Transdermal Patch Flux Controller Barrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transdermal medication delivery systems lack control over medication flux, leading to inconsistent and potentially excessive drug delivery, which can result in adverse effects or reduced efficacy.

Innovation Solution

A flux controller, or barrier, is positioned between the transdermal patch and the skin to manage and control the flow of medication, allowing for adjustable reduction in medication delivery by using semi-permeable materials with predetermined apertures and shapes to regulate the flowrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a transdermal patch delivers medication without a flux controller, then the medication delivery is simple and direct, but the medication flux cannot be controlled leading to excessive or inconsistent drug delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedication delivery controlVSAvoidpatch structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A flux controller barrier is introduced as an intermediary component positioned between the transdermal patch and the skin. This barrier selectively permits certain wavelengths of light to pass through while blocking others, thereby controlling the flux of medication delivery to the skin without requiring complex electronic control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The flux controller utilizes a semi-permeable barrier material with predetermined apertures or pores that regulate the passage of medication molecules. The porosity and aperture size are designed to allow controlled permeation of medication while preventing excessive or inconsistent delivery, thus achieving reliable flux control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If a flux controller barrier is added to control medication flux, then medication delivery can be regulated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing flexibilityVSAvoidpatch structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flux controller barrier is designed with spatially varying properties, including different aperture sizes, shapes, and distributions in different regions of the barrier. This local quality variation enables precise control over medication flux patterns, allowing tailored dosing for different body areas and patient needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier material and its aperture configuration are designed to dynamically respond to variations in patch application conditions, such as skin temperature, humidity, and pressure. This dynamic behavior allows the flux controller to adapt medication delivery rates to individual patient needs without requiring complex active control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If semi-permeable materials with apertures are used to control medication flow, then flux control is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflux control consistencyVSAvoidaperture dimensional control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flux controller barrier is manufactured by controlling physical and chemical parameters of the barrier material, such as polymer composition, cross-linking density, and aperture formation methods. By optimizing these parameters, consistent and reliable flux control is achieved without requiring extremely tight dimensional tolerances on individual aperture features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier is constructed as a composite material system combining multiple layers or components, each contributing specific properties to the overall flux control performance. This composite approach allows the system to achieve reliable medication flux control through the combined effects of different materials rather than relying solely on precise dimensional control of individual features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution enables precise control over medication delivery, reducing the risk of adverse effects and improving efficacy by allowing for tailored dosing based on patient needs, while maintaining the benefits of transdermal administration.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

using semi-permeable materials with predetermined apertures and shapes to regulate the flowrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltering: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10980990B1Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing transdermal patches

Publication Date: 2021.04.20 N BRERETON MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, controlling delivery of a transdermally-delivered medication, certain embodiments including a flux controller.