Telescopic Needle-Shroud Autoinjector for Complete Dose Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional injection devices, both manual and autoinjectors, pose challenges for users lacking dexterity, such as the elderly or children, due to the need for continuous force application and alignment during injections, which can lead to incomplete doses and difficulty in administering medications.

Innovation Solution

An autoinjector design featuring a telescopic needle shroud, a carrier with a compliant beam mechanism, and a rotatable collar system that ensures consistent dose delivery by translating and rotating components to facilitate automatic injection without requiring continuous user force, with visual feedback for dose progress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If manual force is used to drive medicament through a needle, then the injection can be administered, but the force required may be too high for elderly or child users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce required to push button/plungerVSAvoidease of administration

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical pushing system with an automatic injection system that uses a spring mechanism to deliver the medicament, eliminating the need for users to apply continuous manual force during injection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The autoinjector is designed to automatically administer the injection once activated, performing the injection function without requiring continuous user intervention or force application throughout the process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If continuous force application is required during injection, then the injection can be maintained, but users lacking dexterity may release the button prematurely causing incomplete doses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompletion of intended doseVSAvoidease of administration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mechanism is pre-loaded and prepared in advance, so that upon activation it automatically provides the continuous force needed for complete medicament delivery without requiring sustained user effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device automatically maintains injection pressure and continues delivering medicament until the cartridge is empty, eliminating the risk of premature release or incomplete dosing due to user error

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If alignment and stillness during injection are required, then proper injection can be achieved, but patients with limited dexterity may struggle to maintain positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproper injection deliveryVSAvoidease of administration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a telescopic needle shroud with automatic extension and retraction mechanisms that adapt to injection conditions, reducing the need for precise manual positioning and maintaining stability throughout the injection process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Extent of automation

If a telescopic needle shroud with multiple positions is used, then the injection mechanism can be automated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic injection deliveryVSAvoidcomplexity of mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic needle shroud employs a nested structure where components are housed within one another, allowing automatic extension and retraction through compact mechanical arrangements that minimize overall device complexity while achieving automated functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 autoinjector provides a user-friendly, reliable, and complete medication delivery mechanism, ensuring proper dose administration with minimal user effort and providing visual confirmation of the injection process.

Implementation Method 1

a drive spring biasing the plunger relative to the carrier

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The carrier includes a compliant beam having a boss adapted to engage an opening in the plunger when the carrier is in the first axial position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12447285B2Autoinjector

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 SANOFI AVENTIS DEUT GMBH

AI summary

An autoinjector includes a case, a needle shroud telescopically coupled to the case, a carrier slidably arranged in the case, a collar rotatably and slidably disposed in the case and coupled to the needle shroud and the carrier, and a trigger button operably coupled to the carrier. The case includes a rib. The needle shroud is movable between a first extended position, a retracted position, and a locked second extended position. The carrier is adapted to hold a medicament container and movable from a first axial position to a second axial position relative to the case. The carrier abuts the rib in the first axial position and the needle shroud is in the first extended position and disengages the rib when the needle shroud is in the retracted position and the trigger button is pressed to advance the carrier to the second axial position.