Drug Delivery Feedback Mechanism with Resilient Flaps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices lack effective feedback mechanisms to inform users about the status of the device, such as the end of dose, which poses risks and challenges for users and healthcare professionals.
Innovation Solution
A feedback mechanism for a drug delivery device featuring a bushing with resilient flaps that engage transversal ribs on the piston rod, generating audible and/or tactile feedback during the injection stroke, indicating the relative position of the piston rod and syringe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a feedback mechanism is added to indicate dose status, then user safety and information availability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where resilient flaps on the bushing engage with transversal ribs on the piston rod during the injection stroke. This engagement generates audible and tactile feedback (clicks) that inform the user about the relative position of the piston rod and syringe, providing real-time information about dose administration status without requiring complex electronic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism is self-generating through the mechanical interaction between the bushing flaps and piston rod ribs. The relative movement between these components during injection automatically produces the feedback signals (clicks), eliminating the need for external power sources, sensors, or electronic control systems.
2Ease of operation
If resilient flaps engage transversal ribs to generate feedback clicks, then user feedback quality improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resilient flaps with specific elastic properties that allow them to deflect and engage with transversal ribs. The resilience of the flaps compensates for manufacturing tolerances, ensuring reliable engagement and consistent feedback generation across production batches without requiring extremely tight precision control.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism utilizes the dynamic interaction between moving components - the resilient flaps deflect and rebound as they engage with the transversal ribs during the injection stroke. This dynamic engagement produces audible and tactile feedback while accommodating variations in manufacturing precision through the elastic deformation of the flaps.
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
Provides clear audible and tactile feedback to users, ensuring proper administration of doses and preventing misuse by generating clicks at predetermined points, enhancing user safety and device usability.
Implementation Method 1
one or more resilient flaps are provided on the bushing, the flaps extending into the central aperture to allow them to engage one or more transversal ribs on the piston rod
Implementation Method 2
the flap abuts one of the transversal ribs and is deflected by the transversal rib upon further movement until the flap disengages the transversal rib and relaxes. This may generate an audible and/or tactile feedback
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a feedback mechanism (15) for a drug delivery device (1), the feedback mechanism (15) comprising a bushing (16), the bushing (16) comprising a central aperture (17) adapted to accommodate a piston rod (11), wherein one or more resilient flaps (16.2) are provided on the bushing (16), the flaps (16.2) extending into the central aperture (17) to allow them to engage one or more transversal ribs (11.3) on the piston rod (11).