Biomimetic Platform for Quantifying Injection-Induced Tissue Swelling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for quantifying injection-induced pain and discomfort (IPD) caused by biologics are subjective and inadequate, posing challenges in the administration and development of injection devices and affecting patient quality of life.
Innovation Solution
A biomimetic platform is developed to quantify spatiotemporal tissue swelling during biologic injections, using engineered tissue constructs and digital image correlation to measure mechanical stress and interstitial fluid pressure, which stimulates nociceptors and correlates with IPD.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If subjective assessment methods are used to evaluate injection-induced pain and discomfort, then the assessment process is simple, but the measurement precision and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a biomimetic tissue construct that copies the mechanical and structural properties of native subcutaneous tissue. This engineered tissue model allows objective measurement of injection-induced swelling without requiring complex in vivo monitoring systems, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces subjective human assessment with an engineered tissue system that translates mechanical swelling into measurable physical changes. The tissue construct acts as a mechanical transducer, converting the complex physiological response into observable deformation that can be quantified objectively
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive spatiotemporal measurement of tissue swelling is implemented, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and measurement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates fluorescently labeled fibroblasts within the tissue construct, which emit light signals that change in response to mechanical deformation. This optical signaling mechanism enables high-resolution spatiotemporal tracking of swelling dynamics without requiring complex mechanical sensors or imaging systems
Solution Approach 2:
The fluorescently labeled cells serve as intermediary elements that mediate between the mechanical swelling process and the measurement system. These labeled cells translate mechanical deformation into optical signals that are easier to detect and measure, reducing the difficulty of spatiotemporal measurement
3Reliability
If engineered tissue constructs with labeled cells are used, then the measurement precision and predictive capability improve, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary labeling of fibroblasts with fluorescent markers before embedding them in the tissue construct. This advance preparation allows the cells to be readily identifiable during measurement without adding complexity to the final assembly process, improving reliability while maintaining ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the engineered tissue construct: the labeled fibroblasts simultaneously serve as structural components, mechanical sensors, and optical reporters. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate measurement systems, thereby improving predictive accuracy without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a platform and method to quantify spatiotemporal tissue swelling during biologics injection, and to predict associated increase in the mechanical stress and interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) of tissues. Accurate measure and estimation of tissue swelling, thus, can be quantitative and predictive indicator of the IPD.