Multi-tip Drug Delivery Needle with Cutting Edge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Drug delivery into mucosal tissue is challenging due to the protective barrier formed by the epithelium, lamina propria, and sub-mucosal tissue, which hinders needle penetration and drug absorption.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery needle with enhanced penetration capability, featuring a body with at least two sharp distal tips separated by an arcuate trough with a cutting edge, allowing for efficient tissue penetration and drug delivery directly into the target tissue layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional needle is used for drug delivery into mucosal tissue, then the needle structure is simple, but the needle cannot effectively penetrate the protective epithelium barrier and deliver drug into the target tissue layer
Solution Approach 1:
The needle tip is segmented into multiple sharp distal tips (at least two) separated by an arcuate trough, with a cutting edge positioned at the middle portion of the trough. This segmentation allows the needle to simultaneously perform multiple functions: the sharp tips penetrate the epithelium barrier while the cutting edge creates an incision into the target tissue layer, enabling effective drug delivery that a single conventional needle tip cannot achieve
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point penetration approach to a multi-dimensional approach by incorporating both sharp distal tips for initial penetration and a cutting edge for creating the drug delivery incision. This dimensional change in the needle tip structure enables the needle to overcome the epithelium barrier and deliver drug into the target tissue layer simultaneously
2Reliability
If a conventional needle attempts to penetrate mucosal tissue, then the needle structure remains unchanged, but the tissue resistance causes the mucosa to be pushed without successful penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented needle tip structure with multiple sharp distal tips concentrates the penetration force at multiple points simultaneously, reducing the resistance force from a single point to multiple points. The cutting edge further divides the force requirement by creating an incision, allowing the needle to overcome tissue resistance and achieve reliable penetration into the target layer
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attempting to push through the tissue resistance with a single point, the invention inverts the approach by using sharp tips to create multiple penetration points and a cutting edge to make an incision. This inverted approach transforms the penetration problem from pushing against resistance to creating controlled openings where drug can be delivered
3Reliability
If a biopsy needle structure is used for drug delivery, then the needle can cut tissue, but it cuts out and removes tissue portions instead of delivering drug into the tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The needle tip structure is designed with different local qualities: sharp distal tips for penetration and a cutting edge for creating a limited incision. This local quality differentiation ensures that cutting occurs only at the middle portion of the arcuate trough to create the drug delivery pathway, while the sharp tips control the penetration points. The structure prevents excessive tissue removal by limiting the cutting action to creating an incision rather than excising tissue
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The needle effectively reduces tissue resistance to penetration, allows direct drug delivery into the target layer, and provides a counterforce for stable drug absorption, overcoming the challenges of mucosal tissue barriers.
Implementation Method 1
The force of the needle tip trying to penetrate the mucosa causes the mucosa to be pushed in the direction of the force without the needle tip succeeding to penetrate the mucosa
Implementation Method 2
The needle tips touch the tissue on the sides of the penetrated area to keep the penetrated area taut; this provides a counter force that allows the cutting edge to cut the tissue
Implementation Method 3
the sharp distal tips are made of a drug or include a drug therein or are coated with a drug, the drug being biodegradable. The sharp distal tips may be biodegradable
Data Source
AI summary
A drug delivery needle includes a body portion from which extends a penetration end that includes at least two sharp distal tips, the sharp distal tips being separated from each other by an arcuate trough that includes a cutting edge at least at a middle portion of the arcuate trough. At least the two sharp tips are made of a drug or include a drug therein or are coated with a drug. The drug is biodegradable.