Reusable Injection Drive with Latching Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic injectors are often designed for single-use and are costly, with a need to reduce drug delivery system costs and promote reusability while ensuring safety by preventing accidental needle exposure before and after use.

Innovation Solution

An automatic injector device with a reusable drive mechanism and a locking/latching system that secures the syringe in a rearward position, using a moveable locking/latching element and a resiliently expandable locking sleeve, which can be released for forward movement and re-latched after use, preventing accidental needle exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the syringe is made movable in the housing for needle delivery, then injection function is enabled, but accidental needle exposure risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection functionVSAvoidaccidental needle exposure risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The locking means is designed to automatically engage when the syringe is in the rearward position, creating a preliminary protective action that prevents accidental needle exposure before injection. The locking mechanism is pre-positioned to block forward movement unless deliberately released by the user through the cap action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The cap serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the user and the syringe release mechanism. By requiring the user to manipulate the cap to release the locking means, an additional safety layer is introduced that prevents accidental direct manipulation of the syringe plunger.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of repair

If the drive mechanism is made reusable and separable, then cost and environmental sustainability improve, but device safety and reliability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereusabilityVSAvoiddevice safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The injection device is segmented into separable components: a reusable drive mechanism and a disposable syringe assembly. This segmentation allows the expensive drive mechanism to be reused while the potentially contaminated syringe is discarded, achieving both cost savings and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking means is designed to automatically engage when the syringe is inserted into the housing, performing a preliminary safety action that ensures the syringe is secured before use. This automatic engagement eliminates the need for manual locking steps that could introduce errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If locking means is added to prevent syringe movement, then safety improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle exposure preventionVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking means is merged with the existing syringe holder structure, using the holder's wall portions to form the locking mechanism. This integration avoids adding separate complex locking components while still achieving the safety function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking means is designed to be self-actuating through the normal operation of the device. When the syringe is inserted or when the cap is manipulated, the locking mechanism automatically engages or disengages without requiring separate user actions, thereby simplifying the overall control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables the reuse of the drive mechanism, ensures safety by preventing syringe movement when detached from the drive module, and effectively disables the injection device before and after use, addressing the need for cost reduction and environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

a generally cylindrical resiliently expandable locking sleeve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a moveable locking/latching element moveable between: a locking/latching position in which it (i) prevents movement of said syringe forwardly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS9022989B2Injection devices

Publication Date: 2015.05.05 OWEN MUMFORD

AI summary

An injection device has a main drive module which can be screwed into the back of a syringe housing to prepare the injector ready for use. The drive module has a firing button and a drive plunger released for forward movement by pressing the firing button. The syringe housing slideably receives a syringe holder whose forward movement is initially prevented by internally directed barbs on a cylindrical latching sleeve. The latching sleeve is acted upon by a release ring on the drive module such that as the drive module is screwed onto the syringe housing, the release ring splays the cylindrical shell to release the syringe carrier for forward movement. The barbs also act as a latch to capture the syringe carrier in its rearward position when the drive module is unscrewed from the syringe housing, which returns the barbs to their initial position before the syringe holder returns to its initial position.