Telescopic Cover Trigger for Auto-Injector Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable auto-injectors pose risks of needle exposure and accidental triggering due to premature activation, as the needle is exposed before proper alignment and the trigger mechanism is vulnerable to accidental activation.
Innovation Solution
A medicament delivery device with a telescopic delivery member cover that triggers the power unit upon distal movement, featuring a distal reusable power pack with a rotational drive unit and plunger mechanism, and a trigger system that ensures proper alignment and activation only when intended, incorporating a key and counter key element for secure connection and a signal unit for operational status indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the needle is exposed before triggering the power unit, then the patient can find proper injection angle and depth, but the risk of needle exposure injury and accidental triggering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery member cover is telescopic and can be nested within the body housing. When retracted, it exposes the needle for proper alignment; when extended, it covers and protects the needle. This nesting mechanism allows the cover to serve dual functions of exposure and protection without requiring separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery member cover is extended in the retracted position to cover the medicament delivery member, providing protection and preventing accidental triggering before the injection process begins. The cover is then retracted as a preliminary action to expose the needle for proper alignment, ensuring safety measures are in place before operation starts.
2Ease of operation
If a button is positioned on the outer surface for triggering, then activation is simple, but the risk of premature or unintentional triggering by accidental grasping or touching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery member cover is divided into distinct functional zones: a first portion that interfaces with the patient's skin during injection and a second portion (trigger) that activates the power unit. This segmentation allows the trigger to be integrated into the cover structure rather than being a separate external button, reducing accidental activation risk while maintaining ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery member cover acts as an intermediary between the patient's hand and the power unit trigger. The cover must be properly positioned and retracted to enable triggering, creating an intermediate step that prevents direct accidental activation of the power unit while maintaining simple operation through the natural injection motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the delivery member cover is telescopic and movable, then it can provide both exposure and protection functions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery member cover combines multiple functions into a single component: needle protection, alignment assistance, and power unit triggering. By merging these functions into one telescopic element, the patent reduces overall device complexity compared to using separate components for each function, while maintaining adaptability and versatility.
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 and reliable activation mechanism that prevents needle exposure and accidental triggering, ensuring proper alignment and secure operation, enhancing user safety and device reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The body comprises a main spring, a dial gear, a plunger for abutting a bung of the medicament cartridge. The main spring is configured to act directly on the proximal surface of the plunger. It is the main spring acting on the plunger that drives the bung axially in order to deliver medicament.
Data Source
AI summary
A medicament delivery device is presented having a proximal disposable part arranged with a body and a delivery member cover telescopically arranged in relation to the body wherein the proximal disposable part is configured to receive a medicament container. A distal reusable power pack is detachably arranged with the proximal disposable part such that the delivery member cover has an extension position in which the delivery member cover is extended in the proximal direction to cover a medicament delivery member of the medicament container, and a retraction position in which the delivery member cover is retracted in the distal direction to expose said medicament delivery member. The distal reusable power pack can have a power unit, a rotational drive unit and a plunger unit, where the rotational drive unit is powered by the power unit and is configured to move the plunger unit upon being triggered.