Wearable Auto-Injector with Nested Vial and Mediated Fluid Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a challenge in packaging medical devices to enable self-administration of drug doses through a wearable form factor that includes a syringe, drug vial, and a source of stored energy for auto-injection, requiring a compact and efficient design for rapid drug delivery.
Innovation Solution
A wearable drug delivery device with a needle assembly and drug vial arranged side-by-side, featuring a handheld portion with a trigger mechanism that activates a penetration spring for needle extension and a vial spring for drug delivery, allowing for fluid communication through an integral drug delivery port, and including safety features like a safety guard and dose confirmation module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the medical device is packaged in a compact wearable form factor, then the device can be worn and carried conveniently, but the components (syringe, drug vial, energy source) become difficult to arrange and connect properly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the drug vial inside the syringe barrel, with the plunger extending through the vial. The needle assembly is nested within the handheld portion, and the entire mechanism is contained within a compact wearable housing. This nested arrangement allows multiple components to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, achieving a space-efficient design that meets the wearable form factor requirement while maintaining proper component connectivity and function.
2Volume of moving object
If the needle assembly and drug vial are arranged side-by-side, then the device achieves a compact wearable design, but the fluid communication path becomes more complex to establish
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary fluid pathway consisting of a fluid communication channel and a valve mechanism that connects the drug vial to the needle assembly. When the plunger is actuated, it forces drug through the vial wall into the fluid communication channel, which then delivers the drug to the needle assembly and subsequently to the patient. This intermediary pathway enables fluid communication between side-by-side components without requiring direct physical connection, thereby maintaining the compact layout while ensuring reliable drug delivery.
3Speed
If a trigger mechanism is used to activate the penetration spring and vial spring, then rapid drug delivery is achieved, but the mechanism becomes more complex with multiple moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the needle extension function and drug delivery function into a single integrated trigger mechanism. The trigger, when actuated, simultaneously releases the penetration spring to extend the needle and releases the vial spring to drive the plunger and deliver the drug. This combined mechanism eliminates the need for separate activation systems, reducing overall complexity while achieving rapid simultaneous needle penetration and drug delivery in a single user action.
4Reliability
If safety features like safety guard and dose confirmation module are added, then user safety is enhanced, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The safety guard serves multiple functions: it protects the needle during storage and transport, prevents accidental needle activation, and can act as a user interface element indicating device status. The dose confirmation module is integrated with the existing trigger mechanism and display elements, using the same structural components for both activation and confirmation purposes. By designing these safety features to perform multiple functions and share existing structural elements, the patent minimizes the additional volume and complexity while maximizing safety benefits.
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
Enables rapid and efficient self-administration of drug doses by ensuring proper needle penetration depth through impedance confirmation, enhancing user safety and convenience with a compact, wearable design.
Implementation Method 1
a penetration spring, the penetration spring being movable towards the distal end of the handheld portion to an extended position by the penetration spring when the penetration spring is activated by the trigger portion sliding towards the proximal end of the handheld portion
Implementation Method 2
a vial spring, the drug vial being moveable towards the distal end of the handheld portion to a seated position by the vial spring when the vial spring is activated by the trigger portion sliding towards the proximal end of the handheld portion
Implementation Method 3
ensuring proper needle penetration depth through impedance confirmation
Data Source
AI summary
A drug self-delivery device comprising a body portion containing a drug vial and a needle assembly, where the body portion is slidably engaged to a trigger portion. When engaged by a user pressing the trigger portion against the user's flesh, the needle assembly relative to the drug vial so as to align a needle port with an integral drug delivery port connected to the drug vial thereby allowing fluid flow of medication through the needle. Seals engaged by a penetration spring prevent loss of medication and prevent the need for direct connection between the needle assembly and the drug vial.