Wearable Fluid Delivery Pressure Sensing Outside the Fluid Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid delivery devices, particularly patch pumps, lack effective mechanisms for measuring fluid pressure along the fluid path to detect occlusions or malfunctions, which are crucial for ensuring proper medicament delivery.

Innovation Solution

A wearable fluid delivery device is designed with a separable fluidics module and electromechanical module, where the pressure sensing system is external to the fluid path, utilizing contactless sensors like ultrasonic or laser displacement sensors to measure pressure through a membrane or membrane displacement, allowing for indirect fluid contact and enabling detection of occlusions or malfunctions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pressure sensing system is integrated into the fluid path, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and sterilization difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid pressure measurementVSAvoidfluid path integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two separate modules: a fluidics module containing the fluid path and reservoir, and an electromechanical module containing the pressure sensor and control electronics. This segmentation allows the pressure sensor to be external to the fluid path, simplifying sterilization while maintaining measurement capability through the membrane interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A membrane is introduced as an intermediary between the fluid path and the pressure sensor. The membrane allows the sensor to measure fluid pressure indirectly without direct contact with the fluid, enabling sterilization of the fluid path components separately while maintaining the measurement function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the fluidics module and electromechanical module are integrated, then device complexity is reduced, but sterilization and component reuse become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodule integrationVSAvoidsterilization and reuse

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two separate modules: a fluidics module containing the fluid path and reservoir, and an electromechanical module containing the pressure sensor and control electronics. This segmentation allows the fluidics module to be sterilized separately and reused with different electromechanical modules, improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fluidics module can be sterilized and reused multiple times, while the electromechanical module with the expensive pressure sensor can be recovered and reused across multiple fluidics modules. This approach reduces the need for complete device replacement and lowers overall costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Measurement precision

If direct contact sensors are used in the fluid path, then measurement precision is improved, but contamination risk and sterilization difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure sensing accuracyVSAvoidfluid contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure measurement function is achieved through mechanical displacement of the membrane, which is then detected by the sensor. This replaces the need for direct mechanical contact between the sensor and fluid, eliminating contamination risk while preserving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design facilitates efficient and reliable detection of fluid path issues, optimizing device performance and enabling cost-effective, sustainable production by allowing separate sterilization and reuse of components, while ensuring precise and continuous medicament delivery.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing contactless sensors like ultrasonic or laser displacement sensors to measure pressure through a membrane or membrane displacement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic displacement sensing: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

utilizing contactless sensors like ultrasonic or laser displacement sensors to measure pressure through a membrane or membrane displacement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser displacement sensing: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS20260077118A1Wearable fluid delivery system with pressure measurement system externalized from fluid path between reservoir and outlet to patient

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 BECTON DICKINSON & CO

AI summary

A wearable fluid delivery device (FDD) has a fluidic module and an electromechanical module. The fluidic module has a fluid path from a fluid reservoir to an outlet to a patient that is separate from the electromechanical module and its components that control the delivery of the fluid to the patient. A pump that can be disposed in the fluidic module, or in the electromechanical module and external to the fluid path. The FDD can have a releasably coupled first housing and second housing that enclose a respective one of the fluidic module and the electromechanical module. The first and second housings when connected have respective ones of aligned sensor opening and sensor access opening to create a sensor access area and permit a sensor to detect a pressure in the fluid path and thereby provide a pressure sensing system external to the fluid path.