Dermal Patch Vacuum Pin for Interstitial Fluid Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for monitoring biomarkers over time are invasive, painful, and cumbersome, particularly for children, and existing continuous monitoring devices often suffer from low sensitivity and specificity.
Innovation Solution
A dermal patch system with a cartridge that attaches to the skin, featuring a lancet with needles and a vacuum pin to collect physiological samples, which are drawn to a sample collection pad using capillary flow, wicking, and gravity, with the vacuum pin creating a vacuum to assist in sample collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional invasive techniques are used to draw blood samples, then biomarker monitoring can be achieved, but the process becomes painful and cumbersome for subjects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful invasive blood draw procedure and replaces it with an interstitial fluid collection method using a dermal patch. The patch collects fluid through the skin without needle penetration, thereby maintaining biomarker monitoring capability while eliminating pain and discomfort for the subject.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance - interstitial fluid - that can be collected through a non-invasive dermal patch. This intermediary fluid contains biomarkers that reflect the subject's physiological state, allowing indirect monitoring without direct blood extraction, thus improving subject comfort while maintaining measurement utility.
2Duration of action of moving object
If existing continuous monitoring devices are used, then temporal monitoring of biomarkers is enabled, but sensitivity and specificity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sampling parameter from blood (invasive) to interstitial fluid (non-invasive), and implements continuous sampling over time through the dermal patch. This allows temporal monitoring while maintaining analytical precision by collecting sufficient fluid volume and using appropriate detection methods for the interstitial fluid matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous useful action by enabling ongoing collection of interstitial fluid through the dermal patch over extended periods. The patch maintains continuous contact with the skin and continuously collects fluid, providing temporal monitoring data without interruption, thereby achieving both continuity and precision.
3Measurement precision
If multiple blood draws are performed for temporal monitoring, then biomarker progression can be assessed, but subject discomfort increases and cooperation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the painful blood draw procedure entirely and extracts only the necessary biomarker information through non-invasive interstitial fluid collection. This allows multiple measurements to be taken from the same subject over time without repeated needle insertions, maintaining assessment capability while improving cooperation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dermal patch enables self-service sampling where the subject can wear the patch continuously and fluid collection occurs automatically without requiring repeated subject participation in painful procedures. The patch performs continuous collection in the background, allowing longitudinal monitoring while minimizing subject burden and maintaining cooperation.
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 dermal patch system allows for non-invasive, efficient collection and storage of physiological samples, reducing discomfort and improving cooperation, while enhancing sensitivity and specificity in biomarker monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum pin creates a vacuum within the cartridge when moved form an undeployed position to a deployed position. The vacuum created by the vacuum pin draws the physiological sample to the sample collection pad.
Implementation Method 2
capillary flow, wicking and gravity assist the vacuum pin in drawing the physiological sample towards the collection pad
Implementation Method 3
capillary flow, wicking and gravity assist the vacuum pin in drawing the physiological sample towards the collection pad
Implementation Method 4
capillary flow, wicking and gravity assist the vacuum pin in drawing the physiological sample towards the collection pad
Data Source
AI summary
A dermal patch system for collecting a physiological sample includes a cartridge configured to attach to the skin of a subject. The cartridge includes a bottom material layer, a middle material layer, a top material layer, and a sample collection pad. The top layer and the middle layer define a vacuum pin receptacle and the vacuum pin is disposed within the vacuum pin receptacle. The vacuum pin creates a vacuum within the cartridge when moved to a deployed position. The system further includes a lancet with a needle(s). The lancet is configured to move the needle(s) from an undeployed position to a deployed position when engaged with into the cartridge. The needle(s) is configured to draw a physiological sample from the subject when the needle(s) is in the deployed position. The vacuum created by the vacuum pin draws the physiological sample to the sample collection pad.