Training Devices: Use, Purpose, And Design

An auto-injector is a training device used for delivering a drug. It is usually preloaded and in syringe form. And used in treating diseases like arthritis, diabetes, and allergies. Medicating through auto-injectors improves accuracy and dosage than manual injections. Hence auto-injectors are preferred. However, they should be carefully used as they can prove fatal if handled incorrectly. So, the patient should be well aware of the design, usage, and handling of auto-injectors before actually using them. Hence auto injector training devices are used.  They are designed to improve patient’s experience and address the barriers of legacy systems.

 Benefits of training devices:

 Auto injectors contain drugs like epinephrine, Adalimumab, Secukinumab, and Etanercept. Accidental usage of auto-injectors can cause neuropraxia, reperfusion pain, numbness, etc.About 190 cases of epinephrine injected unintentionally were reported to U.S. poison control centres between 1994 and 2007.[1].And around 6000 cases between 2013 and 2014.[2].

Training devices were thus introduced to educate patients about the proper usage and to avoid fatal accidents. These devices can be used multiple times by the user to become practiced and aware of the physical characteristics of injectors so that they can put the knowledge into action during an emergency. To familiarize patients with the auto-injectors trainers are designed to replicate the functionality of the actual device. They look similar but do not contain any needle or drug in them. Since auto-injectors are self-administered without the supervision of a professional it is very important for the company to ensure patient safety. In order to make patients psychologically comfortable manufacturers have started supplying them with trainer kits.

Patients can now successfully practice and address their concerns and give feedback on improving the tool. Auto-injector training devices are used in training nurses, physicians, and other frontline professionals. After this professional’s train patients in handling such devices and use them to avoid unintentional injuries.

How to use  a training device:

Devices are labelled with trainers to recognize them and are in a different color than the original ones. There are two specific colors at the edge of the trainer pen-like blue and orange.

Firstly hold it with an orange tip pointing down and blue facing upwards.

Then remove the blue tip without bending it.

Now press the orange tip to mid outer thigh and push it after swinging it till a click sound is heard.

Finally hold it for about 3 seconds to simulate it.

The above process can be repeated after resetting the trainer kit by placing the blue cap back and pressing the orange tip on a hard surface.

Purpose of using auto-injector training device :

Severe allergic reactions are caused by insects, peanuts, seashells, and in extreme cases, they can be life-threatening. It can affect the skin, respiratory system, gut, and cardiovascular systems. Some of the symptoms are swelling, itching, breathing difficulty, irregular heartbeat, etc. Patients prescribed EpiPens must use these whenever these symptoms occur. These auto-injectors release the drug immediately, counter-attacking the allergens and protecting patients from life-threatening situations. Therefore, knowledge of auto-injectors is very necessary. And so training kits were designed to help patients with the use of auto-injectors and not cause any unintentional injury while administering it.

Design of training devices

Mechanical design is the primary step in designing auto-injector trainer devices. The exterior of these devices resembles the feel, look, weight and other physical characteristics of the real one. While the interior is meticulously designed to meet the cognitive, physical, and emotional needs of the patients. It is made resettable and reusable for a better experience. It also has the feature of plunger simulation which takes the therapeutic entities into account and displays the dose administered through a viewing window where patients can know about the time taken to inject drug from auto-injectors.

There are different types of auto-injectors like Emerade, EpiPen, and Jext. And are used according to their specific purposes. So, the patient should be aware of the injector using and its purpose. To combat the improper usage of devices like auto-injectors, training devices are essential. And strictly recommended before usage of the actual device. So that patients are fully aware of the injection point, the plunger speed, and other important features of auto-injectors.