Vacuum Hold Assist for Stable Medicament Delivery Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Administering an injection with medicament delivery devices can be challenging due to difficulties in holding the device in the correct position during medicament dispensing, leading to pain, discomfort, wet injection sites, early device removal, and partial medicament delivery.
Innovation Solution
A hold assistance device with a housing and a movable piston that creates a vacuum force to maintain the device in position, utilizing a chamber that evacuates air and resists movement until the medicament is fully dispensed, then allows air flow to reduce the vacuum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a user manually holds the medicament delivery device in position during dispensing, then the device can be kept stable, but the user experiences discomfort and may remove the device early
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vacuum hold mechanism as an intermediary between the user's hand and the injection site. The vacuum chamber creates a holding force that substitutes for continuous manual pressure, allowing the device to maintain position without requiring the user to constantly apply force. This mediator (vacuum force) takes over the stabilizing function, freeing the user from the burden of manual holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-holding through the vacuum mechanism. Once the vacuum is engaged, the system automatically maintains the holding force without requiring ongoing user intervention. The vacuum chamber and piston work together to create a self-sustaining holding force that keeps the device in position throughout the dispensing process, making the system self-service in terms of position maintenance.
2Productivity
If the device is held firmly to prevent movement, then medicament delivery is complete, but the user applies excessive force causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic vacuum system to provide the holding force. The vacuum chamber, piston, and air evacuation mechanism create a controlled atmospheric pressure differential that generates the holding force. This pneumatic system replaces manual mechanical force with a distributed atmospheric pressure force, which is gentler and more evenly distributed, reducing discomfort while ensuring complete medicament delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the holding force parameter through the vacuum mechanism. Rather than requiring the user to apply a fixed high force, the vacuum system maintains an optimal holding force throughout the dispensing process. The force parameter is controlled by the vacuum level and piston position, allowing the system to maintain just enough force to ensure complete delivery without exceeding comfort thresholds.
3Ease of operation
If the device allows easy removal, then the user can remove it quickly, but the device may be removed before medicament dispensing is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The holding mechanism transitions from a static manual hold to a dynamic vacuum-controlled hold. The vacuum system can be engaged and disengaged through piston movement, creating a dynamic holding force that adapts to the dispensing process. The system remains held during dispensing (reliability mode) and can be easily released afterward (ease of operation mode), providing dynamic control over the holding state.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum hold is engaged in advance of the actual dispensing need and maintained throughout the process. By establishing the holding force beforehand and maintaining it continuously, the system ensures the device remains in position for complete medicament delivery. The preliminary engagement of the vacuum prevents premature removal, while the pre-established holding mechanism allows for easy removal once dispensing is complete.
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
Facilitates steady device holding during medicament delivery, reducing discomfort and ensuring complete dispensing without early removal, while minimizing user effort and maintaining needle stability.
Implementation Method 1
the chamber is at least partially evacuated of air and movement of the piston towards the distal end of the chamber is resisted by a vacuum force
Data Source
AI summary
A hold assistance device for use with a medicament delivery device is described. The hold assistance device includes: a housing configured to be coupled to a medicament delivery device; a chamber for containing air, the chamber having a proximal end and a distal end; and a piston movable within the chamber between the proximal and distal ends of the chamber, wherein the piston is arrangeable in an activated position inside the chamber in which the piston is arranged proximate to the proximal end of the chamber such that the chamber is at least partially evacuated of air and movement of the piston towards the distal end of the chamber is resisted by a vacuum force.