Propellant Syringe Trigger Mechanism for Reliable Medicament Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing syringe devices for delivering medicaments face challenges in reliability and control, particularly when using viscous materials, as they often rely on unpredictable vapor pressure due to rapid cooling of propellants, which can lead to inconsistent or failed deliveries.
Innovation Solution
A syringe design that utilizes a propellant boiling at a predetermined temperature, where liquid propellant vaporizes outside the syringe to create a consistent vapor pressure, driving a stopper to expel medicament reliably and controllably, with features like a rupturable container and a trigger mechanism to manage pressure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid propellant is contained in a closed chamber and allowed to evaporate, then vapor pressure is generated to drive the stopper, but rapid cooling of the propellant occurs leading to unpredictable pressure and unreliable delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the propellant system into two separate chambers: a first chamber containing liquid propellant and a second chamber where vaporization occurs. This segmentation allows the liquid propellant to be stored in a controlled environment while generating vapor pressure in a separate space, preventing direct contact between the cooling liquid and the drive mechanism, thus maintaining stable pressure and reliable delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a separator or barrier between the liquid propellant chamber and the vaporization chamber. This intermediary element allows vapor to pass through to drive the stopper while preventing the liquid propellant from directly entering the drive chamber, thereby eliminating the cooling effect on the drive mechanism and ensuring consistent pressure generation.
2Productivity
If propellant is allowed to evaporate rapidly to provide sufficient force, then delivery speed increases, but pressure control becomes unpredictable leading to failed deliveries
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the propellant storage chamber from the vaporization chamber, the invention enables rapid vaporization in the second chamber to generate sufficient force for quick delivery, while the liquid propellant in the first chamber remains isolated and does not experience the same thermal fluctuations, maintaining predictable pressure control and reliable delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator between chambers acts as an intermediary that permits rapid vapor expansion to drive the stopper quickly while preventing the liquid propellant from directly participating in the rapid pressure changes, thus maintaining pressure control predictability even during fast delivery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the propellant chamber is designed to contain liquid propellant, then flexibility in energy delivery is improved, but the risk of cooling-induced pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the propellant system into a liquid storage chamber and a vaporization chamber, allowing the liquid propellant to provide flexible energy delivery through controlled vaporization while the separation prevents direct cooling of the drive mechanism, maintaining pressure and reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary separator allows the liquid propellant chamber to be designed for flexibility in energy delivery while preventing the harmful cooling effect from reaching the pressure-sensitive components, thus maintaining both adaptability and pressure maintenance.
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
This design ensures a more reliable and predictable delivery of medicaments by maintaining consistent pressure and preventing cooling-induced failures, thereby ensuring accurate dosing and minimizing risks associated with incomplete or failed injections.
Implementation Method 1
liquid propellant is released from the third chamber and boils outside of the third chamber at or above the predetermined temperature to provide an increasing vapor pressure in the second chamber
Implementation Method 2
liquid propellant is released from the third chamber and boils outside of the third chamber at or above the predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 3
By releasing liquid propellant from the third chamber, the liquid propellant is able to vaporize utilizing heat from its surroundings
Data Source
AI summary
A syringe propellable by propellant that boils at a predetermined temperature, the syringe including a barrel having an outlet at a front end, and a stopper axially moveable in the barrel. The stopper separates a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber being axially forwards of the stopper and being configured for containing a medicament, and the second chamber being axially rearwards of the stopper and being configured to receive propellant for acting on the stopper to move the stopper axially forwardly in the barrel to expel medicament through the outlet upon actuation of the syringe. The syringe further includes a third chamber for containing propellant. Upon actuation of the syringe, liquid propellant is released from the third chamber and boils outside of the third chamber at or above the predetermined temperature to provide an increasing vapor pressure in the second chamber that causes the stopper to move axially forwardly and begin to expel medicament through the outlet. At least one trigger for triggering an action is provided, the trigger activated in response to the pressure in the second chamber satisfying a predetermined condition.