Modular Skin-Mountable Drug Delivery System with Retractable Needle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drug infusion systems, especially for diabetes management, are costly and not conveniently disposable, limiting their widespread adoption as a daily treatment option due to high initial costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A modular skin-mountable drug delivery system comprising a transcutaneous unit and a process unit, where the transcutaneous device is movable between retracted and extended positions, and the process unit includes a reservoir with an expelling assembly for fluid drug delivery, allowing for secure coupling and easy operation, with the option to reuse components to reduce overall costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional infusion pumps are used for continuous insulin delivery, then dosing precision and continuous infusion capability are improved, but device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a disposable infusion device that eliminates the need for expensive, complex reusable pumps. The entire infusion system including reservoir, needle, and delivery mechanism is designed as a single-use disposable unit, providing precise insulin delivery without requiring costly reusable infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of precise insulin delivery from complex reusable pump systems and implements it through a simplified disposable device. By separating the infusion function from the expensive pump infrastructure, the invention achieves dosing precision without the associated complexity and cost
2Device complexity
If disposable infusion devices are used to reduce initial cost, then device cost decreases, but reliability and continuous infusion capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a disposable infusion device that eliminates the need for expensive, complex reusable pumps. The entire infusion system including reservoir, needle, and delivery mechanism is designed as a single-use disposable unit, providing precise insulin delivery without requiring costly reusable infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The device is pre-filled with insulin and pre-programmed with delivery schedules before being applied to the patient. This preliminary preparation ensures reliable continuous infusion from the moment of application without requiring complex setup or calibration procedures that could compromise reliability
3Ease of operation
If the needle projects permanently from the mounting surface for simultaneous insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but safety and comfort deteriorate due to needle exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is nested within the device housing during storage and transport, and only extends to the required insertion depth when activated. After use, the needle retracts back into the housing, eliminating exposed needle risks while maintaining the ability to perform insertion when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The needle position is dynamic rather than fixed - it can extend from a retracted state for insertion, then return to a retracted safe position. This dynamic positioning allows the device to transition between safe storage state and active insertion state, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and safety
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device is provided comprising a transcutaneous device unit and a process unit. The transcutaneous device unit may comprise a transcutaneous device for transporting a fluid through a skin portion of a subject, and a mounting surface adapted for application to the skin of the subject. The process unit may comprise a reservoir adapted to contain a fluid drug, the reservoir comprising an outlet means allowing the transcutaneous device to be arranged in fluid communication with an interior of the reservoir, and an expelling assembly for expelling a fluid drug out of the reservoir and through the skin of the subject via the transcutaneous device. The transcutaneous device unit and the process unit further comprise coupling means allowing the reservoir unit to be secured to the transcutaneous device unit in the situation of use. By this arrangement a two-unit system is provided which can be used in a convenient and cost-effective manner.