Needleless Drug Delivery Membrane Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing needleless drug delivery systems face issues with membrane durability due to rapid expansion, leading to potential damage at the edge and center of the separation membrane, and the challenge of preventing drug solution deterioration from laser energy.

Innovation Solution

A needleless drug delivery system with a reinforced separation membrane featuring edge, center, and connection reinforcing portions, along with a double membrane structure and reflective or opaque materials to enhance durability and protect against laser-induced deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single separation membrane is used in the needleless drug delivery system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the membrane durability deteriorates due to rapid expansion causing damage at edge and center portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane structure complexityVSAvoidmembrane durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single separation membrane is divided into multiple functional layers: a first separation membrane and a second separation membrane arranged in series. This segmentation allows each membrane to handle specific portions of the expansion stress, preventing single-point failure and improving overall durability while maintaining manageable device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reinforcing portions are pre-formed at the edge and center of the separation membrane before the rapid expansion occurs. These reinforcing portions prepare the membrane to withstand the expected stress concentrations during operation, preventing damage before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If the separation membrane is made thicker to improve durability, then the membrane strength increases, but the laser energy transmission is blocked causing drug solution deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane strengthVSAvoidlaser-induced drug deterioration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separation membrane has non-uniform thickness with reinforcing portions at edge and center areas that are thicker for strength, while the intermediate portions remain thinner to allow laser transmission. This local quality variation optimizes both mechanical strength and optical transparency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane system uses composite construction with multiple membrane layers and reinforcing portions made of different material properties. The combination provides both mechanical durability and laser permeability that single-material membranes cannot achieve

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If reinforcing portions are added to the separation membrane, then the membrane durability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane durabilityVSAvoidmembrane manufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing portions are integrated into the same manufacturing process as the main membrane body, forming a single-piece component rather than separate parts requiring assembly. This merging approach maintains ease of manufacture while achieving enhanced durability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reinforced membrane structure enhances durability and prevents drug solution deterioration, while the double membrane configuration minimizes contamination and manufacturing costs, ensuring effective and stable drug delivery.

Implementation Method 1

a micro jet injector using a laser-induced shockwave has recently been developed... when the pulse laser beam is focused on a pressure chamber filled with a liquid, explosive phase changes occur due to the instantaneous high energy transfer to a local area and the substances around it are evaporated instantaneously, causing bubbles, whereby the pressure in the pressure chamber rises (volume expansion due to shockwaves and bubbles)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser-induced shockwave: Shock Wave

Implementation Method 2

The laser can concentrate extremely high energy on a very small localized area, and its controllability and stability are also excellent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 3

explosive phase changes occur due to the instantaneous high energy transfer to a local area and the substances around it are evaporated instantaneously, causing bubbles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 4

the pressure in the pressure chamber rises (volume expansion due to shockwaves and bubbles) and the separation membrane expands toward the drug

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock wave: Shock Wave

Data Source

PatentUS10507287B2Needleless drug delivery system

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 JSKBIOMED INC

AI summary

The present invention relates generally to a needleless drug delivery system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a needleless drug delivery system, in which durability of a membrane that partitions a space to fill a drug is enhanced by reinforcing a weak portion of the membrane or by forming a double membrane.