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Assessment of Forces in Intradermal Injection Devices: Hydrodynamic Versus Human Factors

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Abstract

Purpose

The force that has to be exerted on the plunger for administering a given amount of fluid in a given time, has an important influence on comfort for the subject and usability for the administrator in intradermal drug delivery. The purpose of this study is to model those forces that are subject-independent, by linking needle and syringe geometry to the force required for ejecting a given fluid at a given ejection rate.

Material and Methods

We extend the well-known Hagen-Poiseuille formula to predict pressure drop induced by a fluid passing through a cylindrical body. The model investigates the relation between the pressure drop in needles and the theoretic Hagen-Poiseuille prediction and is validated in fifteen needles from 26G up to 33G suited for intradermal drug delivery. We also provide a method to assess forces exerted by operators in real world conditions.

Results

The model is highly linear in each individual needle with R-square values ranging from 75% up to 99.9%. Ten out of fifteen needles exhibit R-square values above 99%. A proof-of-concept for force assessment is provided by logging forces in operators in real life conditions.

Conclusions

The force assessment method and the model can be used to pinpoint needle geometry for intradermal injection devices, tuning comfort for subjects and usability for operators.

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Abbreviations

ID:

Intradermal

IM:

Intramuscularly

SC:

Subcutaneously

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Acknowledgments AND DISCLOSURES

Authors KB, VVK and SV are co-founders of Novosanis. The other authors report no potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Product Development, Faculty of Design Sciences, University of Antwerp, Campus Mutsaard, Ambtmanstraat 1, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Stijn Verwulgen, Thomas Peeters & Francis Dams

  2. Novosanis, Wijnegem, Belgium

    Koen Beyers, Timothi Van Mulder & Vanessa Vankerckhoven

  3. Voxdale, Wijnegem, Belgium

    Koen Beyers

  4. Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium

    Timothi Van Mulder

  5. Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium

    Timothi Van Mulder & Vanessa Vankerckhoven

  6. Department Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium

    Steven Truijen

Authors
  1. Stijn Verwulgen
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  2. Koen Beyers
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  3. Timothi Van Mulder
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  6. Francis Dams
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  7. Vanessa Vankerckhoven
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Correspondence to Stijn Verwulgen.

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Verwulgen, S., Beyers, K., Van Mulder, T. et al. Assessment of Forces in Intradermal Injection Devices: Hydrodynamic Versus Human Factors. Pharm Res 35, 120 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-018-2397-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-018-2397-2

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