Needleless Injection Device Using Piezoelectric Micro-Jet Propulsion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of needles for transcutaneous or subsurface delivery is invasive, can cause trauma, and poses risks of infection and skin irritation, while also requiring more liquid than necessary for effective delivery.

Innovation Solution

A handheld device that uses a pressure cell and propulsion mechanism to expel micro-jets of liquid through a nozzle, employing a unidirectional valve and piezoelectric impulse generator to penetrate the skin without needles, allowing for controlled delivery of medications or pigments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If needles are used for transcutaneous delivery, then reliable delivery is achieved, but skin trauma and infection risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery reliabilityVSAvoidskin trauma and infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful needle component from the delivery system while retaining the essential function of transcutaneous substance delivery. The needleless jet injection device delivers substances through high-velocity liquid jets that penetrate skin without physical needle contact, eliminating trauma and infection risks associated with needle insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical needle penetration system with a fluid dynamics-based jet injection system. Instead of using a solid needle to mechanically pierce the skin, the system uses pressurized liquid jets that penetrate through hydrodynamic forces, substituting mechanical contact with fluid-based delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If needles are used for delivery, then effective substance transfer is achieved, but larger amounts of liquid are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstance delivery effectivenessVSAvoidliquid volume required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the delivery parameters by using high-velocity micro-jets instead of conventional needle injection. The jet velocity and pressure parameters are optimized to achieve effective penetration and substance transfer with minimal liquid volume, reducing the total quantity of substance required compared to traditional needle methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If needleless jet injection is used, then skin trauma is reduced, but penetration velocity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin traumaVSAvoidmicro-jet penetration velocity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic pulsing of the liquid jet to achieve penetration. Instead of continuous high-velocity flow, the system uses repeated pressure pulses that create periodic micro-jets, allowing the propulsive mechanism to build and release pressure in cycles that maintain high instantaneous velocities while reducing overall trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pneumatic and hydraulic principles to generate and control the high-velocity micro-jets. The propulsive mechanism utilizes pressure differentials and fluid dynamics to accelerate liquid through the orifice, achieving the necessary penetration velocities through controlled hydraulic pressure rather than mechanical force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Enables efficient, non-invasive delivery of substances with reduced risk of infection and trauma, using less liquid and allowing for continuous, even application, such as in tattooing or cosmetic procedures.

Implementation Method 1

the impulse generator includes a piezoelectric crystal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a propulsion mechanism configured to apply a sequence of pressure pulses to the liquid, each pulse of the sequence of pressure pulses to eject a micro-jet of the liquid from the cell via an orifice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11684718B2Device and method for repetitive needleless injection

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 KOLORPEN LTD

AI summary

A device for repetitive needleless injection including a handheld unit having at least a cell fillable with a liquid, and a propulsion mechanism to apply a sequence of pressure pulses to the liquid to eject a micro-jet of the liquid from the cell via an orifice with a velocity that is sufficient to enable the micro-jet to penetrate into the surface; a reservoir that is connected to the cell by a conduit to enable the liquid to flow from the reservoir to the cell; a controller that is configured to operate the propulsion mechanism repeatedly; and a unidirectional valve to enable flow of the liquid from the reservoir to the cell and to prevent backflow. The propulsion mechanism includes an impulse generator configured to displace an actuation surface to generate the pulse; a plunger to transmit the pulse to the cell, and a restoration mechanism to retract the plunger.