Drug Metering

A major healthcare company needed an accurate metering system for a novel drug delivery device. The drug is suspended in a transport fluid and has to be precisely dispensed within a metered 20µl drop at better than 5% accuracy.

42 Technology worked with the client to determine the fundamental drivers for the product which would steer the project and then conducted extensive research into available technologies through patent, literature and internet searches. A team of internal and external experts was assembled and through our creativity process a number of concept designs were determined and evaluated resulting in two contenders.

Pragmatic proof of principle experimentation was undertaken to reduce key risks, evaluate critical components and select the optimum design. The final product had to be disposable and cost is critical. We therefore proposed a simple and effective mechanism utilising readily available, low-cost, precision components to achieve the accuracy required.

The preferred design was detailed and prototypes produced for testing with the target drug. The customer was delighted when his extensive tests confirmed the devices accuracy beating the target specification.