Needle-Free Microjet Drug Delivery via Laser-Induced Bubble Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional needle-based drug delivery systems cause pain, risk of infection, and are not reusable, while existing needle-free microjet systems face challenges with precision control, splashback, and drug deterioration due to direct energy application.
Innovation Solution
A needle-free drug delivery system using a pressure chamber with a laser or energy-focusing device to create bubble growth, elongating an elastic membrane and applying pressure to a drug microchamber for precise microjet injection, avoiding direct energy exposure to the drug and enabling adjustable and pain-free delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional syringe with needle is used for intracutaneous injection, then the drug can be directly injected into the internal affected region, but the patient suffers from pain and risk of wound infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the needle component from the injection system entirely, extracting only the essential function of drug delivery while eliminating the harmful needle-related effects (pain, infection risk, tissue damage). The needle-less microjet system achieves intracutaneous injection through high-velocity liquid jet formation without any penetrating solid object.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical needle-penetration mechanism with a fluid dynamics-based microjet injection mechanism. Instead of using a solid needle to mechanically pierce the skin, the system uses controlled fluid pressure and velocity to create a liquid jet that penetrates the skin barrier, substituting mechanical solid-liquid interaction with fluid-liquid interaction.
2Measurement precision
If a laser beam is directly applied to the drug solution for microjet injection, then high energy can be focused to enable precise needle-free delivery, but the drug may deteriorate due to direct energy exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into distinct functional zones: a pressure chamber for drug storage, a membrane separation layer, and a microjet formation zone. This spatial segmentation allows the laser energy to be focused precisely in the microjet formation zone without direct exposure of the drug solution in the pressure chamber to high-energy radiation, maintaining drug stability while achieving precise energy focusing where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a membrane structure as an intermediary between the pressure chamber and the injection zone. This membrane acts as a barrier that transmits mechanical pressure from the pressure buildup while preventing direct laser exposure of the drug solution, serving as a protective intermediary that allows precise energy delivery without compromising drug integrity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing needle-free microjet systems are used, then the pain during treatment is reduced, but the control precision and reliability are decreased due to splashback and inaccurate penetration depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the pressure buildup process and membrane deformation to precisely regulate the microjet formation and penetration depth. By dynamically adjusting the pressure application rate and magnitude, the system achieves controlled penetration while minimizing splashback, maintaining both pain reduction and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the pressure-chamber system, specifically controlling pressure magnitude and application timing, to optimize microjet performance. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system achieves sufficient penetration depth while controlling jet velocity to prevent excessive splashback, thereby maintaining both comfort and precision.
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 system allows for precise, pain-free, and reusable drug delivery with adjustable microjet control, reducing the risk of drug deterioration and infection, and facilitating real-time monitoring and adjustment of drug penetration depth.
Implementation Method 1
an energy-focusing device configured to focus energy to the pressure-generating liquid stored in the pressure chamber to cause bubble growth due to vaporization of the pressure-generating liquid
Implementation Method 2
so that an instantaneous pressure is applied to a drug solution contained in a drug microchamber adjacent to the elastic membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel type of a needle-free drug delivery system in which strong energy such as a laser beam is focused inside liquid contained in a sealed pressure chamber to cause bubble growth and the volume expansion in the sealed pressure chamber due to the bubble growth so as to elongate an elastic membrane, so that an instantaneous pressure is applied to a drug solution contained in a drug microchamber adjacent to the elastic membrane to allow the drug solution to be injected in the form of a liquid microjet, thereby enabling the drug solution to rapidly and accurately penetrate into the bodily tissues of the patient.