Self-aligning Piezoelectric Fluid Delivery Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical eye droppers dispense large volumes of fluid, leading to overflow and loss of medication due to the human eye's limited capacity to retain fluid on the corneal surface, and there is a risk of bacterial contamination with existing refillable devices.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery device with an alignment system that allows self-administration of fluid to the eye, featuring a disposable sterile drug ampoule with a dispensing nozzle that can be easily attached to and detached from a piezoelectric transducer, eliminating the need for refilling and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a refillable droplet generator is used, then the device can be reused, but the risk of bacterial contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate components: a reusable piezoelectric actuator and a disposable sterile ampoule. This segmentation allows the sterile component to be discarded after use, eliminating contamination risks while maintaining device reusability through the durable actuator portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile ampoule is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for sterilization procedures and prevents bacterial contamination, while the more expensive reusable actuator can be used multiple times with different ampoules.
2Productivity
If large volume drops are dispensed, then the fluid reservoir is efficiently utilized, but the medication overflows and is lost from the eye surface
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery is segmented into multiple small droplets delivered in sequence rather than a single large drop. This allows the total medication volume to be efficiently transferred from the reservoir while preventing overflow by delivering the fluid in manageable increments that the eye can retain.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric actuator delivers droplets in a continuous controlled sequence, maintaining steady fluid transfer from the reservoir to the eye surface. This continuous action ensures complete reservoir utilization while preventing accumulation and overflow through controlled delivery timing.
3Ease of operation
If a single large droplet is delivered, then the dosing is simple, but the blinking reflex removes most of the delivered fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The single large droplet is segmented into multiple smaller droplets delivered in rapid succession. This segmentation allows the medication to be delivered before the blinking reflex occurs, ensuring retention on the eye surface while maintaining simple automated operation through the piezoelectric actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator delivers droplets in a periodic sequence at a frequency that completes delivery before the patient's natural blink reflex. This periodic action ensures the medication remains on the eye surface without being removed by blinking, while maintaining simple automated dosing operation.
4Device complexity
If the dispensing device is misaligned with the eye, then the device structure remains simple, but the dosing accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
An optical alignment system provides real-time feedback to the user during device positioning. The system uses mirrors and visual indicators to show when the aperture is correctly aligned with the eye, enabling simple self-alignment without complex automated mechanisms while ensuring accurate dosing.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment system is designed to be self-aligning through optical feedback that the user observes. The mirrors and visual indicators allow the patient to independently position the device correctly without requiring complex automated alignment mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving accurate dosing.
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 device ensures precise and convenient dosing by delivering a single stream of fluid, which causes less discomfort and is more effective than mist or multiple droplets, while also reducing the risk of contamination and improving compliance.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator configured to eject fluid from the reservoir through the one or more apertures
Implementation Method 2
the image-based alignment system includes a mirror system configured to enable self-alignment of the one or more apertures with the target location by focusing and centering of an image of the eye observed by the same eye of the user in the mirror system
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the invention include a device for fluid delivery to the ocular surface having a self-alignment system. The fluid delivery device includes a fluid package having a reservoir and one or more apertures, an actuator component configured to eject fluid from the reservoir through the one or more apertures and an image-based self-alignment system configured to align fluid ejected through the one or more apertures with a target location on the eye of a user. Also provided are methods of using the devices in fluid delivery applications, as well as a kit that includes components of the devices.