Needle Array Assembly for Simultaneous Tumor Agent Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer therapies face high failure rates in clinical trials, with many patients not responding to standard drugs due to cell autonomous resistance and poor drug penetration in under-vascularized tumors, leading to excessive systemic concentrations and side effects.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a plurality of needles arranged in an array with reservoirs and actuators for precise delivery of therapeutic agents to solid tissues, allowing simultaneous introduction and evaluation of multiple agents at defined locations within a tumor, enabling controlled fluid pressure and distribution along the length of the needles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple therapeutic agents are delivered systemically to achieve desired tumor concentration, then tumor treatment efficacy is improved, but systemic side effects increase and drug penetration in under-vascularized tumors remains poor
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the therapeutic delivery system into multiple independent needles arranged in an array, each capable of delivering different therapeutic agents directly to the tumor. This segmentation enables localized delivery to multiple tumor sites simultaneously, achieving reliable tumor treatment while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by delivering therapeutic agents directly to the tumor tissue through needle insertion, creating high drug concentration at the target site without requiring high systemic concentrations. This localized delivery approach improves tumor treatment efficacy while avoiding the harmful effects of excessive systemic drug exposure.
2Reliability
If high systemic concentrations are used to achieve desired tumor concentration, then tumor treatment efficacy is improved, but the cost and time for drug development increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables preliminary evaluation of multiple therapeutic agents directly in the tumor tissue before full-scale clinical trials. By delivering and testing multiple agents simultaneously in a controlled manner, the system identifies effective treatments earlier in the development process, reducing the time and cost associated with traditional sequential testing approaches.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple therapeutic agents are tested in pre-clinical and clinical studies, then drug selection for individual patients is improved, but the complexity of the delivery system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple therapeutic delivery functions into a single integrated device comprising an array of needles with individual reservoirs and actuators. This combined system enables simultaneous delivery and testing of multiple therapeutic agents through one insertion procedure, improving drug selection capability while managing device complexity through functional integration.
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
This approach allows for targeted and efficient delivery of therapeutic agents directly to tumors, reducing systemic side effects and improving the likelihood of effective treatment by evaluating agent efficacy and toxicity at specific tumor sites, thereby enhancing the drug development process and patient response.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to respective ones of the plurality of reservoirs and configured to control a fluid pressure within the reservoir
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.