Medication Delivery Apparatus with Integrated Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug delivery devices are inadequate for administering complex medication regimens at home, lacking the ability to monitor patient physiologic parameters and provide safe, intuitive delivery of multiple medications, especially those requiring emergency counteractions to infusion reactions, due to their design limitations and lack of integration with electronic health records.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a medication delivery apparatus with sensors and a controller that monitors patient physiologic status, allows communication between sensors and the medication delivery system, and provides visual feedback, enabling safe and controlled administration of multiple medications, including emergency counteractions, through a tubing set with calibrated flow rates and integration with electronic health records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hospital-grade telemetry equipment is used to monitor patient physiologic parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitoring function from complex hospital-grade telemetry equipment and integrates it directly into the medication delivery device. Sensors are incorporated into the delivery apparatus itself, allowing physiologic parameter monitoring to be performed by the delivery device rather than requiring separate external monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: medication delivery, physiologic parameter monitoring, and automated control are merged into one device. The sensor array and medication delivery mechanisms work together as a unified system, eliminating the need for separate monitoring equipment.
2Measurement precision
If hospital-grade telemetry equipment with multiple sensors is used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens for untrained users
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs monitoring and control functions automatically without requiring user intervention. The sensor array continuously monitors physiologic parameters and the controller automatically adjusts medication delivery based on sensor feedback, eliminating the need for patients to manually operate complex monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements closed-loop feedback control where sensor data is continuously fed back to the controller, which automatically adjusts medication delivery. This automated feedback mechanism replaces manual monitoring and decision-making, making the system easy to operate while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are integrated into the needle assembly, then reliability is improved through continuous monitoring, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: medication delivery and physiologic parameter monitoring. The same needle structure that delivers medication also houses sensors for monitoring, making the device multi-functional rather than requiring separate monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors are nested within the needle assembly structure. The monitoring components are integrated inside or along the medication delivery needle, with sensors positioned to contact or proximity-detect patient tissue during the same insertion used for medication delivery.
4Productivity
If automated control based on sensor feedback is implemented, then productivity is improved through reduced clinical intervention, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is pre-programmed with protocols for monitoring and responding to sensor data. Before use, the system is configured with target physiologic parameter ranges and automated response protocols, allowing it to independently control medication delivery without real-time clinical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual clinical monitoring and decision-making with an automated electronic control system. The controller uses electronic sensors and algorithms to monitor physiologic parameters and adjust medication delivery, substituting human clinical judgment with automated electronic control.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including tubing sets, a modular constraint assembly, and methods of use are described for deliver a therapeutic medication to a patient, the apparatus can have a controller and a sensor. The controller is configured to receive data from the sensor, and to start and stop delivery of the therapeutic medication to the patient in response to data received from the sensor. In addition, apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed, which are configured to deliver a therapeutic medication to a patient. The apparatus, system and methods use a reservoir, a patient interface, a tubing set, a modular constraint assembly connected to the tubing sets, and a fluid pump, and the components are configured to provide a calibrated flow rate based upon specific characteristics of the therapeutic medications passing through and internal lumen of the tubing set.