Advantages
- One device handles both drug delivery and fluid extraction seamlessly
- Wireless operation removes the need for large external pump hardware
- Miniaturized design enables painless access to deep internal tissues
- Scalable 3D printing makes manufacturing cost effective and efficient
Summary
The shift toward minimally invasive medicine has exposed a critical gap in current microneedle technologies. Existing devices are confined to superficial skin applications, rely on bulky external pumps or sluggish passive mechanisms, and cannot actively switch between drug delivery and fluid extraction. For clinicians managing complex conditions like cancer, this means no viable tool exists for sustained, localized, wireless intervention deep within the body.
A new microneedle platform addresses these limitations through a wireless, bidirectional fluid transport system built around a 3D printed coaxial architecture. Focused ultrasound applied to an internal ferrofluid sheath generates thermal gradients that autonomously drive fluid through microscale channels, while an external magnet controls flow direction on demand. This eliminates the need for external pumps entirely, enabling both targeted drug delivery and deep tissue biopsy extraction in a single miniaturized, minimally invasive device.
Desired Partnerships
- License
- Sponsored Research
- Co-Development