Enhanced Drive Assembly for Efficient and Safe Drug Delivery

Publication ID: 24-11857769_0001_PTD

Published: October 28, 2025

Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Drive Assembly for Efficient and Safe Drug Delivery,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857769_0001_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857769_0001_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,769.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An improved drive assembly for a drug delivery system that enhances safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability while reducing overall weight and waste.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent's drive assembly, while effective, has limitations in terms of weight, material usage, and environmental impact. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing lightweight, high-strength materials, rechargeable batteries, and advanced sensors to prevent accidental air injection.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced drive assembly features a plunger member made of a lightweight, high-strength material, reducing the overall weight of the drive assembly. The drive assembly is powered by a rechargeable battery, minimizing waste and environmental impact. Additionally, the drive assembly includes a sensor to detect the presence of air in the container, preventing accidental injection of air into the patient. The plunger member also includes a built-in safety feature to prevent accidental activation of the drive assembly. Furthermore, the drive assembly features a quick-release mechanism for easy assembly and disassembly.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces novel features such as the use of lightweight, high-strength materials, rechargeable batteries, advanced sensors, and built-in safety features, which are not present in the original patent. These features provide a significant improvement over the original drive assembly, enhancing safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the enhanced drive assembly could include different materials, geometries, or actuation mechanisms. For example, the plunger member could be made of a composite material, or the drive assembly could be powered by a different type of energy source, such as a spring or a motor.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced drive assembly has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the field of drug delivery systems. The improved safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability features make it an attractive solution for pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and patients.

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Medical device engineering, specifically drug delivery systems and injection device mechanisms, focusing on mechanical design of drive assemblies and actuation systems for medical injectors

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A mechanical engineer with expertise in medical device design, familiar with injection system components, materials science, battery technologies, and safety mechanisms for medical devices

Obviousness Rationale

A person of ordinary skill would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable improvements to the existing drive assembly design, utilizing known techniques in materials selection, power sources, and safety mechanisms that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner seeking to optimize drug delivery systems.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Plunger member configured to engage and move a stopper within a container

PTD Variation

Plunger member made of lightweight, high-strength material to reduce overall weight

Obviousness Reasoning

Material selection for weight reduction is a standard design optimization technique, and a PHOSITA would recognize that lightweight materials like composites or advanced alloys are predictable solutions for reducing device weight

Source Patent Element

Drive assembly for drug delivery system

PTD Variation

Incorporating a rechargeable battery power source

Obviousness Reasoning

Replacing traditional power sources with rechargeable batteries is a known design choice in medical devices, offering improved sustainability and user convenience with predictable technical benefits

Source Patent Element

Plunger actuation mechanism

PTD Variation

Adding a sensor to detect air presence in the container

Obviousness Reasoning

Safety sensors are a well-established technique in medical device design, and a PHOSITA would find it obvious to incorporate air detection to prevent potential patient harm

Source Patent Element

Drive assembly mechanical components

PTD Variation

Quick-release mechanism for easy assembly and disassembly

Obviousness Reasoning

Modular design and quick-release mechanisms are standard engineering approaches for improving device manufacturability and user interaction, representing a predictable design evolution

Source Patent Element

Basic drive assembly structure

PTD Variation

Built-in safety feature to prevent accidental activation

Obviousness Reasoning

Implementing additional safety locks or activation prevention mechanisms is a standard approach in medical device design to mitigate user error risks

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857769, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the variations disclosed in the Published Technical Disclosure to be obvious extensions of the prior art, representing predictable technical improvements using known design techniques and standard optimization strategies in medical device engineering.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,857,769
Title	Drive assembly and spacer for drug delivery system
Assignee(s)	Becton, Dickinson and Company