Microneedling Device Absorbing Barrier for Liquid Backflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dermatological microneedling apparatuses fail to effectively prevent liquid contaminants from flowing back into the main body of the device, leading to contamination risks between patients due to inadequate sealing of disposable needle cartridges.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an absorbing barrier within the needle cartridge to absorb and hold any backflowing liquids, combined with a seal to prevent leakage and contamination, ensuring the cartridges remain effective over time without drying out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are employed to block liquid contaminants from flowing back into the main body, then contamination prevention is improved, but the seals cannot thoroughly prevent leaking due to quick movement of components
Solution Approach 1:
An absorbent barrier is introduced as an intermediary component between the needle unit and the main body. This barrier absorbs and holds backflowing liquids, preventing them from reaching the main body. The absorbent barrier acts as a mediator that captures contaminants before they can compromise the sealing system or contaminate the device interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system is segmented into multiple functional zones: the original seal structure and the additional absorbent barrier. This segmentation allows the seal to handle its primary sealing function while the absorbent barrier independently manages liquid backflow, creating a multi-layered protection system that addresses both sealing and contamination prevention.
2Reliability
If hermetic seals are implemented between the needle cartridge and main body, then fluid blocking is improved, but the quick movement of components makes maintaining the seal difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent barrier serves as a mediator that decouples the sealing function from the liquid containment function. This allows the seal to focus on maintaining the hermetic connection while the absorbent barrier independently manages liquid backflow during quick component movements, reducing the operational burden on the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent barrier is positioned in advance to intercept and absorb backflowing liquids before they can compromise the seal or reach the main body. This preparatory absorption capability cushions the sealing system against the effects of quick component movements and liquid pressure spikes.
3Reliability
If disposable needle cartridges are used to prevent contamination, then cross-contamination risk is reduced, but blood and liquids still flow back into the main body through the cartridge
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent barrier is introduced as an intermediary within the disposable needle cartridge assembly that specifically addresses liquid backflow. It absorbs and holds contaminants that flow back through the cartridge, preventing them from reaching the main body and compromising the contamination prevention benefits of disposable cartridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful backflowing liquids into a manageable form by using the absorbent barrier to capture and hold them. The absorbed liquids are contained within the barrier material, transforming the harmful flowing contaminant into a stationary absorbed state that cannot reach the main body.
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 solution effectively prevents liquid contaminants from reaching the main body of the microneedling device, reducing the risk of cross-contamination between patients and maintaining the integrity of the needle cartridges by using an absorbing barrier that does not dry out, thus ensuring safer and more reliable operations.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating an absorbing barrier within the needle cartridge to absorb and hold any backflowing liquids
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are transdermal microneedling devices that generate and emit low RF energy. Such a microneedling device may comprise a drive motor, drive circuitry for controlling the drive motor, and a drive linkage located on the drive motor rotor. The microneedling device may also comprise a power source capsule comprising a battery and associated power management circuitry. Also included may be a needle cartridge coupled to the main body, and comprising a drive shaft and a needle unit coupled to a distal end of the drive shaft to move therewith, where the needle unit has at least one needle extending therefrom. The drive shaft may comprise a linkage member configured to engage the drive linkage of the drive motor, and be configured to be driven by the drive motor and thereby drive movement of the needle unit such that the at least one needle extends beyond and retracts within the distal end of the needle cartridge. The microneedling device may also include RF energy circuitry powered by the power source and configured to generate RF energy, as well as transfer circuitry configured to transfer the generated RF energy from the RF energy circuitry to the at least one needle.