Flexible Drug Container Anti-Pinch Roller Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug delivery systems for long-term, continuous or semi-continuous intravenous drug delivery face challenges such as hold-up volume issues, where drug product becomes trapped in the container, leading to inaccurate dosages, patient anxiety, and waste, due to premature collapse or blockage of the drug container under pressure.
Innovation Solution
The use of a drug delivery device with a flexible container and anti-sealing/anti-pinching features, such as grooves or textured surfaces, and a pressurized vessel with a roller mechanism or inflatable secondary bag to ensure minimal residual volume and prevent premature collapse, allowing for continuous and reliable drug delivery even when the container is folded or pinched.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a flexible drug container is used for long-term intravenous delivery, then portability and wearability are improved, but the container may become sealed or pinched causing hold-up volume and inaccurate dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible drug container that can be worn by patients for long-term intravenous delivery. The flexibility enables portability and wearability while maintaining drug delivery functionality over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
A pump assembly acts as an intermediary device between the flexible container and the patient's vein. The pump controls and regulates drug delivery, preventing hold-up volume issues that would otherwise occur due to container sealing or pinching, thereby ensuring accurate dosing.
2Productivity
If pressure is applied to the drug container to maintain flow, then delivery continuity is improved, but the container may collapse or block causing hold-up volume
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly monitors and regulates pressure applied to the flexible container during drug delivery. This feedback mechanism ensures continuous delivery while preventing excessive pressure that would cause container collapse or blockage, thereby avoiding hold-up volume and maintaining dosage accuracy.
3Volume of moving object
If the container is made compact for wearable applications, then device size is reduced, but the container may pinch or seal causing hold-up volume
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly serves as a mediator between the compact flexible container and the delivery system. It actively manages drug flow to prevent pinching or sealing issues that arise from the container's compact wearable design, ensuring accurate dosing despite the reduced device size.
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 solution ensures complete and accurate delivery of the drug product, reducing patient anxiety and waste, while maintaining the convenience and portability of wearable drug delivery systems by preventing the formation of isolated fluid pouches and allowing for high-pressure handling without blockage.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurized vessel to apply pressure to the flexible container to eject any trapped drug product and prevent premature collapse
Implementation Method 2
a roller mechanism to apply mechanical force to the flexible container to maintain its shape and prevent pinching
Data Source
AI summary
A drug delivery device includes a drug product container, a pressurized vessel, and an urging member. The drug product container can have at least one flexible wall and defining a cavity configured to contain a drug product. The pressurized vessel can contain a gas under pressure. And the urging member is in working connection with the pressurized vessel such that, upon at least partial release of the gas under pressure, the urging member moves from a first portion of the drug product container to a second portion, thereby ejecting at least a portion of the drug product from the drug product container.