Multi-Position Capsule Rotation to Reduce Microneedle Irritation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microneedle-based body monitoring systems cause skin irritations due to the recurrent presence of microneedles, especially in diabetic or obese individuals, and require continuous or quasi-continuous control without needing to move the device to another limb.
Innovation Solution
A capsule with a coupling face having rotational symmetry and multiple coupling positions, allowing microneedles to be displaced without moving the device, combined with redundant electrical connectors and position indicators to ensure proper alignment and minimize skin irritation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If microneedles are continuously present on the skin for monitoring, then continuous monitoring capability is achieved, but skin irritation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is made rotatable on the limb, allowing dynamic repositioning of microneedles relative to the skin. This enables the system to maintain continuous monitoring capability while periodically changing microneedle positions to different skin areas, thereby reducing cumulative skin irritation at any single location.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds rotational freedom as an additional degree of freedom to the monitoring system. Instead of only positional placement on the skin surface, the capsule can rotate around the limb axis, accessing multiple angular positions and effectively distributing microneedle contact across different skin regions over time.
2Ease of operation
If the device is made removable and portable, then user comfort and mobility are improved, but skin irritation increases due to recurrent microneedle presence
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable capsule design allows the system to dynamically adjust microneedle positions by rotating to different orientations on the same limb. This eliminates the need to remove and relocate the entire device to another limb, maintaining portability while reducing skin irritation through positional variation.
3Ease of manufacture
If microneedles are positioned on a fixed contact surface, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the system cannot reduce skin irritation through position variation
Solution Approach 1:
While the microneedle array itself remains fixed on the capsule for manufacturing simplicity, the capsule's rotational capability introduces dynamic position variation. The fixed array on a rotatable platform achieves the same effect as a movable array, maintaining manufacturing ease while enabling irritation reduction through orientation changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule (220), said capsule (220) having a coupling face (222) configured to be coupled to a complementary shape on a housing (120), and a microneedle array (210) that is positioned on a planar contact surface (229). The coupling face (222) has rotational symmetry about an axis of rotation (Z) which extends orthogonally to the planar surface (229) and about which at least two coupling positions are permitted with a single and unique complementary shape on a housing (120), there being, within a fixed reference frame, no microneedle (210) in the same location as that of a different microneedle (210), in the two positions.