Cell Injection Pump Control for Consistent Delivery and Occlusion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a system that enables consistent and accurate delivery of cell therapies, such as beta cells or cartilage cells, through cell injection, with features like quick fill of the injection needle, delivery accuracy, and occlusion detection, while allowing for adjustable pump rates and user-friendly operation.
Innovation Solution
A handheld injection apparatus with a disposable syringe pump system that includes a housing, a syringe barrel, a plunger with a lead screw, an electric motor, and a pressure sensor, where the controller adjusts the motor speed based on pressure signals to ensure consistent delivery and detect occlusions, and is designed for single-use sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a manual syringe injection system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the delivery precision and consistency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical injection with an automated electromechanical system featuring a motor-driven lead screw mechanism. This substitution enables precise control of plunger movement and injection rate, achieving consistent delivery of cellular mixtures while reducing operator variability and improving manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates pressure sensors that provide real-time feedback during injection. The system monitors pressure changes to detect occlusions and adjust the injection rate accordingly, ensuring consistent delivery. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain precise control without requiring overly complex mechanical structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed pump rate system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different injection situations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic pump rate control system where the injection rate can be adjusted based on real-time pressure feedback and clinical requirements. The motor-driven lead screw mechanism allows variable speed control, enabling the system to adapt to different injection situations such as quick fill versus controlled delivery, without requiring multiple fixed-rate pumps.
3Reliability
If a reusable injection system is used, then the cost per use is low, but the risk of contamination and sterilization complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable syringe and needle assembly that is pre-sterilized and single-use. This eliminates the need for complex sterilization processes and reduces contamination risk, as each injection uses a fresh, sterile component. The disposable nature ensures reliability without requiring elaborate sterilization infrastructure.
4Productivity
If a rapid injection system is used, then the productivity is high, but the risk of occlusion and delivery errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates pressure sensors that continuously monitor injection pressure during rapid delivery. When an occlusion is detected through pressure changes, the system automatically alerts the operator and can pause injection. This feedback mechanism enables high productivity through rapid injection while maintaining reliability by detecting and preventing delivery errors.
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 system provides consistent and accurate delivery of cellular mixtures to organs, ensuring efficient fill, accurate injection, and occlusion detection, while being user-friendly and disposable for single-use sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
a plunger including a lead screw, the plunger disposed in the syringe barrel a mechanism to drive the lead screw toward the closed end of the syringe barrel
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor mounted in the housing and configured to measure the pressure of liquid in the syringe barrel
Implementation Method 3
an electric motor to drive the mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to enable treatment through cell therapy. The system can enable cell injection such as, for example, injecting beta cells/islets, cartilage cells, fat cells, and others. The system and method ensure that the delivery rate and delivered volume of the material pumped through a tube and into the injection needle is consistent over the course of the start-operation-stop process from run to run. The system and method can automatically stop delivery and alarm if an occlusion is detected during delivery.