Patch Fluid Delivery Architecture With Redundant Dosing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable fluid delivery devices for therapeutic compounds are bulky, costly, and prone to malfunction, with challenges in reducing size, weight, and cost while ensuring safe and precise delivery of therapeutic fluids to patients.
Innovation Solution
A patch-sized fluid delivery system with a reusable and disposable portion, featuring a flexible membrane fluid path, shape-memory actuators, and redundant systems for fail-safe operation, including a finite fluid impedance and acoustic volume sensing for precise fluid measurement and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If portable fluid delivery devices are made compact and wearable, then ease of operation and patient compliance improve, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate reusable and disposable portions. The disposable portion contains fluid management components (reservoir, fluid path, pump) while the reusable portion contains electronics and power supply. This segmentation allows the wearable device to be compact while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid management assembly is nested within the reusable housing. The disposable portion with fluid path and pump is inserted into and integrated with the reusable portion containing electronics, creating a compact nested structure that reduces overall device size while maintaining functional separation.
2Ease of operation
If the device size is reduced to patch-sized dimensions, then ease of operation improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable and disposable portions manufactured separately, each component can be optimized for its specific size requirements. The disposable fluid management portion can be precisely manufactured at small scale while the reusable portion can be manufactured with standard tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid path incorporates flexible membrane material that can be formed into precise three-dimensional channels and chambers. This flexible membrane technology enables accurate fluid management geometry to be achieved through forming processes rather than rigid precision machining.
3Reliability
If redundant systems are integrated for fail-safe operation, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Redundant components are placed in the disposable portion which is replaced regularly. This allows redundancy to be implemented without permanently increasing the complexity of the reusable electronic portion, as redundant elements can be discarded with the disposable unit after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates redundant pump mechanisms and fluid path components that provide backup capability in case of failure. This prior cushioning approach ensures reliability by having pre-positioned backup elements that can take over if primary components fail.
4Measurement precision
If advanced fluid management mechanisms are integrated, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Acoustic sensing elements serve as intermediaries to measure fluid volume and flow characteristics. These acoustic sensors detect fluid presence and movement through the flexible membrane, providing precise measurement capability without requiring direct electronic contact with the fluid path.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical fluid measurement mechanisms are replaced with acoustic sensing technology. The acoustic sensors detect fluid volume and flow by measuring sound wave propagation through the fluid and flexible membrane, eliminating the need for complex mechanical measurement components.
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 system achieves a compact, reliable, and cost-effective means of delivering therapeutic fluids, ensuring safe and precise dosing by integrating redundant components and advanced fluid management mechanisms within a wearable device.
Implementation Method 1
shape-memory actuators
Implementation Method 2
acoustic volume sensing
Data Source
AI summary
A patch-sized fluid delivery device may include a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The disposable portion may include components that come into contact with the fluid, while the reusable portion may include only components that do not come into contact with the fluid. Redundant systems, such as redundant controllers, power sources, motor actuators, and alarms, may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, certain components can be multi-functional, such a microphones and loudspeakers that may be used for both acoustic volume sensing and for other functions and a coil that may be used as both an inductive coupler for a battery recharger and an antenna for a wireless transceiver. Various types of network interfaces may be provided in order to allow for remote control and monitoring of the device.