Needle-free injector motorized plunger multi-dose safety
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle-based injection methods pose challenges in handling and safety, particularly in large-scale, multi-dose, multi-target applications such as livestock immunization, due to difficulties in handling and safety hazards associated with needles.
Innovation Solution
A handheld needle-free injector with a housing, chambers, nozzles, and a motorized plunger system that allows for precise control over injectate delivery, including adjustable nozzle diameters and orientations, and the use of sensors and marking systems to ensure accurate and safe injection processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If needle-based injection methods are used, then injection efficiency and control are improved, but safety hazards and handling difficulties increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the needle component entirely from the injection system, extracting only the essential function of fluid delivery through a needle-free nozzle. This eliminates safety hazards associated with needle handling while preserving injection efficiency through controlled high-velocity fluid ejection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical needle penetration system with a high-velocity fluid jet system. The motorized plunger mechanism accelerates injectate through a nozzle to achieve tissue penetration without physical contact, substituting mechanical needle action with fluid dynamics.
2Measurement precision
If multiple injectates are delivered to different depths, then treatment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the injection system into multiple independent chambers, each capable of delivering a different injectate to a controlled depth. This segmentation allows precise multi-depth delivery while managing complexity through modular chamber design that can be independently controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable nozzle diameters and orientations that can be dynamically changed between injections. This dynamic adjustability allows the same device to deliver injectates at different depths and angles without requiring multiple fixed configurations, managing complexity through adaptability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If needle-free injection is used, then operator safety is improved, but control precision over injection parameters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual needle control with an automated motorized plunger system. This substitution maintains operator safety by eliminating needle handling while improving control precision through motorized actuation with controlled velocity, position, and depth parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors and controllers that monitor injection parameters such as plunger position, nozzle orientation, and injectate flow rate. This feedback system ensures precise control over injection depth and volume while maintaining operator safety through automated parameter management.
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 solution reduces pain for subjects, enhances operator safety, and enables efficient use of injectates by preventing mixing of different injectates at the injection site, facilitating precise and safe large-scale immunization processes.
Implementation Method 1
a motor operatively coupled to the plunger. The plunger may be positioned to discharge a bolus of the at least one injectate through an exit port when slid within the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A needle-free injector includes a housing, a cartridge positioned within the housing, and a plunger slidably coupled to and disposed within the chamber, a motor operatively coupled to the plunger, the motor operable to actuate the plunger in the chamber, and a controller operatively coupled to the motor. Methods of delivering an injectate using the needle-free injectors are provided. Methods of facilitating needle-free injection of a fluid using the needle-free injectors are also provided.