Manipulation Tool for Multi-Microneedle Fluid Injector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intradermal injections using multi-microneedle devices face challenges in efficiently delivering fluid into skin tissue due to skin compression and elasticity loss, leading to fluid leakage and prolonged injection times.
Innovation Solution
A manipulation tool with a selective movement mechanism that allows the multi-microneedle device to move between initial, first, and second protruding positions, reducing skin compression and facilitating quick fluid injection by adjusting the microneedle insertion depth and recovery of skin elasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the piston member is pushed while pressing the skin contact surface onto the skin, then fluid injection into skin tissue is achieved, but skin compression and elasticity loss occur leading to fluid leakage and prolonged injection time
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle device is designed to dynamically adjust the insertion depth between first and second positions during the injection process. The microneedles are initially inserted to a first position, then the device is pressed to advance them to a second position deeper in the skin, and finally returned to the first position. This dynamic adjustment allows optimal fluid delivery without excessive skin compression that would cause elasticity loss and leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection process employs periodic action by cycling the microneedle insertion depth between two positions. The microneedles are inserted to the first position, then advanced to the second position for fluid injection, and finally returned to the first position. This periodic movement enables complete fluid injection within a short time while preventing skin compression damage that would lead to leakage.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide an inexpensive manipulation tool with a simple structure, which is capable of easily and reliably injecting a desired amount of fluid to skin tissue for a short period of time when performing an intradermal injection by a fluid injector using a multi-microneedle device. The above tool (54) is provided with a mechanism (58) sequentially moving the injector (52) in a housing space (56c) of an outer cylinder (56) among an initial position in which needles (50c) of a main body (50b) of the device are retracted inside one end opening of the space, a first position in which the needles protrude to the outside from the opening by a first given distance, and a second position in which needles protrude to the outside by a second given distance shorter than the first given distance, in which the fluid flows from the injector through the needles in the second position, and the mechanism has a unit (58a) biasing the injector toward the initial position by a magnetic force between the outer cylinder and the injector, first and second stoppers (58b, 58c) which can be selectively extended/retracted with respect to the outer peripheral wall of the outer cylinder and an engaging portion (58d) which is selectively engaged with these stoppers on the outer peripheral wall of the injector and selectively arranging the injector in the above three positions.