Magnetic Shuttle Hydrogel Injection Assembly Without Air Introduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogel agitation methods introduce air into the hydrogel, leading to issues such as needle clogging and imaging defects, and require multiple syringes for effective agitation.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogel agitation and injection assembly using a shuttle within a single syringe that translates and rotates in response to a magnetic field, ensuring smooth agitation without air introduction, using a shuttle with apertures and magnets to agitate the hydrogel efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two fluidically coupled syringes are used to agitate hydrogel by moving it between reservoirs, then agitation effectiveness is improved, but air is introduced into the hydrogel causing needle clogging and imaging defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the agitation and injection functions into a single syringe device. The shuttle mechanism with apertures agitates the hydrogel by moving through the reservoir while allowing hydrogel to pass through, eliminating the need for a second syringe and preventing air introduction that occurs when transferring between syringes
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle acts as an intermediary element within the single syringe reservoir. It facilitates hydrogel agitation by physically moving through the hydrogel and forcing it through apertures, while maintaining a closed system that prevents air from entering the hydrogel
2Productivity
If multiple syringes are used for agitation, then agitation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (agitation and injection) into a single integrated syringe device with a movable shuttle mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple syringes while maintaining effective agitation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single syringe device performs multiple functions: the shuttle agitates the hydrogel by moving through the reservoir and forcing it through apertures, then the same device delivers the agitated hydrogel through injection, eliminating the need for separate agitation and injection devices
3Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogel is agitated in a single syringe with a movable shuttle, then air introduction is eliminated, but agitation effectiveness must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle incorporates apertures (porous structure) that allow hydrogel to pass through while the shuttle moves. This porous design enables effective agitation by forcing hydrogel through the apertures during shuttle movement, maintaining agitation effectiveness while preventing air introduction
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle is designed to move dynamically within the syringe reservoir in response to magnetic field application. This dynamic movement creates effective agitation by continuously moving the hydrogel through the apertures, maintaining agitation effectiveness while keeping the system closed to prevent air entry
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 effectively agitates hydrogel without air introduction, allowing for smooth injection and reducing imaging defects, while using a single syringe for both agitation and delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the shuttle is configured at least to translate along a longitudinal axis of the delivery device responsive to an application of a magnetic field to the shuttle
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, the present disclosure pertains to a hydrogel agitation and injection assembly, the assembly comprising a delivery device providing a barrel configured as a reservoir for an injectable hydrogel; and a shuttle disposed in the reservoir, where the shuttle is configured at least to translate along a longitudinal axis of the delivery device responsive to an application of a magnetic field to the shuttle, and where the shuttle includes an aperture extending entirely through the shuttle along the longitudinal axis of the delivery device.