Laser-Welded Pressure Reducer for Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure reducers for drug delivery experience pressure drop variations due to elastomeric joints that degrade over time, leading to inconsistent flow rates and requiring recalibration, which complicates inventory management and marketing of intermediate products.
Innovation Solution
A pressure reducer design where the second body directly contacts the first body with a continuous laser weld along both sides of the duct, eliminating intermediate joints and ensuring a consistent pressure drop by using a rigid structure and specific materials for laser welding, such as poly(methyl methacrylate) and methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, with a wavelength-absorbing additive for the first body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an elastomeric joint is used to connect the first body and second body, then the assembly process is simplified, but the pressure drop varies over time due to joint degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the elastomeric joint from the system entirely, replacing it with a direct rigid connection between the first body and second body. This extraction of the problematic component eliminates the source of pressure drop variation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through direct welding or bonding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a welding process or bonding agent as an intermediary method to directly join the first body and second body, eliminating the need for an elastomeric joint. This intermediary connection method provides a stable, non-degrading bond that maintains consistent pressure drop characteristics over time.
2Reliability
If the elastomeric joint is partially introduced in the duct, then the seal is formed, but the pressure loss varies with compressive force and material hardness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the elastomeric joint that causes variable pressure loss, replacing it with a direct rigid connection. This removes the dependency between compressive force and pressure loss, achieving consistent pressure drop while maintaining effective sealing through the rigid body connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material properties from elastomeric (compressible, variable hardness) to rigid materials for the first and second bodies. This parameter change eliminates the variability in pressure loss that occurred with elastomeric joints, as rigid materials provide consistent flow resistance independent of assembly force.
3Ease of manufacture
If ultrasonic welding is used to attach the bodies, then the connection is formed, but the joint hardness evolves over time affecting pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the elastomeric joint that undergoes hardness evolution, replacing it with a direct rigid connection between bodies. This extraction eliminates the time-dependent hardness change while maintaining the ability to form strong attachments through welding or bonding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical elastomeric joint system with a direct rigid connection system using welding or bonding. This substitution eliminates the time-dependent mechanical properties of elastomeric materials, providing stable pressure drop characteristics throughout the device lifespan.
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 design stabilizes the pressure drop over time, eliminating the need for recalibration and ensuring consistent flow rates, thereby simplifying inventory management and improving the reliability of drug delivery systems.
Implementation Method 1
The first body and the second body are attached to one another by means of at least one continuous attachment line running on both sides of the duct from the inlet to the outlet... The laser allowed easily forming welding seams that are long and have complex geometries
Implementation Method 2
a laser with ytterbium (Yb) crystal... The pre-established wavelength is preferably 1070 nm (nanometers) or 1064 nm
Implementation Method 3
the first body advantageously absorbs this pre-established wavelength... the first body can be made of any other material (that is transparent at the mentioned wavelength) and include an additive that absorbs the wavelength in question
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pressure reducer for delivering drugs to a patient and the corresponding method of manufacture, said pressure reducer for delivering drugs to a patient comprising: a duct (9) with an inlet (11) and an outlet (13), a first body (1) with a first surface (5), and a second body (3) with a second surface (6) directly contacting the first body (1). One of the surfaces (5,6) has a recess (7) such that a duct (9) is defined between both surfaces. Both bodies are attached to one another by means of a continuous attachment line running on both sides of the duct (9). The method of manufacture comprises a laser welding step in which the first body (1) is welded to the second body (3) by means of a welding seam extending along both sides of the duct.