KR20190122397A - Micro-jet Drug Delivery System - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microjet medicinal liquid conveying system, and more specifically, to a device which changes a medicinal liquid chamber by using Lorentz force to rapidly increase pressure of medicinal liquid inside the medicinal liquid chamber and accordingly, guide a microjet to convey the medicinal liquid. The present invention, as a medicinal liquid conveying system, comprises: a working coil which forms a magnetic field when currents flows; a medicinal liquid chamber which stores the medicinal liquid and has a modified wall placed adjacent to the working coil in order to flow induced currents by the magnetic field formed by the working coil; a case which accommodates the medicinal liquid chamber; a micronozzle which is communicated with the medicinal liquid chamber; and power which is connected to the working coil. According to the present invention, the microjet medicinal conveying system has a very simple structure since Lorentz force is directly applied to the medicinal liquid chamber, thereby being manufactured at a low cost. In addition, the present invention can easily control pressure, speed and the like of the microjet.

Description

Micro-Jet Drug Delivery System

The present invention relates to a microjet drug delivery system, and more particularly, to a device for delivering a drug by rapidly increasing the pressure in the drug chamber by inducing the Lorentz force and inducing the microjet thereby.

As a drug delivery system for injecting drugs into the body, a syringe with a needle has traditionally been used. However, these traditional syringes have been feared by patients due to pain during injection, and have inevitable problems such as fear of infection due to wounds.

In order to solve this problem, a drug delivery system such as a needle-free injector is being developed. As part of this research, the drug is rapidly jetted by the microjet method and penetrated directly into the body through the epidermis of the skin. A drug delivery system is proposed.

In order to generate such a high speed jet of the microjet method, it is necessary to precisely and powerfully dispense the drug to the outside (ie, skin). Such injection methods have been developed in various ways since the 1930s, and in recent years, injection methods using piezoelectric ceramic elements, injection methods using shock waves caused by applying a laser beam to aluminum foil, and injection methods using Lorentz force. Various injection methods have been developed.

For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0051246 includes a chamber for holding a substance to be injected, a nozzle in fluid communication with the chamber, and a non-percutaneous transdermal delivery device including a medication reservoir for storing the substance to be transferred to the chamber. Is disclosed. The needleless transdermal delivery device also includes a controllable magnet and coil electromagnet actuator in communication with the chamber. The actuator accepts electrical inputs and generates forces in response. The force causes material to be transported from the chamber to the living body.

In addition, Japanese Patent No. 05934710 is filled with a reservoir for storing a fluid, a nozzle and a solid connected to the reservoir, a cartridge separated from the reservoir connected to the nozzle and a controllable electronic actuator in communication with the reservoir. A needleless transport apparatus is provided. The actuator receives an electrical power input and generates a mechanical force according to the electrical power input, which generates a pressure in the reservoir. The magnitude of the pressure varies with mechanical force, and the fluid is needlelessly sprayed from the reservoir through the nozzle to the cartridge to send solids from the cartridge into the living body.

Since the above-described methods include a separate complicated structure for applying pressure to the drug storage unit, such as a coil electromagnet actuator or an actuator, there is a problem that miniaturization is not easy.

In addition, unlike the conventional microjet spraying, it is possible to continuously control the amount of drug to be injected and the spraying speed of the drug, and continuous injection is possible, and the laser-bubble method that can be reused is possible. Has been developed.

For example, Patent No. 10-1500568, Patent No. 10-1834773, etc., by rapidly vaporizing the pressure generating liquid using a laser to increase the pressure to the elastic membrane disposed between the drug and the pressure generating liquid in the direction of the drug There is disclosed a laser bubble type microjet drug delivery device. However, there are limitations in miniaturization and widespread use due to the size and cost of laser equipment.

Patent Publication 10-2009-0051246 Japanese Patent 05934710 Patent Registration 10-1500568 Patent Registration 10-1834773

The present invention is to improve the above-described problems, to provide a microjet drug delivery system of a new method that uses the force of the charged particles in the electric field, that is, Lorentz force, as a pressurizing means, the structure is simple and easy to miniaturize. The purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a drug delivery system, comprising: an actuation coil configured to form a magnetic field when an electric current flows, and an actuation current through which a drug is stored and an induced current flows by a magnetic field formed by the actuation coil. A drug delivery system includes a drug chamber having a modified wall disposed adjacently, a case containing the drug chamber, a micro nozzle in communication with the drug chamber, and a power supply connected to the actuation coil.

The drug delivery system of the present invention is characterized in that when the current flows in the working coil, the deformation wall is deformed by Lorentz force, the pressure in the drug chamber is increased, and the drug stored in the drug chamber is discharged through the micro nozzle. It is done.

In another aspect, the present invention, the power supply device, the power source, at least one capacitor charged by the power source, and selectively connects the capacitor with the power source or the operating coil, to charge or discharge the capacitor It provides a microjet drug delivery system comprising a switching circuit configured to.

The switching circuit may further include a charge switch installed in a path connecting the capacitor with the power source, and a discharge switch installed in a path connecting the capacitor with the working coil. To provide.

In addition, the deformable wall provides a microjet drug delivery system, characterized in that it is thinner than other walls of the drug chamber.

In addition, the actuation coil provides a microjet drug delivery system, characterized in that it surrounds the drug chamber.

In addition, the actuation coil provides a microjet drug delivery system, characterized in that installed in the case.

In addition, the drug chamber provides a microjet drug delivery system, characterized in that the cartridge form that can be mounted to the case.

The microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention is very simple in structure because Lorentz forces act directly on the drug chamber. Therefore, it is possible to miniaturize and to be manufactured at low cost, which is suitable for mass production such as use as a prophylactic vaccine syringe.

In addition, in the present invention, there is no direct physical contact between the actuating coil and the drug chamber, and thus there is no contamination of the drug chamber and the drug.

In addition, since only the drug chamber can be easily replaced because the composition for applying pressure and the drug chamber are not in direct contact, there is an effect of hygiene problems, environmental protection, and resource saving.

In addition, it is possible to easily control the pressure, speed, etc. of the microjet by controlling the current flowing through the working coil.

In addition, the power supply can be used semi-permanently, so that the effect of environmental protection and resource saving can be expected.

1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of operating the microjet drug delivery system shown in FIG. 1.
3 is a perspective view of the actuation coil shown in FIG. 1;
4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a power supply method of the microjet drug delivery system shown in FIG. 1.
5 is a view showing a state in which the drug chamber shown in Figure 1 is separated from the case.
6 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view for explaining a method of operating the microjet drug delivery system shown in FIG. 6.
8 is a view showing a state in which the drug chamber shown in Figure 6 is separated from the case.
9 is a perspective view of the actuation coil shown in FIG. 6.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, embodiments of the present invention may be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully describe the present invention to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the shape and the like of the elements in the drawings are exaggerated in order to emphasize more clear description, the elements denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings means the same elements.

1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of operating the microjet drug delivery system shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, one embodiment of a microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention includes a case 10, an operating coil 20, a drug chamber 30, a micro nozzle 40 and a power supply ( 50).

The microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention delivers the drug (D) into the body through the skin using the force that the charged particles receive in the magnetic field, that is, Lorentz force. The microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention transforms the drug chamber 30 to deliver the drug D by applying an electromagnetic force without physical contact with the drug chamber 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 10 serves to support the actuation coil 20 and the drug chamber 30. The case 10 is made of an insulator such as plastic. The case 10 includes a body portion 11 and a drug chamber receiving portion 12. The working coil 20 is entered inside the body portion 11. The actuation coil 20 may be inserted into the body portion 11 by an insert injection method. The drug chamber receiver 12 is a tubular portion extending from the body portion 11 to accommodate the drug chamber 30 in the interior of the barrel. The drug chamber 30 may be fitted to the drug chamber receiver 12 through an open side of the drug chamber receiver 12. At the lower end of the drug chamber receiver 12, a support 13 protruding inward of the drug chamber receiver 12 is formed to support the drug chamber 30. The support 13 prevents the drug chamber 30 from being pushed to the bottom of the drug chamber receiver 13 when Lorentz force is applied to the drug chamber 30.

The actuating coil 20 is wound around a linear material having good electrical conductivity. When a current flows through the actuation coil 20, a magnetic field is formed around the actuation coil 20. At this time, the magnetic force line is made according to Enfer's right-screw law. As shown in Fig. 3, in this embodiment, a working coil 20 wound in a concentric shape is used.

The drug chamber 30 stores the drug D to be delivered to the body through the skin of a patient or the like. The drug chamber 30 includes walls for forming an internal space in which the drug D is stored. At least some of the walls of the drug chamber 30 must be deformable wall surfaces 31 through which induced current flows and can be deformed by Lorentz forces. In the present embodiment, the upper wall of the walls of the drug chamber 30 is the deformable wall 31. The deformable wall surface is preferably thinner than the remaining wall surface 32 so that it is easily deformed. The remaining wall surfaces 32 are thick enough so that they are not deformed by Lorentz forces. The drug chamber 30 may be made of a metal that can be easily deformed while having excellent electrical conductivity, such as aluminum and copper, for example. The inner surface 35 of the drug chamber 30 is inclined such that the inner surface 35 is closer to each other as it proceeds downward so that the drug D can be easily discharged.

The micro nozzle 40 is installed in the minute hole 36 formed at the lower end of the drug chamber 30. A coating layer (not shown) may be formed on the inner surface of the micro nozzle 40. As the coating layer, for example, a fluororesin may be used. The coating layer may reduce the friction coefficient of the inner surface of the micro nozzle 40, thereby reducing the friction force between the drug (D) and the micro nozzle 40. In addition, the coating layer may help to improve the spraying efficiency by making the inner surface of the micro nozzle 40 hydrophobic. The micro nozzle 40 may be integrally formed in the drug chamber 30.

The power supply device 50 is a device for instantaneously applying a high voltage current to the actuation coil 20. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a power supply method of the microjet drug delivery system shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the power supply 50 includes a power source 51, a capacitor bank 52, and a switching circuit 53. The power source 51 serves to supply electrical energy for charging the capacitor bank 52. As the power source 51, a DC voltage source can be used. The capacitor bank 52 may include at least one capacitor or a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel. The switching circuit 53 functions to selectively connect the power source 51 and the capacitor bank 52, the capacitor bank 52, and the operation coil 20. The switching circuit 53 includes a power source 51, a capacitor bank 52, a conductive line 55 connecting the actuation coil 20, and a charge switch 56 and a discharge switch 57 installed on the conductive line 55. do. The charge switch 56 is installed in a path connecting the power source 51 and the capacitor bank 52. When the charge switch 56 is turned on, electrical energy is stored in the capacitor bank 52. The discharge switch 57 is installed in a path connecting the capacitor bank 52 and the working coil 20. When the discharge switch 57 is turned on, electrical energy stored in the capacitor bank 52 is transferred to the working coil 20, and a high voltage current flows in the working coil 20.

The following describes the operation of the microjet drug delivery system described above.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the drug chamber 30 is inserted into the drug chamber storage part 12 of the case 10 in a state where the cartridge-type drug chamber 30 is separated from the case 10.

When the microjet drug delivery system is operated with the drug chamber 30 coupled to the case 10, the charge switch 56 is turned on with the discharge switch 57 of the power supply 50 turned off. The capacitor bank 52 is charged (see FIG. 4).

When the drug injection button (not shown) is pressed, the charge switch 56 of the power supply 50 is turned off and the discharge switch 57 is turned on to operate the energy stored in the capacitor bank 52 for a short time within 1 ms. As the coil 20 is instantaneously discharged, a current flows in the working coil 20, and a very strong magnetic field B is generated around the working coil 20. The approximate shape of the magnetic lines of force is as shown in FIG.

At the same time, the induced current I by the changing magnetic field B flows on the deformation wall 31 of the drug chamber 30 adjacent to the actuation coil 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the induced current I flows clockwise in the form of concentric circles on the deforming wall 31 in accordance with Fleming's right hand law.

Then, due to the interaction between the generated magnetic field B and the induced current I, a very strong Lorentz force F is instantaneously applied to the deformation wall 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the Lorentz force F deforms the deformation wall 31 away from the actuation coil 20 in accordance with Fleming's left hand law. As a result, the pressure in the drug chamber 30 rapidly rises, and the drug D in the form of a microjet is injected through the micro nozzle 40 so that the drug D quickly and accurately penetrates into the skin of the subject.

6 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a microjet drug delivery system according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a schematic view for explaining a method of operating the microjet drug delivery system shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is shown in FIG. 6. The drug chamber is separated from the case.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, this embodiment includes a case 110, an actuation coil 120, a drug chamber 130, a micro nozzle 140, and a power supply 150. Since the micro nozzle 140 and the power supply device 150 do not differ from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, only the remaining configuration will be described.

The case 110 serves to support the actuation coil 120 and the drug chamber 130. The case 110 is made of an insulator such as plastic. The case 110 includes a body 111 and a drug chamber receiver 112. In the present embodiment, unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuation coil 120 enters the drug chamber accommodating part 112 of the case 110.

In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, in this embodiment, a working coil 120 wound in a cylindrical shape is used. In addition, in this embodiment, both side surfaces of the drug chamber 130 are the deformation wall surface 131.

In the present embodiment, unlike the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as both sides of the drug chamber 130 are deformed by the Lorentz force F, the pressure in the drug chamber 130 rapidly rises, and the microjet Drug D in form is sprayed through the micro nozzle 140. In this embodiment, since the Lorentz force F is applied to both sides of the drug chamber 130, the drug chamber 130 is not separated from the case 110 by the Lorentz force F. FIG. Therefore, unlike the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 it is not necessary to form a separate support.

The embodiments described above are merely to describe preferred embodiments of the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, it is within the technical spirit and claims of the present invention Various modifications, variations, or substitutions will be made by those skilled in the art, and such embodiments should be understood to be within the scope of the present invention.

100, 200: microjet drug delivery system
10, 110: case
20, 120: working coil
30, 130: drug chamber
40, 140: micro nozzle
50, 150: power supply

Claims (7)

As a drug delivery system,
An operating coil configured to form a magnetic field when current flows,
A drug chamber having a deformed wall disposed adjacent to the actuating coil for storing the drug and causing an induced current by a magnetic field formed by the actuating coil to flow;
A case accommodating the drug chamber;
A micro nozzle in communication with the drug chamber,
A power supply connected to the actuation coil,
When the current flows in the working coil, the deformation wall is deformed by Lorentz force, the pressure in the drug chamber is increased, and the drug stored in the drug chamber is discharged through the micro nozzle. . The method of claim 1,
The power supply unit,
Power source,
At least one capacitor charged by the power source,
And a switching circuit configured to selectively connect said capacitor with said power source or said working coil to charge or discharge said capacitor. The method of claim 1,
The switching circuit includes a charge switch installed in a path connecting the capacitor with the power source, and a discharge switch installed in a path connecting the capacitor with the working coil. The method of claim 1,
And the deformable wall is thinner than other walls of the drug chamber. The method of claim 1,
And the actuating coil surrounds the drug chamber. The method of claim 1,
And the actuating coil is installed in the case. The method of claim 1,
The drug chamber is a microjet drug delivery system, characterized in that the cartridge form that can be mounted on the case.

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