Injection Dart Flow Restrictor for Controlled Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection darts often cause tissue damage and can be ejected from the animal due to rapid injection rates, leading to inconsistent and unreliable drug delivery.
Innovation Solution
A flow restrictor with a unique geometry, featuring a radially outward flange and a frustoconical recess, is positioned at the forward end of the dart body to control the flow rate, ensuring a consistent and reduced injection rate by maintaining the forward end of the flow channel open while allowing deformation at the rear to reduce cross-sectional area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rapid injection rate is used in the dart, then the injection can be delivered quickly and efficiently, but the living tissue is disturbed and the dart may be propelled away from its intended target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the flow rate parameter from rapid to medium-slow through the flow restrictor device. This changes the injection characteristics to maintain tissue stability and prevent dart ejection while still achieving effective drug delivery. The flow restrictor transforms the injection parameters to resolve the contradiction between speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow restrictor acts as an intermediary device between the drug reservoir and the injection site. It mediates the flow of medication, controlling the rate at which the drug is delivered to the animal. This intermediary component enables the system to achieve reliable, controlled injection without the harmful effects of rapid injection.
2Ease of operation
If a medium to rapid rate injection dart is used, then the injection can be administered from a distance, but the injection rate disturbs living tissue and causes partial injection
Solution Approach 1:
The flow restrictor changes the injection rate parameter from medium-rapid to medium-slow, which maintains the remote administration capability while improving injection consistency. The device ensures that the drug is delivered at a controlled rate that prevents tissue disturbance and complete injection failure.
3Productivity
If the flow channel bore is completely restricted, then the flow rate is controlled, but the restrictor may close off completely under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The flow restrictor employs local quality by having different structural characteristics at different locations. The frustoconical recess creates a localized restriction zone that controls flow rate while the flange portion maintains structural integrity and prevents complete closure. This local differentiation allows the device to control flow while remaining reliable under pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow restrictor design allows for dynamic response to pressure changes. The frustoconical recess geometry enables the restrictor to deform in a controlled manner under pressure, maintaining flow restriction while preventing complete closure. This dynamic behavior ensures reliable operation across varying pressure conditions.
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 solution ensures a controlled and consistent drug delivery with minimal trauma to animal tissues, preventing the dart from being ejected due to excessive pressure, and allowing for easy filling and adaptability to various dart designs.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for deformation at the rear to reduce cross-sectional area
Implementation Method 2
the frustoconical recess is provided such that a flat annular surface or rim portion remains at the rear end of the restrictor body and such that a second inner flat annular surface or rim portion remains at the rear opening of the flow channel bore
Data Source
AI summary
An improved injection dart is disclosed. A flow restrictor positioned at a forward end of a dart body is provided. The flow restrictor has a generally cylindrical restrictor body portion and a radially outward extending flange portion at a forward end thereof. The flange is securely held in position. The restrictor body also having a recess in a rearward end. The flange portion holds said restrictor in a position where an inner bore of a cannula is precisely aligned with the restrictor bore. The restrictor acts to diminish a variable flow rate so that all flow rates above a maximum flow rate are restricted to be less than the maximum flow rate. The flange also keeps a forward end of the flow channel bore open but allows for radially inward deformation of the restrictor at a rear end of said flow channel bore.