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Development of Auto-Injection Systems through the TRIZ Problem-Solving Method
Desarrollo de sistemas de autoinyección mediante el método de resolución de problemas TRIZ
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.116402Keywords:
syringe design, Ishikawa diagram, mechanical design and analysis, recyclable materials and sustainability (en)diseño de jeringas, diagrama de Ishikawa, diseño y análisis mecánico, materiales reciclables y sostenibilidad, innovación en dispositivos médicos (es)
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This study presents a comprehensive approach to the redesign of auto-injection syringe systems, employing the TRIZ problem-solving framework along with Ishikawa analysis. The proposed design aims to address common challenges, including usability issues, high production costs, complex assembly procedures, and hygiene considerations. By leveraging the TRIZ methodology, this work successfully identified and addressed technical contradictions, leading to the development of an innovative auto-injection syringe. This design incorporates a recyclable polypropylene random copolymer, which not only reduces manufacturing costs but also promotes environmental sustainability. Replacing flexible springs with inexpensive rubber bands enhances the design's affordability and usability. This change lowers costs and improves user-friendliness, allowing patients to operate the system more easily while upholding performance standards. According to engineering validations carried out through static and dynamic simulations in NX Nastran, the design safely withstands up to 10 N of applied force, with its maximum stress levels remaining below 5.2 MPa, well within the material’s 27.5 MPa yield strength. While prior studies have reported ergonomic or functional improvements, they often lack a systematic engineering approach to address design contradictions. This study fills that gap by uniquely integrating the TRIZ and Ishikawa approaches to develop an optimized, user-friendly, and sustainable autoinjector. As a result, our new design meets user needs and adheres to the industry’s safety and efficacy standards. This research underscores the effectiveness of integrating the aforementioned methodologies to create practical and efficient solutions for patients requiring regular self-injection, thereby contributing to improved healthcare outcomes and a more sustainable medical device industry.
Este estudio presenta un enfoque integral para el rediseño de sistemas de jeringas autoinyectables, empleando el marco de resolución de problemas TRIZ junto con el análisis Ishikawa. El diseño propuesto busca abordar desafíos comunes, incluidos problemas de usabilidad, altos costos de producción, procedimientos de ensamblaje complejos y consideraciones de higiene. Aprovechando la metodología TRIZ, este trabajo logró identificar y resolver contradicciones técnicas, lo que condujo al desarrollo de una innovadora jeringa autoinyectable. Este diseño incorpora un copolímero aleatorio de polipropileno reciclable, lo cual no solo reduce los costos de fabricación, sino que también promueve la sostenibilidad ambiental. La sustitución de resortes flexibles por bandas elásticas económicas mejora la asequibilidad y la facilidad de uso del diseño. Este cambio reduce los costos y mejora la usabilidad, permitiendo que los pacientes operen el sistema con mayor facilidad sin comprometer los estándares de rendimiento. Según validaciones de ingeniería realizadas mediante simulaciones estáticas y dinámicas en NX Nastran, el diseño soporta hasta 10 N de fuerza aplicada de manera segura, con niveles máximos de tensión que se mantienen por debajo de los 5.2 MPa, muy por debajo del límite elástico del material, que es de 27.5 MPa. Si bien han reportado mejoras ergonómicas o funcionales, los estudios anteriores a menudo carecen de un enfoque sistemático de ingeniería para abordar contradicciones de diseño. Este estudio llena ese vacío al integrar de manera única los enfoques TRIZ e Ishikawa para desarrollar un autoinyector optimizado, fácil de usar y sostenible. Como resultado, nuestro nuevo diseño satisface las necesidades del usuario y cumple con los estándares de seguridad y eficacia de la industria. Esta investigación subraya la eficacia de integrar las metodologías mencionadas para crear soluciones prácticas y eficientes para pacientes que requieren autoinyecciones regulares, contribuyendo así a mejorar los resultados sanitarios y a una industria de dispositivos médicos más sostenible.
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