Injection Apparatus Guided Needle Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current injection technologies fail to accurately deliver reagent particles to a predetermined depth in the skin, leading to suboptimal glucose monitoring and potential complications due to varying glucose concentrations across skin layers, and existing methods lack precision in shallow injection techniques.
Innovation Solution
An injection apparatus comprising skin positioning members and a guided injection needle system that allows for precise movement to a predetermined depth, ensuring the discharge opening of the needle is at a constant distance below the skin surface, thereby optimizing sensor placement directly underneath the basement membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are positioned deeper in the skin, then sensor retention is improved, but fluorescence detection sensitivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The injection needle is designed with a movable needle body that can be dynamically adjusted to different depths. The needle body can move relative to the needle holder, allowing the discharge opening to be positioned at the optimal depth (directly underneath the basement membrane at the top of the dermis) to simultaneously achieve sensor retention and fluorescence detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the depth parameter of sensor positioning from fixed to variable. By controlling the movement of the needle body to different extents, the discharge opening can be positioned at different depths, with the optimal position being directly underneath the basement membrane, which balances both sensor retention and fluorescence detection sensitivity
2Measurement precision
If reagent particles are positioned in the epidermis, then fluorescence detection sensitivity is improved, but sensor stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The injection apparatus enables dynamic control of injection depth, allowing the needle discharge opening to be positioned precisely at the dermis layer (below the basement membrane). This dynamic depth adjustment ensures particles are deposited in the stable dermal layer rather than the mobile epidermal layer, achieving both stability and detectability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by targeting a specific local region (the dermis directly underneath the basement membrane) with distinct properties from surrounding tissues. This localized positioning ensures particles are placed in the stable, vasculised dermal layer while maintaining proximity to the skin surface for optical interrogation
3Reliability
If injection depth is increased, then sensor retention is improved, but light penetration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the depth parameter by positioning the discharge opening directly underneath the basement membrane at the top of the dermis. This specific depth parameter achieves the optimal balance: deep enough for sensor retention but shallow enough to maintain adequate light penetration for fluorescence detection
Solution Approach 2:
The movable needle body allows dynamic adjustment of injection depth to the optimal position. The needle can be advanced to different depths and stopped at the precise location underneath the basement membrane, enabling retention while maintaining light penetration capability
Data Source
AI summary
An injection apparatus for making an injection at a predetermined depth in skin comprises: a first skin positioning member, a second skin positioning member, wherein the first and second skin positioning members lie or are moveable to lie in an injection arrangement; an injection needle; and an injection needle movement guide to guide the injection needle for movement from a parking position above the skin, through the lower surface of the second skin positioning member to slide beneath the first skin positioning member to an injection position. A further injection apparatus comprises: an injection needle; a plunger within the injection needle; and a retractor to retract the injection needle such that material to be injected is expelled from the injection needle by the plunger.