Columbia Technology Ventures

High-pressure injector device for comfortable and rapid drug delivery

This technology is a high-pressure injector device enabling rapid delivery of viscous drugs and can be used for self-administered therapies.

Unmet Need: Simple and convenient injector for delivery of highly viscous drugs

Self-administered therapies, particularly for chronic conditions, can greatly improve patients’ quality of life. However, many new drugs such as antibodies and hormones are very viscous and difficult to administer due to their high molecular weights. Currently available injection devices for high-speed delivery of viscous drugs use mechanical springs that are noisy and uncomfortable, ultimately reducing patient adherence to injection schedules. There is a need for injector devices capable of rapid delivery of viscous drugs, in order to improve patient comfort and adherence to life-saving therapies.

The Technology: High-pressure injector for rapid drug delivery and improved self-administered therapy

This technology is an injection device that uses a water-sensitive biochemical actuation method for high-speed delivery of viscous drugs with enhanced comfort. The device generates a high-pressure response through a triggered actuation mechanism, which results in rapid drug delivery. Unlike currently available injector devices, this technology eliminates the need for noisy and uncomfortable mechanical springs, and does not require dilution of viscous drugs. This technology has the potential to significantly enhance drug delivery of viscous therapeutics, improve patient comfort and adherence to treatment, and can be used for delivery of other highly viscous materials such as adhesives and sealants.

Applications:

  • High-pressure delivery of biologics and other viscous therapeutics
  • Self-injection device for at-home drug delivery
  • Injection device for life-saving emergency drugs (i.e. insulin, epinephrine, naloxone)
  • Delivery method for other viscous materials such as adhesives and sealants

Advantages:

  • Rapid delivery of viscous materials
  • High-speed delivery of life-saving drugs
  • Quiet and comfortable drug delivery for enhanced patient comfort
  • Spring-free drug delivery device
  • Can use a narrower gauge needle for viscous drug delivery compared to current available methods
  • Capable of delivering viscous drugs at higher concentrations compared to current available methods
  • Enables shorter treatment regiments

Lead Inventor:

Ozgur Sahin, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Tech Ventures Reference: