Bi-directional motion of a lorentz-force actuated needle-free injector (NFI)

• US 9,789,256 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Bosworth, Kami A
• Application Number:
  US14/504,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20150025505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/008 Interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8287 operated by an external magnetic or electromagnetic field
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relate to a method and corresponding apparatus for just in time mixing of a solid or powdered formulation and its subsequent delivery to a biological body. In some embodiments, a powdered formulation is maintained in a first chamber of a plurality of chambers. A plurality of electromagnetic actuators are in communication with the plurality of chambers. The actuators, when activated, generate a pressure within at least the first chamber. The pressure results in mixing of the powdered formulation and a diluent in time for delivering into the biological body.

Claims

1. A method for needle-free injection of a drug through a tissue into a biological body, the method comprising:

providing the drug in a chamber of a needle-free injection device;

providing a gas in the chamber; and

after providing the drug and the gas in the chamber, using a bi-directional electromagnetic actuator to drive a piston in the chamber to (1) fluidize the drug in the gas inside the chamber, and (2) to eject the fluidized drug from the chamber through a needle-free injection nozzle as a jet with sufficient pressure to penetrate the tissue of the biological body, wherein fluidizing the drug involves oscillating the piston using the electromagnetic actuator to facilitate fluidization of the drug in the gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein using the bi-directional electromagnetic actuator comprises using a bi-directional Lorentz-Force electromagnetic actuator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the drug is a powdered drug.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the drug is a solid particulate material.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting the drug inside the chamber on a perforated plate prior to fluidizing the drug in the gas.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein fluidizing the drug comprises using the bi-directional electromagnetic actuator to vibrate the gas inside the chamber to aid in fluidizing the drug in the gas.