Shuttle Nib Ball Mechanism for Plunger Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle-based injectate delivery methods are painful and can cause deformation and inefficiency in the injection process due to high forces exerted on plungers, leading to potential damage and leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
A needleless injection system utilizing a pusher with a nib and ball mechanism that exerts radial pressure to stabilize and accelerate the plunger within a tapered bore, deflecting forces to maintain a seal and prevent deformation, while a spring-ejector mechanism ensures efficient disengagement and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hollow needle is used for injectate delivery, then the injectate can be delivered through the skin, but it inflicts pain and creates anticipation of pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the needle component entirely from the injection system, extracting only the essential function of delivering injectate through the skin. The needleless design uses a plunger to directly propel the injectate through an orifice, eliminating the painful needle puncture while maintaining the core injection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a plunger as an intermediary mechanism between the force application point and the injectate. Instead of using a needle to pierce and deliver, the plunger acts as a mediator that converts applied force into controlled injectate propulsion through high pressure, eliminating direct needle-skin contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If high pressure is used to drive the injectate through the skin, then the injectate can be delivered needlelessly, but the plunger sustains high forces that cause deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a cushioning mechanism where the plunger is designed to absorb and distribute the high forces applied during injection. The plunger's structural design includes features that preemptively manage force distribution, preventing deformation before it occurs by spreading the load across stronger structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger is constructed using composite material structures that combine different material properties to resist deformation. The design incorporates materials and structural features that provide both the flexibility needed for high-pressure propulsion and the strength required to withstand the sustained forces without permanent deformation.
3Productivity
If the plunger is accelerated through a tapered bore, then the injectate can be forced through the orifice, but the plunger may deform under high forces
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered bore design incorporates cushioning features that preemptively manage the force distribution during plunger acceleration. The geometry of the tapered bore and associated structural elements are designed to distribute high forces before they reach the plunger, preventing deformation while maintaining injection efficiency.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a needleless system is used, then pain is reduced, but the complexity of the pusher and plunger mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher mechanism is designed with multi-functional components that perform multiple operations within a single integrated structure. The pusher assembly combines forcing, positioning, and control functions in unified elements, reducing the number of separate components needed and simplifying the overall mechanism despite the increased functional requirements of a needleless system.
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 system reduces pain and deformation risks, maintains a secure seal, and enhances the efficiency of injectate delivery by utilizing radial pressure to stabilize the plunger and optimize energy transfer, minimizing leakage and maintaining sterility.
Implementation Method 1
the ball has a diameter selected such that, when inserted into a cavity in the plunger, the ball exerts a radial pressure to push the plunger against an inner wall of the bore
Implementation Method 2
the ejector includes a spring coupled to a shuttle so as to cause the shuttle to move distally towards the ball in response to expansion of the spring
Implementation Method 3
the backup ring is configured to deflect a force exerted by the plunger along a radial direction
Implementation Method 4
the pusher comprises a ring that expands in response to a reaction force that results from acceleration of the plunger
Data Source
AI summary
A needleless injection system includes a pusher that pushes a plunger within a tapered bore of a cartridge. The pusher includes a nib, the tip of which is a ball.