Auto Injector With Reusable Drive and Disposable Syringe Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auto injectors with disposable syringes and drive mechanisms pose hygiene and resource waste issues due to the need for battery disposal and lack of easy, safe, and reliable operation.
Innovation Solution
A reusable drive unit and disposable syringe unit design with a single-direction actuator mechanism, utilizing movable sleeves for secure coupling and uncoupling, ensuring safe and reliable operation, and allowing for easy replacement and disposal of the syringe unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a disposable auto injector with battery and motor is used, then injection function is achieved, but resource waste and disposal burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The auto injector is divided into two separate units: a reusable drive unit containing the motor and electronics, and a disposable syringe unit containing the needle and medicament. This segmentation allows the expensive components to be reused while only the contaminated parts are discarded, reducing resource waste and disposal burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable drive unit can be used multiple times with different disposable syringe units, making it a universal component that performs the injection function across multiple uses. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to discard the motor and electronics after a single use.
2Loss of substance
If a reusable drive unit with disposable syringe unit is used, then resource waste is reduced, but coupling and uncoupling operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling and uncoupling mechanism uses dynamic elements including springs that automatically engage or disengage the connection means. The springs provide automatic locking when units are coupled and automatic release when uncoupled, reducing manual manipulation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection means are designed to automatically couple the drive unit and syringe unit when brought together, and automatically uncouple when the release mechanism is activated. The system performs the coupling/uncoupling action itself rather than requiring complex manual operations.
3Ease of operation
If connection means allow easy uncoupling, then operation ease is improved, but safety and secure coupling during injection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The springs are pre-loaded to automatically engage the connection means when the drive unit and syringe unit are coupled. This preliminary automatic engagement ensures secure coupling during injection before any manual uncoupling action is taken.
Solution Approach 2:
The springs act as intermediary elements between the connection means of the drive unit and syringe unit. They provide the mechanical force to ensure secure coupling while allowing controlled release, mediating between the requirements for secure attachment and easy uncoupling.
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
The design enables multiple uses of the drive unit while maintaining hygiene and reducing waste, with enhanced safety features like needle sheathing and electronic control for secure operation.
Implementation Method 1
the sleeve being biased towards the proximal end of the first housing by means of a first elastic element
Implementation Method 2
the second sleeve being biased towards the distal end of the second housing by means of a second elastic element
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application relates to an auto injector for injection of a medicament with a reusable drive unit and a disposable syringe unit. A single drive is used to block and unblock the coupling of the syringe unit with the drive unit as well as of a cap to the syringe unit by the interaction of two sleeves.