Needleless Injector with Concentric Pyrotechnic Charge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needleless injectors lack reliable control over pressure profiles for efficient penetration and depth of injection, as they do not utilize a pyrotechnic charge composed of a combination of central and peripheral energetic materials with different combustion rates, which affects the reproducibility and reliability of the injection process.

Innovation Solution

A needleless injection device featuring a pyrotechnic gas generator with a central energetic material surrounded by a peripheral energetic material, where the two materials have distinct combustion rates, allowing for controlled pressure profiles through a twin combustion regime, ensuring effective skin penetration and depth of injection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single pyrotechnic charge is used, then the device structure is simple, but the pressure profile control is insufficient for reliable penetration and depth of injection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability and reproducibility of injectionVSAvoidpyrotechnic charge structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pyrotechnic charge is segmented into two distinct components: a central energetic material and a peripheral energetic material. Each material has different combustion characteristics, with the central material providing initial high pressure for skin penetration and the peripheral material maintaining pressure for injection depth control. This segmentation enables independent optimization of each material's combustion rate to achieve reliable and reproducible pressure profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the pyrotechnic charge are assigned different combustion qualities. The central energetic material is selected for its rapid combustion to generate the pressure spike needed for penetration, while the peripheral energetic material is selected for its slower, more sustained combustion to maintain pressure during injection. This local differentiation of combustion characteristics ensures both penetration and depth control are optimized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the pyrotechnic charge geometry is modified to control pressure profiles, then pressure control improves, but the injector geometry becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure profile controlVSAvoidinjector geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the geometric characteristics of the injector, the invention changes the chemical and combustion parameters of the pyrotechnic charge. By selecting energetic materials with specific combustion rates and arranging them in concentric configuration, the pressure profile is controlled through material properties rather than geometric modifications, thereby maintaining simple injector geometry while achieving reliable pressure control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If a twin combustion regime is implemented, then penetration and depth control are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepenetration and depth controlVSAvoidpyrotechnic charge production

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pyrotechnic charge is structured with the central energetic material nested within the peripheral energetic material in a concentric arrangement. This nested configuration allows both materials to be manufactured separately using well-proven, simple processes and then assembled together, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving the twin combustion regime necessary for precise penetration and depth control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 reliable and reproducible injection by inducing distinct phases in pressure variation, ensuring complete delivery of the active principle with precise penetration and depth control, maintaining high reliability and safety without modifying the injector geometry.

Implementation Method 1

a pyrotechnic charge composed of a central energetic material surrounded by a second, peripheral energetic material, the two energetic materials having different rates of combustion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS7981075B2Device for needleless injection operating with two concentric energetic materials

Publication Date: 2011.07.19 CROSSJECT

AI summary

A needleless injection device used for intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections is disclosed. The device includes a pyrotechnic gas generator, at least one piston, a reserve of liquid active principle and an injection nozzle. The generator includes a pyrotechnic charge composed of a central energetic material that is surrounded by a second peripheral energetic material. The entire outer surface of the central energetic material contacts the inner surface of the peripheral energetic material. The two energetic materials have different rates of combustion.