Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ian W. Hunter

Andrew J. Taberner

Nathan B. Ball

Nora Catherine Hogan

Brian D. Hemond

Dawn M. Wendell

Dawn M Wendell

Ian W Hunter

Andrew James Taberner

Brian D Hemond

Nathan Barker Ball

Andrew J Taberner

N Catherine Hogan

Nathan B Ball

Catherine N Hogan

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.

Controlled needle-free transport

A method for injecting a substance through a biological body surface includes providing a needle-free transdermal transport device configured to inject the substance through the surface. The substance is injected into the biological body with the transport device while a parameter of the injection is sensed and a servo-controller is used to dynamically adjust at least one injection characteristic based on the sensed parameter. The substance is injected for (i) a first time period during which a first portion of a volume of the substance is injected at a first injection pressure, and (ii) a second time period during which a remainder of the volume of the substance is injected at a second injection pressure. A viscosity of the substance may be determined, and a pressure calculated for injecting the substance based on the viscosity. The substance may be injected with the transport device by using the calculated pressure.

Injection methods using a servo-controlled needle-free injector

A needle-free transdermal transport device includes a chamber () for holding the substance to be injected, a nozzle () in fluid communication with the chamber, and a drug reservoir () for storing the substance to be transferred to the chamber. The needle-free transdermal transport device also includes a controllable magnet and coil electromagnetic actuator () in communication with the chamber. The actuator receives an electrical input and generates in response a force. The force then causes a needle-free transfer of the substance from the chamber to the biological body. The force is variable responsive to variations in the received input during actuation. The actuator draws the substance from the drug reservoir or alternatively, the substance can be pressurized from the drug reservoir into the chamber by a pressure source.

Needle-free injector device with autoloading capability

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Farmington, CT, United States of America

Dawn M Wendell