NEEDLE-FREE TRANSDERMAL INJECTION DEVICE

• US 20170143906A1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Portal Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Portal Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Coats, Andrew, Dyer, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,737,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3007 with specially designed jet passages at the injector's distal end

Abstract

An apparatus for use in injectate delivery includes an actuator including a linkage, a force generating mechanism mechanically coupled to the linkage, and a controller coupled to the force generating mechanism. The force generating mechanism includes a passive force generator and an active force generator. In operation and on the basis of a control signal, the controller is configured to control the force generating mechanism to provide an input force to the linkage that is a combination of the first force provided by the passive force generator and a second force provided by the active force generator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in injectate delivery, the apparatus comprising:

an actuator including a linkage, a force generating mechanism mechanically coupled to the linkage, and a controller coupled to the force generating mechanism, wherein

the force generating mechanism includes a passive force generator and an active force generator; and

the controller in operation and on the basis of a control signal, is configured to control the force generating mechanism to provide an input force to the linkage that is a combination of the first force provided by the passive force generator and a second force provided by the active force generator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to control the input force provided to the linkage, including controlling the second force provided by the active force generator, to cause movement of the actuator at a target velocity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to indirectly control the second force provided by the active force generator by controlling a torque generated by the active force generator, wherein the torque is proportional to the second force.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the controller is further configured to control the input force provided to the linkage such that velocity of the actuator achieves a target velocity profile over an operational cycle of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a displacement sensor for measuring a displacement of the actuator from a reference position, wherein the controller includes an input for receiving a displacement measurement of the actuator from the displacement sensor and is configured to determine an estimate of a velocity of the actuator based on the received displacement measurement.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to determine the estimate of the velocity of the actuator based on the received displacement measurement and one or more previously received displacement measurements.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the active force generator comprises an electromagnetic motor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electromagnetic motor includes an electromagnetic rotary motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the electromagnetic motor includes an electromagnetic linear motor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the passive force generator comprises an energy storage element storing mechanical energy, said energy storage element configured to cause the passive force generator to provide the first force to the linkage.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the energy storage element is configured to store mechanical energy as compressed air.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the energy storage element includes a spring for storing the mechanical energy.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the spring comprises a helical spring directly coupled to the linkage.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the helical spring is configurable into a rest state wherein the helical spring stores no mechanical energy and into a compressed state wherein the helical spring stores mechanical energy.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the helical spring is configurable into a rest state wherein the helical spring stores no mechanical energy and into an expanded state wherein the helical spring stores mechanical energy.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring directly coupled to the motor and indirectly coupled to the linkage via the motor.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring directly coupled to the linkage.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the spring comprises a beam spring.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a chamber for holding an injectate, wherein the actuator is disposed within the chamber and is configured to exert a net force, proportional to the input force on the injectate in the chamber via the linkage during operation.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the linkage comprises a ball screw.

21. An apparatus for delivering a fluid held within a chamber to a patient, said apparatus comprising:

an actuator element for exerting a force on the fluid in the chamber during operation;

an electromagnetic motor for driving the actuator element, said motor during operation causing the actuator element to apply a first force component on the fluid in the chamber during a fluid transfer cycle;

an energy storage element storing mechanical energy (spring, compressed air), said energy storage element for causing the actuator element to apply a second force component on the fluid in the chamber during the fluid transfer cycle, wherein the total force applied by the actuator on the fluid in the chamber during the fluid transfer cycle is the sum of the first and second force components; and

a controller for controlling the electromagnetic motor to dynamically vary the first force component throughout the fluid transfer cycle.