Lorentz-Force Jet Injector for Precise Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current needle-free jet injectors lack precise control over pressure and volume during drug delivery, leading to inefficiencies in targeting specific tissues and stability of therapeutic proteins, and they are often painful and loud.
Innovation Solution
A servo-controlled linear Lorentz-force actuated jet injector is used to deliver solid bodies, such as polymeric controlled release formulations, with precise control over injection depth and volume, allowing for improved targeting and stability of drugs, and the ability to deliver solid particles painlessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If conventional spring or compressed gas actuators are used in needle-free jet injectors, then the device can achieve high injection pressure, but precise control over pressure and volume during injection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical actuators (springs or compressed gas) with an electromagnetic actuator that uses a linear Lorentz-force motor. This substitution enables precise electronic control of the pressure-time waveform during injection, allowing independent control of both peak pressure and injection volume while maintaining the high pressures needed for needle-free delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the pressure waveform by varying the electrical input to the electromagnetic actuator over time. This allows the system to adjust pressure continuously during the injection process, achieving precise control over both the magnitude and duration of pressure application, thereby controlling both injection depth and volume independently.
2Speed
If high pressure is applied to deliver drug through skin, then penetration depth is achieved, but control over injection depth and tissue targeting is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic waveform control of the pressure-time profile to independently optimize jet velocity for skin penetration and pressure duration for controlled depth. By adjusting the temporal characteristics of the pressure waveform, the system achieves both high initial velocity for penetration and precise control over the total injection depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple parameters of the pressure waveform (peak pressure, duration, rise time, fall time) to independently control injection depth and jet velocity. This multi-parameter control allows optimization of each aspect of the injection process separately, achieving both deep penetration and precise targeting.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If needle-free jet injection is used to deliver drugs, then pain and needle stick injuries are avoided, but control over delivery volume and dose accuracy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical actuators with an electromagnetic actuator that provides precise electronic control over the pressure-time waveform. This enables accurate control of the delivered volume and dose while maintaining the needle-free, painless advantages of jet injection technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through a monitored and servo-controlled amplifier that adjusts the electrical input to the electromagnetic actuator based on actual performance. This feedback mechanism ensures precise control over delivery volume and dose accuracy while maintaining the benefits of needle-free injection.
4Loss of time
If fast injection is used to deliver drug quickly, then treatment time is reduced, but shear stress and loss of activity in therapeutic proteins increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic waveform control to optimize the pressure-time profile for protein stability. By controlling the rise time, peak duration, and fall time of the pressure waveform, the system achieves fast injection while minimizing the shear stress exposure time that could degrade therapeutic proteins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameters of the pressure waveform (rise time, peak duration, fall time) to balance injection speed and protein stability. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves rapid delivery while limiting the duration and intensity of shear stress exposure to protect therapeutic protein integrity.
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 enables accurate and painless delivery of drugs to specific tissues, improving stability and reducing the frequency of dosing, while allowing for tailored pharmacokinetic effects and extended or immediate release formulations, and provides flexibility in delivery methods.
Implementation Method 1
A servo-controlled linear Lorentz-force actuated jet injector is used to deliver solid bodies
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transferring a solid body across a surface of a biological body includes (i) applying an electrical input to a controllable electromagnetic actuator; (ii) producing with the electromagnetic actuator a mechanical force corresponding to the electrical input; and (iii) applying the mechanical force to a reservoir coupled at one end to a nozzle, the mechanical force producing a pressure within the reservoir, a magnitude of the pressure varying with the mechanical force and causing ejection of a fluid from the reservoir to drive the solid body into the biological body. A method for delivering a substance to a target body includes (i) positioning a needle-free injector proximate to a surface of the target body; (ii) injecting the substance into the target body; and (iii) while injecting, moving the needle-free injector along the surface, thereby sweeping the surface.