Wearable Infusion Pump with Optical Dose Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable injection and infusion devices face challenges in efficiently administering larger volumes of therapeutic agents, requiring longer injection times and struggling with maintaining skin contact, and lack advanced monitoring and communication capabilities for safe and effective dosing.
Innovation Solution
A wearable injection and infusion device with a housing, drive mechanism, and module for continuous dose monitoring, temperature sensing, and external communication, featuring optical sensors for volume detection and visual/audio indicators to ensure safe and efficient delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the volume of fluid to be administered is increased above 1 mL, then the injection time becomes longer, but the patient's ability to maintain contact between the device and target skin area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a wearable design that transforms the static injection process into a dynamic, mobile system. The pump mechanism can be worn on the patient's body, allowing continuous infusion over extended periods while maintaining flexibility and comfort. This dynamic approach enables larger fluid volumes to be administered without requiring prolonged fixed contact, as the system adapts to patient movement and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection process is divided into controlled segments through the pump mechanism, which delivers fluid in manageable increments rather than as a single continuous injection. This segmentation allows the device to administer larger volumes over time while maintaining consistent delivery rates, reducing the need for sustained pressure or contact at any single moment.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional IV injection is used to administer large volumes of drug slowly, then the injection time is extended, but the requirement for hospital or outpatient setting increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable pump device is designed for self-administration by patients in home settings. The system includes automated pump control, dose tracking, and safety features that eliminate the need for professional medical supervision during infusion. The device self-regulates flow rates, monitors completion, and provides alerts, enabling patients to independently manage their own large-volume drug administrations without requiring complex hospital infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If wearable injection devices include pump and valve mechanisms for controlled delivery, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device integrates the pump mechanism, valve control, reservoir, and user interface into a single unified wearable unit. By combining these previously separate components into one compact system, the device maintains controlled delivery capabilities while reducing overall complexity. The integrated design eliminates the need for multiple separate devices or complex interconnections, making the system easier to operate and manage.
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
Enables continuous monitoring of dose progression, detects stalls, adjusts delivery rates based on temperature, and communicates with remote devices for enhanced safety and user feedback, improving the administration of therapeutic agents.
Implementation Method 1
The module may have at least one dose detection sensor configured for detecting an initiation, progression, and completion of the dosing procedure based on a position of a stopper within the container
Implementation Method 2
The module further may have at least one temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of the medical fluid within the container based on a temperature of the container
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery device for delivering a medical fluid to a patient has a housing configured for receiving a container at least partially filled with the medical fluid. The delivery device further has a drive mechanism associated with the housing configured for delivering the medical fluid from the container to the patient in a dosing procedure. The delivery device further has a module configured for detecting at least one of a property of the dosing procedure and a property of the medical fluid. The module has at least one dose detection sensor configured for detecting an initiation, progression, and completion of the dosing procedure based on a position of a stopper within the container. The module further has at least one temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of the medical fluid within the container based on a temperature of the container.