Detachable Film Depth Control for Intradermal Needle Projections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needle-shaped administration devices for intradermal drug delivery face challenges in adjusting puncture depth according to skin thickness, leading to potential unintended immune responses and increased costs due to the need for multiple device types.

Innovation Solution

An administration device featuring a needle-shaped body with detachable film members that adjust puncture depth, allowing for customizable penetration based on skin thickness without changing the projection length, thereby simplifying manufacturing and use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If needle-shaped bodies with projections of identical length are used for all patients, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but puncture depth cannot be adjusted for different skin thicknesses leading to unintended immune responses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidadjustability to skin thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The puncture depth adjustment section is divided into multiple detachable film members (first film member, second film member, etc.) that can be selectively removed. Each film member has a specific thickness that corresponds to a desired puncture depth, allowing the device to be adapted to different skin thicknesses while maintaining a single projection length design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The puncture depth is made dynamically adjustable by allowing the removal of film members before use. This enables the device to transition from a fixed-state manufacturing approach to a flexible deployment approach where the effective projection length is adjusted based on patient-specific skin thickness requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of needle-shaped bodies with different projection lengths are prepared for different skin thicknesses, then puncture depth can be adjusted, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability to skin thicknessVSAvoidnumber of device types
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single type of needle-shaped body with identical projection lengths serves multiple functions by combining with different numbers of film members. The universal projection design works with 0, 1, 2, or more film members removed to achieve different puncture depths, eliminating the need to manufacture multiple projection length variants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Film members act as intermediary elements between the fixed-length projections and the skin surface. By removing different numbers of film members, the effective distance from the projection tip to the skin surface is adjusted, providing puncture depth control without modifying the projection length itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the projection length is increased to pierce through thick adult skin, then puncture into dermis layer is achieved, but risk of piercing through skin and reaching hypodermis increases for children with thin skin

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepuncture depth controlVSAvoidrisk of unintended immune response
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The film members are pre-attached to the needle-shaped body at manufacturing, creating a built-in depth control system. The healthcare provider selects the appropriate number of film members to remove based on anticipated skin thickness, ensuring the projection length is appropriate before contact with the patient's skin

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3363491B1Administration instrument
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3363491B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3363491B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3363491B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

Provided is an administration device that can change a puncture depth depending on the thickness of the skin when a needle-shaped body has projections of the identical length. The administration device includes a needle-shaped body having a substrate and a projection protruding from one surface of the substrate, and a puncture depth adjustment section disposed on the one surface and having at least one film member that is detachable from the needle-shaped body.