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An experimental study of a spring-loaded needle-free injector: Influence of the ejection volume and injector orifice diameter

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Abstract

Needle-free injection is an alternative strategy to conventional needle injection in the field of drug delivery. This approach offers a number of advantages, especially in reducing complaints of needle phobia and avoiding the occurrence of accidental needle stick injuries. The ejection volume and orifice diameter are inherently important in determining the injection depth and percent delivery. In this study, we investigate the dispersion pattern of liquid penetration into gels and porcine tissues using a needle-free injector with ejection volumes of 0.05 to 0.35 mL and orifice diameters of 0.17 to 0.50 mm. In addition, the influence of the two parameters is analyzed quantitatively on the dispersion pattern through impact experiments and injection experiments. Furthermore, an equation of the jet power calculated by the ejection volume and orifice diameter is proposed to describe the delivery fraction of the injection experiments. Controls of the ejection volume and orifice diameter are demonstrated to help achieve a more effective injection process and a better injection experience.

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Abbreviations

NFI:

Needle-free injection

A 0 :

The area of the nozzle exit section

D 0 :

Orifice diameter

E 0 :

Jet power at the nozzle exit

L c :

The total depth of the dispersion

L m :

The distance from the surface to the location of maximum width of the dispersion region

L s :

The distance of the injection region

W k :

The maximum width of the dispersion region

W c :

The width of the injection region

Q :

Volume flowrate

T :

Injection duration

ν 0 :

Average velocity

ρ :

Liquid density

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (grant number: 2014CB239203); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (grant number: 51474158); and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China (Key Program) (grant number: 2016CFA088).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Dongping Zeng, Ni Wu, Lu Xie, Xiaoxiao Xia & Yong Kang

  2. Hubei Key Laboratory of Accoutrement Technique in Fluid Machinery and Power Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Dongping Zeng, Ni Wu, Lu Xie, Xiaoxiao Xia & Yong Kang

  3. Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterjet Theory and New Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

    Dongping Zeng, Ni Wu, Lu Xie, Xiaoxiao Xia & Yong Kang

Authors
  1. Dongping Zeng
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  2. Ni Wu
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  3. Lu Xie
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  4. Xiaoxiao Xia
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  5. Yong Kang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yong Kang.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Won Hyoung Ryu

Dongping Zeng received his B.S. degree from Northwest Agriculture Forestry University, Xian, China, in 2016 and is now a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. He focuses on the mechanical principles and clinical applications of needle-free jet injectors.

Yong Kang received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Chongqing University, China, in 2001 and 2006, respectively. He is now a Professor and the Vice Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. His research interests include biomedical engineering, water-jet technology and mining technology.

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Zeng, D., Wu, N., Xie, L. et al. An experimental study of a spring-loaded needle-free injector: Influence of the ejection volume and injector orifice diameter. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 5581–5588 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-1051-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-1051-1

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