Residual Quantity Indicator for Injectable Dosing Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for administering injectable products, particularly in self-administration contexts like diabetes therapy, face challenges in simplifying the administration of variable doses and ensuring accurate and safe dosing, especially when the product dose needs to be changed by a doctor or self-administered user.

Innovation Solution

A device with a housing, dosing element, and conveying mechanism that allows adjustable dosing and displays the remaining product quantity through a residual quantity indicator, featuring a piston rod and driven element for precise dosing and a residual quantity display that shows the amount available, aiding in safe and accurate administration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dosing element with adjustable positions is used to set different product doses, then the adaptability of the device is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustable dosingVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing element is nested within the housing, with the dosing element forming a marker that moves relative to the housing. The residual quantity indicator is integrated into the housing structure, with the driven element forming a marker that moves along the dose scale. This nesting approach allows multiple functions (dosing adjustment and residual quantity display) to be combined in a compact structure without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the dose scale for dosing indication, and displays the residual quantity of product. The driven element serves dual purposes by both metering the product and indicating the remaining quantity through its marker position on the dose scale. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a residual quantity indicator is added to display the remaining product amount, then the reliability of dosing is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The residual quantity indicator is merged with the existing dosing mechanism. The driven element that performs the metering function also serves as the residual quantity indicator by forming a marker whose position on the dose scale indicates the remaining product amount. This merging eliminates the need for a separate residual quantity display mechanism, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driven element automatically indicates the residual quantity through its own marker position on the dose scale as it moves during the metering process. The system uses its own operational components (the driven element's position) to provide the residual quantity information, rather than requiring an independent sensing or display system. This self-service approach improves reliability while minimizing additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the dosing element and driven element are made movable to indicate dose and residual quantity, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmarker position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dose scale is arranged spirally around the axis of rotation in a transparent section of the housing, creating a uniform reference framework. The markers (dosing element marker and driven element marker) move along this standardized scale, ensuring that their positions can be accurately read regardless of the specific dose setting or residual quantity. This equipotential arrangement of the scale facilitates easy operation while maintaining manufacturing precision through consistent geometric relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentEP2288400B1Device for administering an injectable product comprising a residual amount display
Publication Date: 2012.09.19 TECPHARMA LICENSING AG
  • EP2288400B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2288400B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2288400B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an administration device, the device comprising: a) a housing (1, 2) with a receptacle for a product for administration, b) a piston rod (11), which may be moved in a forwards direction (V), for administering a product dose, c) a dosing body (25), which may be adjusted in various selector positions relative to the housing (1, 2) in order to set the product dose, d) a driven body (14), which can carry out a dosing stroke opposing the forward direction (V) to a given dosing position as given by the dosing body (25) and a dispensing stroke from the dosing position in the forward direction (V), e) the driven body (14) being coupled to the piston rod (11) such that the dispensing stroke is carried out with the movement of the piston rod (11) in the forwards direction(V), f) a first remaining amount body (40; 44), coupled to the driven body (14) such that the dosing stroke brings about a movement of the remaining amount body (40; 44) in a first direction and the dispensing stroke a movement in the opposing direction, g) and a second remaining amount body (2; 1), carrying out movements relative to the first remaining amount body (40; 44), h) wherein one of the remaining amount bodies (40; 44) has a dose scale (42; 45) and the dispensable remaining amount of product may be read from the position of the other (2; 1) remaining amount body relative to the dose scale (42; 45).