Microneedle Treatment Delivery With Interstitial Fluid Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for delivering treatment to biological subjects, such as therapeutic or cosmetic treatments, face challenges including discomfort, complexity, high manufacturing costs, and inefficiency in accessing interstitial fluid due to the use of large structures that often sample blood instead of interstitial fluid, leading to irritation and difficulty in practical applications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing microstructures to breach the stratum corneum, equipped with sensors and treatment delivery mechanisms, controlled by electronic processing devices to deliver treatment based on measured response signals, allowing for controlled release of materials like antivirals, antibiotics, and other substances through optical or electrical stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large structures are used to deliver treatment and sample fluid, then treatment delivery is achieved, but the structures pass through the dermis and sample blood instead of interstitial fluid, causing discomfort and irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the fluid sampling function by using multiple micro-needle structures that terminate in the epidermis rather than penetrating into the dermis. This segmentation allows selective access to interstitial fluid through the stratum corneum barrier while avoiding deeper blood vessels, thereby sampling accuracy is improved without causing the discomfort associated with dermal penetration
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-needle structures are designed with specific local properties: they are sufficiently long to breach the stratum corneum and access interstitial fluid, but terminate before reaching the dermis where blood vessels are located. This local quality control ensures that treatment delivery and fluid sampling occur in the appropriate tissue layer without causing irritation from deeper penetration
2Productivity
If capillary or pumping actions are used to extract fluid, then fluid extraction is achieved, but the arrays become complex and require power sources, making them difficult and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs capillary action within the micro-needle structures themselves to extract interstitial fluid, eliminating the need for external pumping mechanisms or power sources. The fluid extraction is achieved through the inherent surface tension and wettability properties of the micro-needle materials, making the system self-sufficient and significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical pumping systems with passive capillary action based on surface tension and material properties. This substitution eliminates the need for motors, batteries, and control electronics, thereby dramatically simplifying the array structure while maintaining effective fluid extraction capability
3Measurement precision
If microneedle arrays are used to sample interstitial fluid, then accurate sampling is achieved, but the systems require complex fabrication processes and are expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves accurate interstitial fluid sampling by optimizing key parameters of the micro-needle structures: length (to reach epidermis but not dermis), diameter (for adequate capillary action), and material composition (for appropriate wettability and mechanical strength). These parameter optimizations enable simple, cost-effective manufacturing processes while maintaining high sampling accuracy, avoiding the need for complex fabrication techniques
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
Enables efficient, controlled delivery of treatments to the interstitial fluid with minimal discomfort, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost, while providing precise and continuous monitoring and treatment based on real-time response signals.
Implementation Method 1
at least one substrate including a plurality of microstructures configured to breach a stratum corneum of the subject
Implementation Method 2
at least one sensor operatively connected to at least one microstructure, the at least one sensor being configured to measure response signals from the at least one microstructure
Implementation Method 3
at least one treatment delivery mechanism operatively coupled to at least one microstructure to deliver treatment via at least one microstructure
Implementation Method 4
controlled release of materials like antivirals, antibiotics, and other substances through optical or electrical stimulation
Implementation Method 5
controlled release of materials like antivirals, antibiotics, and other substances through optical or electrical stimulation
Data Source
AI summary
A system for delivering treatment to a biological subject, the system including: at least one substrate including a plurality of microstructures configured to breach a stratum corneum of the subject; at least one sensor operatively connected to at least one microstructure, the at least one sensor being configured to measure response signals from the at least one microstructure; at least one treatment delivery mechanism operatively coupled to at least one microstructure to deliver treatment via at least one microstructure; and, one or more electronic processing devices that are configured to control the at least one treatment delivery mechanism to thereby deliver treatment to the subject at least partially in accordance with the measured response signals.