Patch Fluid Delivery With Reusable-Disposable Pump Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patch-sized fluid delivery systems for therapeutic compounds face challenges in reducing size, weight, and cost while ensuring reliable and precise delivery of therapeutic fluids, often requiring complex designs with multiple components that are difficult to integrate into a compact form.
Innovation Solution
A patch-sized fluid delivery system is designed with a reusable and disposable portion, where the reusable portion contains the control assembly, sensors, and power sources, and the disposable portion includes the fluid management components and a reservoir, utilizing shape-memory actuators and flexible membrane material to achieve fluid pumping and precise volume control, with features like redundant systems and fail-safe mechanisms to prevent unsafe fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing patch-sized fluid delivery systems are designed with multiple components for reliable and precise delivery, then delivery precision and reliability are improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a reusable portion containing control assembly, sensors, and power sources, and a disposable portion containing fluid management components and reservoir. This segmentation allows the complex precision delivery mechanisms to be contained in the reusable portion while the disposable portion can be simplified and replaced, thereby maintaining delivery precision while managing device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The control assembly in the reusable portion serves multiple functions including controlling fluid delivery precision, monitoring through sensors, and managing power distribution. This multi-functionality consolidates several critical subsystems into a single integrated unit, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining precise fluid delivery capability.
2Reliability
If existing patch-sized fluid delivery systems are designed with multiple components for reliable and precise delivery, then delivery reliability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable and disposable portions, the reliable control systems (control assembly, sensors) are concentrated in the reusable portion that remains on the patient, while the disposable portion contains only essential fluid storage and delivery components. This allows high reliability through redundant control systems without proportionally increasing overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable portion with fluid reservoir and management components is designed to be attached to or integrated with the reusable portion containing control systems. This nested arrangement allows compact integration of multiple functional components without linearly increasing device volume, maintaining reliability while minimizing size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing patch-sized fluid delivery systems use complex designs with multiple components, then fluid management capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into reusable control components and disposable fluid management components. The disposable portion can be manufactured using cost-effective methods for single-use applications, while the reusable portion is manufactured once with higher precision. This segmentation reduces overall manufacturing cost by allowing economical production of the disposable portion while maintaining advanced fluid management capability in the reusable portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable portion containing fluid reservoir and basic management components is designed as a single-use, lower-cost component that is replaced periodically. This eliminates the need to make the entire device expensive and durable, allowing advanced fluid management features in the reusable portion while keeping the overall system cost-effective through the use of disposable components for functions that do not require long-term durability.
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 effectively reduces size and weight while ensuring precise and reliable fluid delivery, incorporating redundant components for reliability and fail-safe operation, addressing the challenges of compact design and precision in therapeutic fluid administration.
Implementation Method 1
The motor may include one or more shape-memory actuators
Implementation Method 2
a fluid path having various valve, pump, and/or dispensing regions bounded by flexible membrane material
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.