Controlled needle-free transport

US8328755B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Ian W. Hunter · Lincoln, US
• Andrew J. Taberner · Auckland, NZ
• Brian D. Hemond · Lexington, US
• Dawn M. Wendell · Farmington, US
• Nora Catherine Hogan · Boston, US
• Nathan Ball · Somerville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 18, 2010
• Grant date: Dec 11, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H02K33/00
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

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.