Perforated Plate Microstructure Module for Single-Use Drug Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microstructure modules for drug delivery, such as those using biodegradable microneedles, face issues like skin irritation, limited drug loading, inaccurate drug delivery, and hygienic problems due to reusable components that can cause secondary infections.
Innovation Solution
A perforated plate microstructure module that includes a perforated plate with openings, base parts within these openings, microneedles on the base parts, and a pressing member with pillars to separate the base parts from the perforated plate, allowing for easy replacement and ensuring a consistent drug delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biodegradable microneedles are used for drug delivery, then the microneedles can dissolve in the skin, but skin irritation occurs due to patch attachment and detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate components: a reusable body and a disposable microneedle array module. This segmentation allows the microneedles to be replaced after single use, eliminating the need for patch attachment and detachment that causes skin irritation, while maintaining reliable drug delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle array is designed as a disposable component that is replaced after single use. This eliminates skin irritation from repeated patch attachment and detachment, while ensuring hygienic conditions and consistent drug delivery performance for each use.
2Length of moving object
If microneedles are made small for skin insertion, then insertion is possible, but the amount of loaded drug is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from single microneedles to a two-dimensional array of multiple microneedles. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain small individual needle sizes for effective skin insertion while dramatically increasing total drug loading capacity through the collective array structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple microneedles are combined into a single array module that functions as one integrated drug delivery system. This merging allows the system to achieve high total drug loading capacity while each individual needle remains small enough for effective skin insertion.
3Reliability
If microneedles are inserted using a shooting device with integral perforated layer and pillar, then complete implantation is achieved, but replacement and cleaning are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a reusable body and a disposable microneedle array module. The module includes the perforated layer and support structure as integrated components that are replaced together after single use. This segmentation maintains complete implantation reliability while enabling easy replacement and eliminating cleaning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle array module is designed as a disposable component that is replaced after single use. This eliminates the need for cleaning and sterilization of components that contact skin, while ensuring complete implantation performance for each use.
4Reliability
If the perforated layer and pillar are integrally formed for single use, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The perforated layer and support structure are merged into a single integrated disposable module. This combining maintains hygiene reliability by ensuring single-use components are replaced entirely, while actually simplifying the overall system by reducing the number of separate components that need to be managed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a perforated plate microstructure module, and more particularly, to a perforated plate microstructure module which can be used to deliver a drug into the skin.