Fluid Distribution Assembly Snap-Fit Collet for Microneedle Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transdermal drug delivery apparatuses face challenges such as variable microneedle penetration due to device placement and force, air bubbles in medicine, and inconsistent medicine delivery due to pressure variations, affecting steady state concentration in the bloodstream.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery apparatus with a snap-fit, rotating connection between a collet assembly and a fluid distribution assembly, featuring flexible tabs and protrusions for secure engagement, and a method of assembly that ensures consistent positioning and rotation to prevent additional rotation, facilitating uniform medicine distribution through microneedles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a conventional needle is used for subcutaneous delivery, then a large quantity of medicine can be delivered at one time, but this creates a spike in bioavailability and causes significant pain to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the medicine delivery into multiple small doses through an array of microneedles (e.g., 100-1000 needles) that simultaneously deliver medication. This segmentation distributes the total quantity across many small channels, achieving both comfortable delivery and controlled release kinetics for steady state concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle array delivers medicine in a controlled periodic manner through the skin layers, releasing medication at regulated intervals rather than all at once. This periodic delivery mechanism maintains steady state concentration in the bloodstream by preventing sudden spikes
2Force
If force is applied to attach the device to the skin, then microneedle penetration can be achieved, but variable placement and force affect the ability of microneedles to properly penetrate the skin
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a compression member that dynamically adjusts and applies controlled force to the microneedle array against the skin. This dynamic force application ensures consistent penetration depth and angle regardless of variable placement, overcoming the limitation of manual attachment force variability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual mechanical attachment with an automated compression mechanism that applies precise, controlled force. This substitution eliminates human variability in force application and placement, ensuring consistent microneedle penetration through the skin
3Stress or pressure
If pressure is supplied to the medicine, then delivery through microneedles is enabled, but pressure variations cause inconsistent quantity of medicine delivered through each microneedle
Solution Approach 1:
The medicine is divided into equal portions for each microneedle channel through segmented reservoirs or uniform distribution channels. This segmentation ensures that pressure variations affect all needles equally, maintaining uniform delivery quantity across the array despite pressure fluctuations
Solution Approach 2:
The device design ensures homogeneous distribution of medicine to each microneedle through uniform channel dimensions and symmetrical geometry. This homogeneity compensates for pressure variations by ensuring equal flow paths and resistance for each needle, maintaining consistent delivery quantity
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 apparatus ensures consistent and uniform delivery of medicine through microneedles, minimizing air bubbles and pressure variations, thereby maintaining a steady state concentration of the drug in the bloodstream.
Implementation Method 1
The lower wall has a plurality of flexible tabs spaced circumferentially equidistant about the central axis... each flexible tab of the plurality of flexible tabs engage a respective protrusion of the plurality of protrusions to provide a snap-fit between the fluid distribution assembly and the collet assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery apparatus includes a collet assembly having an upper and lower wall attached at a central portion of the collet. The central portion defines an inner step, and the lower wall includes circumferentially-spaced flexible tabs. The fluid delivery apparatus also includes a fluid distribution assembly coupled to the collet assembly. The fluid distribution assembly is positionable relative to the collet between a pre-use configuration and a pre-activated configuration. The fluid distribution assembly has a plenum that includes a sleeve component having an exterior ledge extending thereabout. A lower wall portion of the sleeve component includes protrusions corresponding to the flexible tabs of the collet. In the pre-use configuration the exterior ledge of the sleeve component is engaged with the inner step of the collet assembly, and each flexible tab engages a respective protrusion to provide a snap-fit between the fluid distribution assembly and the collet assembly.