Resilient Drug Delivery Container with Flow Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disposable IV drug delivery systems lack programmability and accuracy, often resulting in incomplete dosages due to blockages and varying drug viscosities, as they rely on inherent elasticity and tubing resistance for flow control, without alerting patients to occlusions.
Innovation Solution
A drug delivery system incorporating a delivery container with a flow rate sensor and controller, utilizing gravitational force and a resilient material to regulate drug flow, with an alarm for occlusion detection based on a custom risk profile for each drug, ensuring accurate and complete dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If disposable IV systems use inherent elasticity and tubing resistance for flow control, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to inability to maintain accurate flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the delivery container by using resilient material with specific elastic properties to generate controlled pressure. The container is designed to maintain a specific pressure range (e.g., 20-40 mmHg) throughout drug delivery, achieving accurate flow rates through material property selection rather than complex mechanical controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flow control systems (pumps, valves, electronics) with a passive elastic pressure system. The resilient container body itself acts as the pressure source, eliminating the need for powered mechanical components while maintaining flow rate accuracy through elastic force.
2Device complexity
If disposable systems lack programmability features, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates as flow rates cannot be accurately controlled or adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-configuring the elastic properties of the container to generate the required pressure profile. The container is designed beforehand to compensate for pressure changes during drug delivery, ensuring accurate flow rates without needing real-time programming or adjustment.
3Device complexity
If bags lack ability to generate required pressure near end of dosage cycle, then device complexity remains low, but reliability deteriorates as complete dosage cannot be delivered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the container to change its elastic properties during the delivery process. The resilient material is selected and configured to maintain optimal pressure generation capability throughout the entire drug volume, including near the end of the dosage cycle, ensuring complete and reliable drug delivery.
4Device complexity
If systems lack occlusion detection capability, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates as patients cannot be alerted to blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by incorporating sensors that monitor flow rate and pressure conditions in real-time. When an occlusion is detected (abnormal flow restriction), the system provides feedback to alert the patient or healthcare provider, enabling timely intervention while maintaining overall system simplicity.
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 system provides increased accuracy and reliability in drug delivery, minimizing waste and patient anxiety by maintaining consistent pressure and alerting users to potential blockages, thus ensuring the entire intended dosage is administered.
Implementation Method 1
The container body is adapted to utilize gravitational force to expel the drug from the outlet port
Implementation Method 2
The delivery container is constructed from a resilient material
Data Source
AI summary
A drug delivery system includes a delivery container including a container body adapted to accommodate a drug therein, a supply line, a flow rate sensor, and a flow controller. The delivery container further includes an outlet port and is constructed from a resilient material. The container body is adapted to exert an urging force on the drug to expel the drug from the outlet port. The supply line is operably coupled to the outlet port to deliver the drug to a user. The flow sensor senses a flow rate of the drug within the supply line. The flow controller is configured to regulate a flow rate of the drug; the flow controller includes a supply line restrictor and a controller for adjusting the supply line restrictor between at least two settings.