Collimated Particle Stream for Transdermal Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transdermal drug delivery methods face challenges such as high resistance from the stratum corneum, pain, bruising, and inefficiency due to the difficulty in penetrating the skin, particularly with liquid-based high velocity jet injectors which suffer from splashing, contamination, and high energy requirements.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a gas source to produce a collimated stream of particles that penetrate the skin perpendicularly, forming pores for drug delivery, which reduces pain and bruising, and provides precise and controlled drug distribution by using a collimator to create a focused beam of particles with adjustable momentum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid-based high velocity jet injectors are used to deliver drugs to the patient, then the drug can penetrate the stratum corneum, but it causes splashing, contamination, and high energy requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a gas-based jet injector instead of liquid-based, utilizing pneumatic principles to deliver drug particles. The gas stream carries particles through a collimator to penetrate the stratum corneum without causing splashing or contamination, as gases do not splash like liquids. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining penetration reliability while eliminating harmful splashing effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from liquid to gas for the jet medium. By using gas instead of liquid, the system maintains the ability to penetrate the skin barrier while eliminating the harmful properties of liquid jets (splashing, contamination). The gas stream parameters (velocity, pressure) are controlled to ensure effective particle delivery without the drawbacks of liquid-based systems.
2Reliability
If liquid-based high velocity jet injectors are used to deliver drugs to the patient, then the drug can penetrate the stratum corneum, but it causes pain and bruising due to lack of control over liquid penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state from liquid to gas, which provides superior control over penetration. Gas streams can be precisely controlled in terms of velocity and direction, allowing the drug particles to penetrate the stratum corneum with controlled momentum. This prevents the uncontrolled liquid penetration that causes pain and bruising, while maintaining reliable drug delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the liquid-based mechanical jet system with a gas-based pneumatic system. The gas stream provides a more controllable delivery mechanism that reduces mechanical trauma to the tissue. The particles are carried by the gas flow, allowing precise control over penetration depth and angle, thereby reducing pain and bruising compared to liquid jets.
3Reliability
If liquid-based high velocity jet injectors are used to deliver drugs to the patient, then the drug can penetrate the stratum corneum, but it has high energy requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic gas-based system that requires lower energy input compared to liquid-based high velocity jets. Gas streams can be generated at lower pressures and velocities while still achieving effective particle penetration. The gas molecules themselves provide the kinetic energy needed to deliver particles through the stratum corneum, reducing the overall energy requirements of the system.
4Measurement precision
If a collimated stream of particles is used to penetrate the tissue, then precise and controlled drug distribution is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator is designed as a multi-functional component that serves multiple purposes: it collimates the gas stream, focuses the particle delivery, and controls the penetration angle. By integrating these functions into a single component structure, the patent achieves precise drug distribution control without proportionally increasing device complexity. The collimator acts as a universal element that handles stream formation, focusing, and directional control simultaneously.
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
This approach enhances drug delivery by minimizing pain and bruising, improving control and reliability, and allowing for precise dosing, while reducing recoil and splashing, thus overcoming the limitations of existing needleless injection techniques.
Implementation Method 1
a first collimator fluidly connected with the gas source and adapted to form a collimated stream of the first plurality of particles entrained in the gas
Implementation Method 2
form a collimated stream of the first plurality of particles entrained in the gas
Implementation Method 3
The collimated stream of the first plurality of particles will penetrate the tissue in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Delivery devices, methods and systems are provided for the delivery of particles into a biological tissue. The device includes a gas source comprising a gas or capable of selectively producing a gas; a first particle source comprising a first plurality of particles; a first collimator fluidly connected with the gas source and adapted to form a collimated stream of the first plurality of particles entrained in the gas. The device also includes a tissue-interfacing surface adapted to interface with a surface of the tissue and orient the first collimator with the tissue such that the collimated stream of the first plurality of particles will penetrate the tissue in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the tissue.