Plasma-Treated Maltose Micro-Needles for Tip Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The fine needles of micro-implements formed from maltose are prone to absorbing moisture, leading to a collapse of their sharp tips and increased pain for patients during use.
Innovation Solution
The method involves irradiating the fine needles with plasma light to strengthen their surfaces and refine the maltose aggregates, preventing tip collapse and enhancing penetration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fine needles are formed of maltose to reduce medical waste, then environmental benefit is improved, but the fine needles are prone to absorbing moisture causing tip collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies plasma light irradiation to create a modified surface layer on the maltose fine needles that acts as a protective barrier, effectively creating an 'inert' environment on the needle surface that resists moisture absorption from the surrounding air, thus preventing tip collapse while maintaining the biodegradable maltose composition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining maltose with other materials through plasma light irradiation, forming a composite material that retains the biodegradable properties of maltose while gaining enhanced moisture resistance and structural stability from the plasma-modified components
2Ease of operation
If fine needles have sharpened cone-shaped tips to reduce insertion pain, then patient comfort is improved, but the tips become rounded when maltose absorbs moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma light irradiation creates a protective surface layer that acts as an inert barrier against moisture, preserving the sharp cone-shaped tip geometry by preventing the moisture-induced softening and rounding that would otherwise occur in the maltose material
3Ease of manufacture
If fine needles are made from maltose aggregates, then manufacturing ease is improved, but penetration time into the body is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies plasma light irradiation to change the physical and chemical parameters of the maltose surface, modifying its molecular structure and density to accelerate dissolution and penetration rates while maintaining the aggregate-based manufacturing process
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
This approach prevents the collapse of fine needle tips, reduces patient discomfort, and shortens the time required for the drug to penetrate the body, while also reducing medical waste and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the fine needles with plasma light to strengthen surfaces of the fine needles
Implementation Method 2
irradiating the fine needles with plasma light to refine an aggregate of maltose that forms each fine needle
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a micro-implement according to a present embodiment is a method for manufacturing a micro-implement having one or more fine needles formed of maltose mixed with a drug, and a substrate on which the fine needles are mounted. The method includes irradiating the fine needles with plasma light to strengthen surfaces of the fine needles.