Medication Delivery Device with Reusable Rack-and-Pinion Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medication delivery devices, such as injector pens, face challenges in facilitating easy replacement of spent cartridges and reducing waste by minimizing the number of components.
Innovation Solution
A medication delivery device comprising a reusable portion with a drive mechanism featuring rack and pinion mechanisms to translate a therapeutic agent delivery assembly between stowed and deployed configurations, allowing for easy detachment and attachment of disposable portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire pen is discarded after use (disposable design), then the device is simple to operate and maintain, but waste is increased and cost is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The injection device is divided into two distinct segments: a reusable drive mechanism portion and a disposable cartridge portion. The cartridge can be detached and replaced when spent, while the drive mechanism remains. This segmentation allows the expensive, complex drive mechanism to be reused multiple times while only the simpler, cheaper cartridge is discarded, thereby reducing overall waste and cost while maintaining ease of operation.
2Loss of substance
If the pen is disassembled and reassembled for cartridge replacement (reusable design), then waste is reduced, but the complexity of operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular components with standardized interfaces. The cartridge portion is designed as a self-contained unit that can be quickly attached and detached from the drive mechanism without requiring complex disassembly or reassembly procedures, thus maintaining ease of operation while enabling reuse of the drive mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge portion is designed as a disposable, low-cost component that is replaced when spent. This allows the expensive, complex drive mechanism to be reused multiple times, reducing overall waste while keeping the replacement process simple since users only need to swap the inexpensive cartridge rather than service the entire device.
3Loss of substance
If the number of components is reduced, then waste is reduced and the device is simpler, but the functionality and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable and disposable portions, the critical functional components (drive mechanism, control systems) are concentrated in the reusable portion that can be manufactured with high precision and reliability. The disposable cartridge contains only the essential medication delivery components, simplifying its design while maintaining overall system reliability through the durable reusable portion.
Data Source
AI summary
A medication delivery device includes a disposable portion and a reusable portion. The disposable portion includes a therapeutic agent delivery assembly, and the therapeutic agent delivery assembly includes a needle. The therapeutic agent delivery assembly is translatable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration. The reusable portion includes a first rack and pinion mechanism and a second rack and pinion mechanism. The first rack and pinion mechanism is actuatable to translate the therapeutic agent delivery assembly from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. The second rack and pinion mechanism is actuatable to translate a plunger and thereby cause the therapeutic agent delivery assembly to deliver a therapeutic agent from the needle.