If coded outputs are used to indicate device status, then loss of information is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the power switch's toggling behavior provides coded output patterns that communicate device status back to the user. Different sequences and patterns of switch toggles encode different operational stages (ready state, engaged state, disengaged state), providing clear information feedback without requiring additional complex display components.
3Ease of operation
If the power switch is used to sense stages of operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of operation sensing may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The power switch serves itself by using its own mechanical movement to detect operational stages. As the user naturally toggles the switch to activate the device, the switch's position changes automatically indicate different operation stages without requiring separate sensing mechanisms. This self-service approach simplifies operation while maintaining reliability through the inherent mechanical feedback of the switch itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for state sensing and controlling of a multi-state drug delivery device. In some embodiments a power switch is reused as a state sensor. Optionally the state sensor may be toggled by user actions and/or the movements of parts of the device, for example needle and/or a protective element. Optionally, drug discharge and/or status indication is controlled in accordance with sensor output. In some embodiments control is by means of a processor. Alternatively or additionally, control is by means of simple physical circuits.