Implantable Drug Pump Refill System with Wireless Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drug-delivery methods for treating vision-threatening diseases and cancer are hindered by difficulties in accessing anatomical regions, such as the eye, and pose challenges in ensuring proper drug refilling and programming of implanted drug pump devices, including risks of incorrect drug selection and inadequate dosage adjustments.

Innovation Solution

An implantable drug pump system with a refill system that includes a needle for fluid connection to a drug cartridge, electronic circuitry for pump control, and a wireless communication module for verifying drug type and facilitating data exchange, ensuring proper drug selection and programming through electronic labels and external server communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual refilling of implanted drug pump devices is performed, then the device can be refilled in situ, but there is a risk of incorrect drug selection and improper programming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvein situ refilling capabilityVSAvoiddrug selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The refill system automatically reads the optical ID on the drug cartridge, retrieves the corresponding drug delivery protocol from the database, and programs the implanted device without requiring manual intervention for these critical steps, thereby eliminating human error in drug selection and programming

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system verifies the drug cartridge ID against the required drug type and confirms proper device programming before completing the refill, providing automatic verification feedback to ensure correctness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If refill information is manually entered into the implanted device, then refilling can be performed, but errors in dosage protocol entry may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefill speedVSAvoiddosage protocol accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual data entry with automatic electronic data transfer between the refill system, central database, and implanted device, eliminating human error in dosage protocol entry while maintaining rapid refill capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically copies the correct dosage protocol from the central database based on the drug cartridge ID and transfers it to the implanted device, ensuring accuracy without manual transcription

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If sustained-release implants are used to treat vision-threatening diseases, then drug delivery to the eye is achieved, but the implants must be removed after supply is exhausted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug delivery capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The implantable drug pump is designed with a refillable reservoir that can be replenished multiple times through the refill system, transforming a static single-use implant into a dynamic reusable device that maintains drug delivery capability without removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the implant after single use, the system enables recovery and reuse of the implanted device by refilling its reservoir with new drug cartridges, reducing the need for repeated implantations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Ease of manufacture

If chemical labels on drug cartridges are manually read, then drug identification is possible, but automatic verification of proper drug selection is not ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug identification capabilityVSAvoidautomatic verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual visual inspection of chemical labels with automatic optical scanning and electronic verification, reading the optical ID on the cartridge and automatically confirming it matches the required drug type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides automatic verification feedback by comparing the scanned cartridge ID with the required drug information from the database, alerting the operator if there is a mismatch

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10286146B2Implantable drug pumps and refill devices therefor

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 MINIPUMPS LLC

AI summary

A system for refilling the drug reservoir of an implanted drug pump device may facilitate wireless data exchange between the refill system and the implanted device, e.g., to verify proper drug selection prior to commencement of the refill process. Via the wireless link, the drug pump device and refill system can exchange data such as, for example, refill information (including, e.g., a type of drug), a drug pump device history, a drug dosage log, and/or a drug-delivery protocol. Further, the refill system can facilitate reprogramming the implanted device wirelessly.