Controlled Needle-Free Transport

摘要

A needle-free transdermal transport device for transferring a substance across a surface of a biological body includes a reservoir for storing the substance, a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir and a controllable electromagnetic actuator in communication with the reservoir. The actuator, referred to as a Lorentz force actuator, includes a stationary magnet assembly and a moving coil assembly. The coil assembly moves a piston having an end portion positioned within the reservoir. The actuator receives an electrical input and generates in response a corresponding force acting on the piston and causing a needle-free transfer of the substance between the reservoir and the biological body. The magnitude, direction and duration of the force are dynamically controlled (e.g., servo-controlled) by the electrical input and can be altered during the course of an actuation cycle. Beneficially, the actuator can be moved in different directions according to the electrical input.

主权项

1. A needle-free injector device for injecting a substance into a biological body, said device comprising:
a reservoir for storing the substance; a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir; an electromagnetic actuator in mechanical communication with the reservoir; and a servo-controller for controlling the actuator, the servo-controller during operation causing the actuator to generate a force which produces a needle-free injection of the substance from the reservoir, through the nozzle, and into the biological body at an injection pressure determined by the force, and wherein the servo-controller is adapted to dynamically vary the force generated by the actuator during the injection.