Syringe Sealing Element for Lubricant-Free Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing devices, such as hypodermic syringes, face challenges in maintaining sterility, storage efficiency, and preventing contamination due to complex flow control structures and the use of lubricants, which are problematic at high pressures and during long-term storage.
Innovation Solution
A hypodermic syringe design featuring a base body with a receiving space and a flow control element, where a sealing element between parallel valve surfaces ensures improved tightness and eliminates the need for lubricants, allowing for easier production and reduced risk of contamination, with a modular design for versatile use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex flow control device with conical geometry is used, then flow control functionality is achieved, but manufacturing precision and production difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control device is divided into separate modular components: a base body with receiving chamber and connection channel, and a flow control element with flow channels. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard injection molding techniques, reducing the need for high-precision complex geometries while maintaining flow control functionality through the modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a conical geometry that requires high precision and lubricants, the invention inverts the approach by using parallel valve surfaces with a sealing element. This inverted geometry simplifies manufacturing requirements and eliminates the need for conical precision machining, while still achieving effective flow control.
2Reliability
If lubricants are used in conical flow control devices, then sealing is improved, but contamination risk and storage stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates lubricants from the system by using a sealing element made of elastomeric material between parallel valve surfaces. This removes the harmful factor (lubricant contamination) while maintaining sealing reliability through the elastomeric properties of the sealing element, which can deform to ensure tight sealing without requiring lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter of the sealing interface from metal-to-metal conical contact requiring lubricants to elastomeric-to-parallel-surface contact. The elastomeric material's inherent compliance and sealing properties provide reliable sealing without lubricants, eliminating contamination risks while maintaining sealing reliability.
3Power
If high pressure is applied during drug delivery, then delivery effectiveness is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is made of elastomeric material that acts as a flexible component between the base body and flow control element. This flexible sealing element can deform under high pressure to maintain contact with the parallel valve surfaces, ensuring sealing reliability even when high pressure is applied during drug delivery for effective treatment.
4Reliability
If pre-filled syringes are used, then sterility is improved, but storage efficiency and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe is segmented into separate functional components: a base body for receiving the drug formulation and a separate flow control element. This allows the syringe to be supplied as a sterile pre-filled base body, while the flow control element is added separately at the point of use, maintaining sterility without requiring the entire assembly to be pre-filled and stored with extended plunger rod.
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 solution provides a safe, easy-to-handle, and versatile dispensing device suitable for large-scale production, ensuring tightness at high pressures and extended shelf life without contamination risks, simplifying production and use.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing element (10) arranged between the valve surface (5) of the base body and the valve surface (8) of the flow control element
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dispensing device (1) for dispensing a fluid, in particular for medical use, preferably an injection syringe. Said device (1) comprises, on the one hand, a main body (2) which has a longitudinal axis (A) and which has a preferably hollow cylindrical receiving space (3) for receiving the fluid, and a connection channel (4) communicating with the receiving space (3). The connection channel (4) opens out on a valve face (5) of the main body (2). On the other hand, the device (1) comprises a flow control element (6), which is arranged movably on the main body (2). This flow control element (6) has one or more flow channels (7). These flow channels (7) open out on a valve face (8) of the flow control element (6). The connection channel (4) of the main body (2) and the flow channels (7) of the flow control element (6) are fluidically connected to each other either directly or indirectly or can be fluidically connected to each other by a relative movement of main body (2) and flow control element (6). The invention is characterized in that a sealing element (10) is arranged between the valve face (5) of the main body (2) and the valve face (8) of the flow control element (6).