Reusable Transdermal Pod with Replaceable Cannula Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug administration devices require frequent replacement of entire units every 2 to 10 days, leading to high patient costs, medical waste, and health risks due to prolonged cannula use, making them unaffordable and unsustainable for underprivileged individuals.
Innovation Solution
A Bluetooth-controlled device with a cannula replacement mechanism, refillable drug cartridge, and sterile cannula injector that allows for the sole replacement of the cannula, reducing waste and costs, while maintaining device functionality and ensuring sterile administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire device is replaced every 2 to 10 days, then health risks from prolonged cannula use are reduced, but patient costs and medical waste increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate replaceable components: the cannula can be replaced independently every 2-10 days to maintain health safety, while the main device body is reused. This segmentation allows selective replacement of only the contaminated cannula portion rather than the entire device, significantly reducing medical waste while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use, while the main device body is recovered and reused multiple times. This approach discards only the necessary portion (cannula) that becomes contaminated, while recovering and reusing the expensive device components, thereby reducing both cost and waste.
2Reliability
If the entire device is replaced every 2 to 10 days, then health risks from prolonged cannula use are reduced, but patient costs increase to over $1000 annually
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into expensive reusable components (device body, motors, electronics) and inexpensive disposable components (cannula). This allows the expensive parts to be reused multiple times while only the cheap cannula is replaced frequently, dramatically reducing annual patient costs from over $1000 to a fraction of that amount.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is designed as a cheap, short-living disposable component that can be replaced frequently (every 2-10 days) without significant cost impact. This allows maintenance of health safety requirements while keeping overall device costs affordable for patients.
3Quantity of substance
If the cannula is kept under the skin for a prolonged period due to inability to afford replacements, then patient expenses are reduced, but severe infections and health crises occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is designed as an inexpensive disposable component that can be replaced frequently (every 2-10 days) without significant cost impact. This allows maintenance of health safety requirements while keeping overall device costs affordable for patients.
4Reliability
If the entire device is replaced frequently, then sterile administration is ensured, but device complexity and manufacturing waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a reusable main body and a replaceable cannula. The replacement mechanism is simplified to only handle cannula insertion and removal, rather than managing entire device replacements. This reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining sterile administration capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A drug-administering, transdermal pod that uses Bluetooth motorized sensor technology to mechanize a replaceable subcutaneous cannula and refillable drug cartridge through user input via a mobile app.