Reversibly Rotating Dosing Mechanism for Injection Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing devices for injection devices lack a convenient and correctable mechanism for setting and dispensing precise doses of medical substances like insulin or hormones, often requiring complex mechanisms and limiting user flexibility in adjusting doses.

Innovation Solution

A dosing device featuring a threaded rod with a holding element to prevent twisting, an adjustable rotary sleeve that can rotate and translate, and a spring element for energy storage, allowing for dose correction by decoupling the setting element from the threaded rod using a release mechanism, enabling easy adjustment and correction of set doses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a dose setting element is blocked in the end position with anti-rotation devices, then the dose setting precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users cannot correct overdoses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedose setting precisionVSAvoidease of dose correction
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the blocking mechanism conditional rather than static. The dose setting element is blocked only after a predetermined rotation angle is exceeded, allowing free rotation and correction within safe limits. This dynamic blocking approach resolves the contradiction by providing precision when needed (after overdose prevention angle) while maintaining ease of operation for normal adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by pre-setting a maximum rotation angle limit that prevents overdose before it can occur. The blocking mechanism is designed to activate automatically when the rotation exceeds the predetermined angle, proactively preventing the harmful effect (overdose) while still allowing corrective rotations within the safe range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If complex mechanisms are used to prevent overdose, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverdose prevention reliabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the dose setting function with the overdose prevention function into a single integrated mechanism. The same rotary movement that sets the dose also triggers the blocking mechanism when the predetermined angle is exceeded. This combination eliminates the need for separate complex control systems while maintaining reliable overdose prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking mechanism is designed to be self-activating based on the rotation angle itself, without requiring external sensors or control systems. The mechanism serves itself by using the rotational movement to trigger the blocking action automatically, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable overdose prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the dose setting element allows free rotation for correction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to potential overdosing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of dose correctionVSAvoiddose accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-establishing a maximum rotation angle that prevents overdose. The blocking mechanism is configured to activate automatically when this predetermined angle is exceeded, proactively preventing measurement errors while allowing free rotation and correction within the safe angular range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 simple and precise dose correction without releasing the substance, allowing users to adjust doses accurately and efficiently, ensuring correct administration of medical substances.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element for energy storage, allowing for dose correction by decoupling the setting element from the threaded rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring energy storage: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2152340B1Reversely rotatable dosing mechanism for an injection device
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 TECPHARMA LICENSING AG
  • EP2152340B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2152340B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2152340B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B

AI summary

The invention relates to a dosing mechanism (2, 3) for an injection device in order to adjust a dose to be discharged from an injection device. Said dosing mechanism (2, 3) comprises an adjusting element (2) which can be moved relative to the dosing mechanism and is provided with a coupling element (2a) in order to be coupled to a threaded bar (1) in such a way that the adjusting element can be moved relative to the threaded bar in one direction while a relative movement in the opposite direction is prevented. The dosing mechanism (2, 3) further comprises a retaining element (3) which is fitted with an engaging element (3a) in order to prevent the threaded bar from being rotated in at least one direction. The disclosed dosing mechanism is characterized by a releasing element (5) which allows the coupling between the adjusting element and a threaded bar to be canceled.