Pump Dispenser Segmentation for Oral Medicine Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dispensers for liquid oral medicines, especially for children, face challenges in accurately dispensing small doses without choking or contamination risks, as they often leave residues and are difficult to clean, and lack effective child-resistant and tamper-evidence mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A pump dispenser with a discharge outlet and outlet attachment featuring a closure mechanism that automatically closes when detached, a child-resistant security mechanism, and tamper-evidence features such as a frangible connector, designed to prevent unintended use and ensure hygiene by sealing residual fluid and allowing easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pump dispenser with fixed nozzle is used for dosing, then dosing precision and convenience are improved, but fluid residues remain in the outlet nozzle causing contamination and hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into separable components: a reusable pump body and a removable outlet attachment. The outlet attachment can be detached for cleaning, preventing fluid residues from remaining in the discharge outlet and eliminating contamination risks while maintaining dosing precision through the pump mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A closure valve is incorporated into the pump body that automatically closes the discharge outlet when the outlet attachment is removed. This preliminary closing action prevents fluid residues from leaking or contaminating the environment, and protects the outlet from external contamination before cleaning occurs.
2Ease of manufacture
If a pump dispenser with movable nozzle is used, then ease of cleaning is improved, but dosing accuracy and outlet stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser system is segmented into a pump body that provides dosing accuracy and a separate outlet attachment that provides ease of cleaning. The outlet attachment can be completely removed from the pump body for thorough cleaning, while the pump body's closure valve ensures dosing accuracy by preventing leakage when the attachment is attached.
3Ease of operation
If a simple outlet design is used, then ease of operation is improved, but child safety and tamper protection worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet attachment incorporates a dynamic closure valve mechanism that automatically opens when the attachment is properly installed and closes when removed. This dynamic operation maintains ease of use through automatic functioning while providing child safety by ensuring the outlet is closed and inaccessible when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet attachment acts as an intermediary component between the pump body and the environment. It provides a barrier that can be easily attached and removed by users, maintaining ease of operation, while its coupling mechanism with the closure valve system provides tamper protection and child safety by preventing unauthorized access to the medication.
4Ease of operation
If the outlet remains open for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but fluid leakage and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closure valve is positioned and configured to automatically close the discharge outlet as a preliminary action when the outlet attachment is removed or not properly installed. This prevents fluid leakage and contamination while allowing easy access when the attachment is properly attached and the valve is opened through normal operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates to dispensers for fluid products, particularly oral dosing of medicines. The dispenser is a pump dispenser and has a separate nozzle attachment (8). The nozzle (8) and dispenser (2) may be uncoupled in a holding position or coupled position. A child resistance feature is disclosed which prevents unauthorised coupling of the dispenser (2) and nozzle (8), thereby preventing unauthorised dispensing of product. The child resistance feature only allows coupling of the dispenser (2) and nozzle (8) when a coupling control element (292) is triggered and then maintains this coupling with additional features. A protective cover (13) for the dispenser is also disclosed, which covers the nozzle attachment (8) and pump plunger button (49)