Multi-Rate Drug Delivery Drive Control for Precise Dosing Profiles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices lack precise control over medicament delivery profiles, particularly in non-traditional healthcare settings, leading to poor patient compliance and restricted delivery profiles that hinder achieving desired pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery device with a drive system that includes an axial drive component, a variable rate drive, and a controller to deliver medicament at multiple predefined volumes and rates, using a motor and encoder for precise control, allowing for multi-rate delivery profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional injection apparatuses are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but delivery profile control is restricted and patient compliance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system transitions from static, fixed-rate delivery to dynamic, variable-rate delivery by incorporating a motor-driven pump with electronic control. The system can adjust the pump speed to deliver medicament at different rates (e.g., rapid bolus followed by slower infusion), enabling flexible delivery profiles that improve patient compliance while maintaining reasonable device complexity through integrated control electronics.
2Manufacturing precision
If single-rate delivery is used, then device complexity is minimized, but pharmacokinetic profile control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery process is segmented into multiple phases with different rate requirements. The controller divides the total medicament volume into segments (e.g., initial bolus volume and subsequent infusion volume) and delivers each segment at its prescribed rate. This segmentation enables precise pharmacokinetic control by delivering different volumes at different rates, with the controller managing the transition between phases based on pre-programmed parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the delivery parameter (pump speed) dynamically during operation. The controller adjusts the motor speed parameter to transition from a first rate (R1) for the bolus phase to a second rate (R2) for the infusion phase. This parameter change enables precise control over the delivery profile, allowing the system to achieve target pharmacokinetic profiles that would be impossible with single-rate delivery.
3Productivity
If manual calculation and updating of infusion parameters is required, then device simplicity is maintained, but scheduling flexibility and accuracy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs self-service by automatically calculating and managing the delivery schedule without requiring manual intervention. The system uses its internal processor to compute the timing and rate parameters for each delivery phase based on pre-programmed total volumes and rate specifications. The controller automatically transitions between phases, monitors delivery progress, and adjusts timing as needed, eliminating the need for clinician hand-calculations and manual updates while maintaining appropriate control system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A drive system for a drug delivery device is described. The drive system comprises an axial drive component configured to drive advancement of a stopper sealing a container; a variable rate drive drives advancement of the axial drive component and a controller controls the variable rate drive to deliver a first volume of medicament at a first rate, and a second volume of medicament at a second rate. The controller is configured to: optionally, identify a start point for delivery of medicament from the container, the start point being identified as completion of a predefined preparatory event; drive the variable rate drive at a first speed during a first phase from the identified start point to deliver the first volume of medicament at the first rate; drive the variable rate drive at a second speed during a second phase to deliver the second volume of medicament at the second rate.