Modular Drug Delivery Device with Electromagnetic Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pen-type injection devices for medicament delivery, such as insulin, are inconvenient as they require frequent reassembly, risk contamination, and lack accurate dose measurement and monitoring capabilities, making them difficult to use especially in public places and leading to multiple injection points on the body.

Innovation Solution

A portable drug delivery device comprising a disposable delivery unit with a reservoir and injection member, and a reusable base unit with a drive module that powers the pump via electromagnetic communication, allowing for multiple discrete doses without reassembly and providing accurate dosing and monitoring capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a pen-type injection device is used for medicament delivery, then the device is portable and can be used by patients themselves, but the device requires frequent reassembly and introduces contamination risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability and self-administration capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk and reassembly requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two separate modules: a reusable base unit containing the drive mechanism and a disposable delivery unit containing the reservoir and injection components. This segmentation allows the disposable unit to be pre-assembled and sterile-sealed, eliminating contamination risks from reassembly, while the reusable base unit can be operated multiple times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery unit is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use, eliminating the need for reassembly and cleaning. This disposable approach ensures sterility and reliability while maintaining portability and ease of operation for the reusable base unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Device complexity

If a pen-type injection device is used, then the device structure is simple, but the device lacks accurate dose measurement and monitoring capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddose measurement and monitoring accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reusable base unit is designed to work with multiple different disposable delivery units, providing a universal platform that can accommodate various medicaments and dosing requirements. The base unit incorporates advanced features like wireless communication, dose monitoring, and programmable dosing schedules, while the disposable units remain relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device replaces manual mechanical dosing mechanisms with an electronically controlled pump system driven by a motor in the base unit. This allows for precise electronic control of dosing parameters, accurate measurement of delivered doses, and wireless monitoring capabilities, while maintaining a user-friendly interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Duration of action of moving object

If multiple injections are administered over time, then the required doses can be delivered, but multiple injection points accumulate on the patient's body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing duration and frequencyVSAvoidconvenience of repeated injections

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device enables continuous subcutaneous infusion of medicament through a single injection site using a biocompatible catheter that can remain in place for an extended period. This continuous delivery approach eliminates the need for multiple puncture sites while maintaining therapeutic efficacy through controlled, steady-state drug delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 device enables convenient, safe, and discrete self-administration of multiple medicament doses, reducing the need for frequent injections and minimizing contamination risks, while allowing for accurate dose measurement and monitoring through a user-friendly interface.

Implementation Method 1

the base unit is adapted for generating a time-varying magnetic field that interacts with a rotor of the pump to drive rotation of the rotor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime-varying magnetic field interaction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2190499B1Modular drug delivery device for administering discrete doses of a medicament

Publication Date: 2017.03.15 SENSILE MEDICAL AG

AI summary

There provided a drug delivery device adapted for providing a plurality of discrete doses of a medicament including a disposable delivery unit (2) adapted to be worn by a user, comprising a reservoir (10b) for holding a medicament to be delivered, an injection member (22) adapted for trans-dermal drug delivery, and a pump (12) adapted for pumping the medicament to be delivered from the reservoir (10b) to the injection member (22); and a separate reusable base unit (4) comprising a drive module for driving the pump (12). The pump in the disposable delivery unit is activated to deliver a dose of the medicament by bringing the base unit temporarily into communication with the delivery unit