Pre-loaded Syringe with Weight-Based Non-Volumetric Graduations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency medical situations, there is a high risk of medication errors due to the complexity of calculating and administering injectable drugs, especially in stressful environments where healthcare professionals may not be familiar with the correct dosages and preparations.
Innovation Solution
A syringe with an adjustable plunger stop and non-volumetric graduations that allow users to administer a precise dose based on patient weight, eliminating the need for complex calculations and reducing the risk of errors by preventing excessive plunger travel and using color coding for medication identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional syringes with volumetric graduations are used, then the device structure remains simple, but medication errors increase due to complex calculations required for dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe graduations are changed from volumetric (mL) parameters to weight-based (kg) parameters. The non-volumetric graduations display patient weight ranges directly on the syringe barrel, allowing healthcare providers to select the appropriate graduation based on patient weight without performing calculations. This parameter transformation eliminates calculation errors while maintaining a relatively simple syringe structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary dosing indicator system that mediates between the volumetric content of the syringe and the desired weight-based dosing. The non-volumetric graduations act as an intermediary reference system that translates the relationship between syringe volume and patient weight, eliminating the need for providers to perform intermediate calculations.
2Reliability
If pre-loaded syringes are used to eliminate preparation steps, then the risk of preparation errors is reduced, but the risk of dosage errors increases due to inability to adjust for different patient weights
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe is designed with dynamic adjustability through the non-volumetric graduation system. Healthcare providers can dynamically select different dosing levels on the syringe based on real-time patient weight assessment. The plunger can be pulled back to different positions corresponding to different weight-based dosing graduations, allowing the syringe to adapt to various patient weights while maintaining a simple pre-loaded structure.
3Reliability
If the plunger can travel the full length of the syringe, then all medication can be administered, but excessive dosing occurs when treating smaller patients
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe is pre-marked with non-volumetric graduations that indicate the correct plunger stop position for different patient weight ranges before administration begins. The provider performs a preliminary action of selecting and marking the appropriate dosage level on the syringe based on patient weight, then simply pushes the plunger to that pre-determined position. This eliminates the need for real-time calculation or measurement during the actual administration.
4Reliability
If color coding is added to the syringe for medication identification, then the risk of wrong medication administration is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe incorporates color-coded elements such as colored rings, bands, or markings on the syringe barrel or plunger that correspond to specific medication types or dosing ranges. These color indicators provide immediate visual identification of the correct medication and appropriate dosing level, reducing identification errors. The color coding is integrated into the existing syringe structure through simple additive elements rather than fundamentally redesigning the device.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for metering and delivering a desired dose of medication from a syringe are described. The devices may include a dosage limiting sleeve adjustably disposed around a syringe body, wherein the alignment of the dosage limiting sleeve relative to the syringe body indicates the dose to be administered by depressing a plunger until the dosage limiting sleeve is engaged.