Prefilled Syringe Gas-Driven Injection for High-Viscosity Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autoinjectors are not configured to accommodate prefilled syringes, leading to potential breakage, medicament leakage, and inadequate delivery of high viscosity substances, and require multiple injections for higher volumes, making them unsuitable for self-administration by untrained users.
Innovation Solution
A medicament delivery device with a housing, carrier, and flexible member that uses a gas-powered system to control the delivery of medicaments from prefilled syringes, eliminating mechanical linkages and allowing for controlled force application, suitable for high viscosity substances and higher volumes in a single operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a spring-based actuation system with piston rod is used to insert needle and inject medicament, then the device can achieve automated injection, but the device size becomes larger than desired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the piston rod from the spring-based actuation system, extracting only the essential needle insertion function while eliminating the volume-consuming piston rod component. The spring directly actuates the needle assembly without requiring a mechanical piston rod linkage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical piston rod linkage with a direct spring actuation mechanism that uses gas pressure to drive needle insertion, substituting complex mechanical transmission with a simpler pneumatic-mechanical direct drive system.
2Force
If high forces are applied to the flange during needle insertion, then the needle can be inserted effectively, but the syringe flange or body may break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a cushioning element between the actuation mechanism and the syringe flange that absorbs and distributes insertion forces, preventing excessive point loads that could cause flange or body breakage while still achieving effective needle insertion.
3Extent of automation
If force is applied to the plunger during storage or insertion, then the autoinjector can be actuated, but medicament leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the plunger actuation from the needle insertion actuation, extracting only the needle insertion function from the plunger mechanism. The plunger remains undisturbed during storage and needle insertion, eliminating the source of medicament leakage while allowing independent needle deployment.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple injections are used to deliver higher volumes, then the required medicament volume can be delivered, but the procedure becomes complex and requires training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the autoinjector with a scalable volume capacity that can deliver various medicament volumes in a single injection event, making the device universally applicable for different dosing requirements without requiring multiple injection procedures or specialized training.
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 compact, reliable, and controlled delivery system for high viscosity medicaments, enabling self-administration without mechanical linkages, reducing the risk of breakage and leakage, and allowing for higher volume delivery in a single injection.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible member is configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the elastomeric member moves within the medicament container
Implementation Method 2
A medicament delivery device with a housing, carrier, and flexible member that uses a gas-powered system to control the delivery of medicaments from prefilled syringes
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a housing, a carrier, a medicament container, and a flexible member. The housing defines an opening placing a gas chamber of the housing in fluid communication with an exterior volume. The carrier has a proximal surface that defines a portion of the gas chamber. The medicament container is coupled to the carrier and has a distal end portion coupled to a delivery member. The medicament container containing a medicament and includes an elastomeric member that seals the medicament therein. The flexible member has a distal end portion coupled to the elastomeric member and a proximal end portion coupled to a valve member. The flexible member transitions from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the elastomeric member moves within the medicament container. The flexible member moves the valve member relative to the opening when the flexible member transitions from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.