Spring-Driven Medication Injection Assist Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medication injection devices lack ergonomic design for healthcare professionals, requiring excessive finger force for high viscosity medications and large sizes that are inefficient for hospital settings, leading to inconvenience and waste.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical injection assisting device with a user-triggered activation mechanism, spring-force driven piston rod, and a mounting system for syringes, designed to be compact and universal for pre-filled syringes, addressing the ergonomic and size issues for healthcare professionals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pre-filled syringe is used for multiple injections, then patient convenience is improved, but ergonomics for healthcare professionals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism automatically propels the piston rod without requiring manual force from healthcare professionals, making the device self-serving for the injection action while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The device separates the propulsion function (spring mechanism) from the injection function (piston rod and syringe), allowing the spring to be reset and reused while the syringe is replaced, optimizing both ergonomics and productivity
2Ease of operation
If manual pre-filled syringe is used for high viscosity medications, then medication delivery is achieved, but finger force requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism replaces manual finger force with elastic potential energy conversion, providing sufficient propulsion force for high viscosity medications without requiring excessive finger force from the operator
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-compressed to store elastic potential energy before injection, so that when activated, it immediately provides the necessary force to overcome high medication viscosity without requiring real-time manual force application
3Ease of operation
If current mechanical autoinjector devices are designed for patient self-injection, then patient convenience is improved, but convenience for healthcare professionals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with universal mounting mechanisms that can accommodate different syringe types and sizes, making it adaptable for both patient self-injection and healthcare professional use without compromising ease of operation for either user group
4Ease of operation
If current mechanical autoinjector devices are made large, then mechanical assistance is provided, but storage space increases and material waste occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rod is nested within the syringe barrel, and the spring is positioned within the device housing, maximizing space utilization and minimizing the overall device volume while maintaining effective mechanical assistance
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a dynamic spring mechanism that provides full mechanical assistance during injection but collapses to a compact form after use, reducing storage volume and material requirements while maintaining assistance quality during operation
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 device provides efficient and ergonomic medication delivery with reduced size and storage needs, specifically designed for healthcare professionals, enhancing convenience and reducing finger force required for injections.
Implementation Method 1
a spring force driven piston rod
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical device for assisting medication injection is provided herein comprising a connector having a distal end and a proximal end; a piston rod locked in said connector before medication injection; a spring configured to bias said piston rod distally; a releasable restraining means configured to releasably restrain said piston rod in a locked state against said biasing of said spring, wherein, upon release of said releasable restraining means, said piston rod moves distally under force of said spring; an activation means configured to release said releasable restraining means; and a mounting means for mounting a syringe at said distal end of said connector.