Modular Patch Injector With Reusable Drive and Disposable Reservoirs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable patch injection devices are often designed for single-use, leading to ecological waste and require expensive modifications for varying reservoir sizes, limiting their adaptability and practicality for large volume injections.
Innovation Solution
A modular, semi-reusable patch injection system with interchangeable reservoir units of different sizes, allowing a single reusable drive unit to accommodate various reservoir volumes, reducing waste and manufacturing costs while enhancing flexibility and user-friendliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wearable patch injection devices are designed as disposable single-use devices, then sterile conditions are ensured for each delivery event, but ecological waste increases and parts that could be reused are discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The injection device is divided into two separate modules: a reusable drive unit and a disposable reservoir unit. The disposable reservoir unit contains the needle and medicament, ensuring sterile conditions for each delivery event, while the reusable drive unit can be used multiple times, reducing waste of functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the reservoir unit containing the needle and medicament is discarded after a single use, while the drive unit is recovered and reused for subsequent injections. This selective discarding minimizes waste while maintaining sterile conditions through single-use needle containment.
2Device complexity
If existing devices are adapted for a single therapeutic agent and given reservoir size, then device design is simplified, but expensive modifications are required for varying reservoir volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable drive unit is designed with universal compatibility to accommodate multiple types of reservoir units with different volumes and configurations. This allows a single drive unit design to serve multiple therapeutic agents and reservoir sizes without requiring expensive modifications, achieving multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic configuration by enabling users to attach different reservoir units to the same drive unit based on treatment requirements. The interface between drive unit and reservoir unit is designed to accommodate variations in reservoir size and type while maintaining functional compatibility.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional handheld injection devices are used for large injection volumes of 10 ml or more, then injection capability is provided, but injection time increases to several minutes making devices impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable patch injection device enables continuous drug delivery over an extended period through sustained subcutaneous infusion. The reservoir unit continuously dispenses medication through the needle into the patient's tissue, eliminating the need for repeated manual injections and reducing total treatment time for large volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical injection process is replaced by an automated controlled delivery system. The drive unit provides automated plunger movement to maintain continuous fluid flow from the reservoir through the needle, substituting manual injection mechanics with an automated mechanical system that delivers large volumes efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A novel modular patch injection system is disclosed. The system comprises a reusable drive module which can be connected to a first and a second disposable reservoir module, the reservoir module being adapted to a certain volume of the reservoir contained.