Battery-Driven Drug Delivery Device with Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices lack accurate control mechanisms to ensure reliable and precise drug infusion, particularly for highly viscous drugs, and do not effectively detect device malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile, patch-like drug delivery device utilizing a displacement-generating battery with a feedback control system that combines positional information from a displacement sensor with battery cell depletion data to provide accurate drug delivery and detect malfunctions, incorporating a thin-film battery cell with intercalation chemistry and hydraulic amplification for high-pressure infusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a displacement-generating battery is used to drive a miniature drug delivery device, then the device can achieve compact size and portability, but the control accuracy and reliability of drug delivery are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism using a displacement sensor that continuously monitors the actual position of the flexible wall and compares it to the desired position. The controller adjusts the battery discharge rate to correct any deviations, ensuring accurate drug delivery despite the compact battery-driven design. This closed-loop feedback system resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision while preserving the compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical infusion pump mechanisms with a battery-driven flexible wall displacement system. The battery's expansion directly displaces the flexible wall to drive drug infusion, eliminating complex mechanical components. This substitution enables compact device size while maintaining controlled drug delivery through electronic feedback control.
2Quantity of substance
If standard infusion pumps are used, then basic drug delivery function is provided, but they cannot effectively deliver highly viscous drugs or detect device malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement sensor provides continuous feedback on the actual position of the flexible wall, enabling the controller to detect deviations from expected operation that indicate malfunctions. The system compares actual displacement with commanded displacement to identify issues such as occlusions, leaks, or sensor failures, thereby enhancing reliability while maintaining drug delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent delivers highly viscous drugs by dynamically adjusting the battery discharge rate and corresponding flexible wall displacement pressure. The controller modulates the discharge parameters to generate sufficient pressure to overcome the high viscosity resistance, enabling effective delivery of viscous therapeutic antibodies that standard pumps cannot deliver reliably.
3Stress or pressure
If the battery cell expansion is maximized for high-pressure infusion, then the ability to deliver viscous drugs is improved, but the device profile increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from linear battery expansion to radial expansion by positioning the battery cell horizontally with its expansion direction perpendicular to the device's primary length axis. This dimensional change allows the battery to generate high expansion pressure for viscous drug delivery while maintaining a compact device profile, as the expansion occurs in a different spatial dimension rather than extending the device length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic amplification mechanism where the battery's volumetric expansion is transmitted through a fluid medium to generate high pressure at the infusion point. This hydraulic system allows the battery to operate at moderate expansion levels while still achieving the high pressures needed for viscous drug delivery, thereby avoiding the need for excessive battery size or profile.
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
The device achieves accurate and reliable delivery of highly viscous drugs, exceeding the capabilities of standard infusion pumps, with enhanced safety features for detecting malfunctions and optimizing expansion to deliver drugs in the 20-200 centipoise range, enabling higher bioavailability of therapeutic antibodies.
Implementation Method 1
The battery cell is based on the phenomenon of expansion/contraction due to intercalation of ion, a proton, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal into an electrode
Implementation Method 2
The battery cell may be configured to create displacement directly or via internal hydraulic amplification
Data Source
AI summary
A controllable drug delivery device for delivering a liquid injectable drug, the device comprising a drug reservoir (22), a drug administration device (28), a displacement-generating battery (20), and a current-depletion circuit (85), wherein displacement generated by the battery as current is depleted from the battery by the current depletion circuit displaces a wall of the drug reservoir thereby causing the reservoir to expel liquid injectable drug contained therein via the drug administration device, and wherein the drug delivery device further includes a controller (78) that is responsive to a measured parameter indicative of displacement generated by the battery for applying a variable load (80) across the battery in order to provide a substantially constant-current depletion of the battery and thereby cause the drug delivery device to deliver a substantially constant drug delivery rate.