On-Demand Powder Drug Delivery for Stable Continuous Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery devices face challenges in maintaining drug stability and efficacy due to liquid formulation requirements, leading to decomposition and contamination risks, especially for antibiotics, which are difficult to administer continuously or prolongedly without compromising quality.
Innovation Solution
A delivery device that prepares a predetermined amount of solid active pharmaceutical formulation within the device, using a transporting mechanism to transport the formulation to a flushing position, where it is mixed with solvent on demand, ensuring freshness and quality through a controlled mixing process, and includes features like a jetting piston and controller for precise delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid formulation is used for drug delivery, then ease of administration is improved, but drug stability deteriorates due to decomposition and contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the drug delivery system into separate compartments: a reservoir for solid drug formulation and a separate solvent reservoir. The solid drug is transported in discrete amounts to a mixing chamber where it is dissolved in solvent immediately before administration. This segmentation prevents the drug from being in liquid form during storage and transport, eliminating decomposition and contamination risks while maintaining ease of administration through automated delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the solid drug formulation in the reservoir and pre-preparing the solvent in a separate reservoir. The system automatically transports the required amount of solid drug to the mixing chamber and introduces solvent only when needed, just before administration. This preliminary preparation without premature mixing ensures drug stability while enabling convenient automated delivery.
2Stability of the object's composition
If solid active pharmaceutical formulation is transported and mixed on demand, then drug stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates automated mechanisms that perform the mixing process without external intervention. A pump system automatically transports the solid drug from the reservoir to the mixing chamber, and another pump introduces the solvent from the solvent reservoir. The system self-regulates the mixing process, eliminating the need for manual preparation while maintaining drug stability through on-demand mixing. This automation manages the increased complexity through integrated control systems.
3Duration of action of moving object
If continuous or prolonged delivery is implemented, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but drug decomposition increases due to limited stability in solution
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables continuous or prolonged drug delivery by maintaining separate reservoirs of solid drug and solvent throughout the treatment period. The automated system continuously transports small amounts of solid drug and mixes them with solvent on-demand, ensuring the drug remains in stable solid form until the moment of administration. This continuous automated mixing process allows for extended treatment durations without the drug decomposing, as it never remains in liquid form during storage or transport.
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 maintains drug stability and efficacy by preparing and delivering antibiotics in a controlled manner, reducing degradation and contamination risks, allowing for continuous or prolonged administration with precise dosing and flexibility in operation.
Implementation Method 1
a jetting piston configured to enter the flushing position and to produce a jet of the solvent so as to flush the predetermined amount of the active pharmaceutical formulation from the flushing position with a predetermined amount of the solvent towards the outlet
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a delivery device (100) for delivering a drug. The delivery device (100) comprises a housing (102) having an outlet (104) and a cartridge compartment (108) configured to receive a cartridge (112) filled with an active pharmaceutical formulation in solid form, particularly in powder form, a transporting mechanism (132) configured to transport an predetermined amount of the active pharmaceutical formulation to a flushing position (134), a pumping mechanism (146) connectable to a solvent reservoir (147) and configured to deliver solvent from the solvent reservoir (147) towards the outlet (104), a jetting piston (154) configured to enter the flushing position (134) and to flush the predetermined amount of the active pharmaceutical formulation from the flushing position (134) with a predetermined amount of the solvent towards the outlet (104), and a controller (114) at least configured to control operation of at least one of the transporting mechanism (132), the pumping mechanism (146), the jetting piston (154).