Protective Cap Holding Elements Against Impact-Triggered Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medicament delivery devices with automatic activation features are prone to unintentional activation due to impact forces, rendering them useless if dropped, especially when crucial for patients with no additional devices.
Innovation Solution
A protective safety cap with releasable connection and interacting holding elements secures the medicament delivery member guard, preventing unintended activation by impact, and includes air passages to prevent suffocation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the medicament delivery device is equipped with automatic activation features, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of unintentional activation upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cap is designed to be removed as a preliminary action before the device can be activated. The holding elements pre-engage with the activator element to prevent any unintended movement. This ensures that the automatic activation mechanism can only be triggered after the deliberate action of cap removal, eliminating accidental activation from drops or impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety cap acts as an intermediary protective element between the user and the activator mechanism. By introducing this intermediate component with engagement features, the device requires a deliberate two-step process (cap removal then activation) rather than direct access to the activation mechanism, thereby preventing unintended activation while maintaining ease of legitimate use.
2Ease of operation
If the safety cap is designed to facilitate removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability worsens due to potential accidental removal or unintended activation
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements are designed with dynamic engagement characteristics - they provide strong retention during normal handling and transport, but can be deliberately disengaged when needed. The interaction between the holding elements and activator element creates a controlled mechanical relationship that prevents accidental removal while allowing intentional removal for activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety cap incorporates localized engagement features (holding elements) at specific positions that interact with corresponding features on the activator element. This localized engagement provides precise control over the cap's retention and removal characteristics, ensuring reliable attachment during storage while allowing deliberate removal for use.
3Productivity
If the medicament delivery member guard is made movable for automatic activation, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to impact-induced movement
Solution Approach 1:
The safety cap with its holding elements performs a preliminary protective action by securing the movable guard in place during transport and storage. This preliminary securing prevents impact-induced movement while allowing the guard to move freely once the cap is removed, thus maintaining both reliability during storage and productivity during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety cap and holding elements are extracted as a separate removable component from the main device body. This extraction allows the movable guard to function independently for rapid activation while the cap provides external protection during non-use periods, separating the conflicting requirements of mobility and protection into different operational phases.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a protective cap to be releasably connected to a medicament delivery device, which medicament delivery device is provided with an activator element at a proximal end thereof, said protective cap comprising first positive holding elements arranged on an inner surface of said protective cap, which first holding elements are designed to interact with second holding elements, arranged on an outer surface of said activator element of the medicament delivery device.