Delivery of a solid body and/or a fluid using a linear Lorentz-force actuated needle-free jet injection system

• US 8,821,434 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Hunter, Ian W., Taberner, Andrew J., Hogan, N. Catherine
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, EMILY LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US13/269,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20120095435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 604 57- 64, 604 68- 72
• US Class Current: 604/70
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• 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 5/3015 for injecting a dose of particles in form of powdered drug, e.g. mounted on a rupturable membrane and accelerated by a gaseous shock wave or supersonic gas flow cell injection devices C12M3/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates

Abstract

A method for transferring a solid body across a surface of a biological body includes (i) applying an electrical input to a controllable electromagnetic actuator; (ii) producing with the electromagnetic actuator a mechanical force corresponding to the electrical input; and (iii) applying the mechanical force to a reservoir coupled at one end to a nozzle, the mechanical force producing a pressure within the reservoir, a magnitude of the pressure varying with the mechanical force and causing ejection of a fluid from the reservoir to drive the solid body into the biological body. A method for delivering a substance to a target body includes (i) positioning a needle-free injector proximate to a surface of the target body; (ii) injecting the substance into the target body; and (iii) while injecting, moving the needle-free injector along the surface, thereby sweeping the surface.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a solid body across a surface of a biological body, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing the solid body in a cartridge coupled to a nozzle;

applying an electrical input to a controllable electromagnetic actuator;

producing with the electromagnetic actuator a mechanical force corresponding to the electrical input; and

applying the mechanical force to a reservoir coupled at one end to the nozzle, the mechanical force producing a pressure within the reservoir, a magnitude of the pressure varying with the mechanical force and causing needle-free ejection of a fluid from the reservoir through the nozzle into the cartridge to drive the solid body from the cartridge and into the biological body, the cartridge being separate from the reservoir.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator is bi-directional and the applied mechanical force is applied in one of two directions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body includes a drug-filled capsule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body includes an implant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body includes an RFID tag.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body includes self-assembling scaffolds.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body includes a wire.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body includes a sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid body includes a microparticle having a diameter greater than 100 micrometers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartridge has an orifice, the solid body being driven from the cartridge through the orifice.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cartridge comprises a sterile cover sealing the orifice, the solid body being driven through the cover.

10. A needle-free transport device for transferring a solid body across a surface of a biological body comprising:

a reservoir for storing a fluid;

a nozzle coupled to the reservoir;

a cartridge coupled to the nozzle and containing a solid body, the cartridge being separate from the reservoir; and

a controllable electromagnetic actuator in communication with the reservoir, the actuator receiving an electrical input and generating a mechanical force corresponding to the electrical input, the mechanical force producing a pressure within the reservoir, a magnitude of the pressure varying with the mechanical force and causing needle-free ejection of the fluid from the reservoir through the nozzle into the cartridge to drive the solid body from the cartridge and into the biological body.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the cartridge has an orifice, the solid body being driven from the cartridge through the orifice.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the cartridge comprises a sterile cover sealing the orifice, the solid body being driven through the cover.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the actuator is bi-directional and the mechanical force is applied to the reservoir in one of two directions.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the solid body includes a drug-filled capsule.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the solid body includes an implant.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the solid body includes an RFID tag.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the solid body includes self-assembling scaffolds.

20. The device of claim 10, wherein the solid body includes a wire.

21. The device of claim 10, wherein the solid body includes a sensor.

22. The device of claim 10, wherein the solid body includes a microparticle having a diameter greater than 100 micrometers.