Control Mechanism Timing with Specialty Gels & Fluids

As new parenteral drug products are developed, they often require easy-to-use, precise, consistent, portable, safe, and stable devices to deliver the drug into the body. Carefully designed, innocuous, and precisely controlled lubricants and motion control (damping) gels from Nye assist device designers and manufacturers confronted with functionality and usability challenges related to the control of motion and friction.

Many drug delivery devices use one or more springs as the power source for the mechanism. In the case of an autoinjector pen, the energy in the spring is typically used to:

• Accelerate the syringe assembly and move the needle to puncture the injection site painlessly
• Provide pressure on the piston of the syringe to inject the drug at the correct rate
• Retract the needle after a specified injection time
• Shield the needle to improve patient safety

How Do Gels & Fluids Control Mechanism Timing?

It may not be easy to match a spring’s force profile to the complex mechanical actions of a device tuned to the delivery requirement of a particular drug formulation. The release of force may be too rapid or too slow during various stages of the delivery cycle. Injection timing can also be critical to ensure complete injection at the right depth. These forces can be moderated or controlled by means of viscous damping. Nye can simulate and model the forces applied in our laboratories, and match the desired energy release to the rheology of customized Motion Control gels. In practice, these are often applied on a shaft or in a rotational or piston damper mechanism.

Ensure Consistent Performance

The supply chain presents challenges for drug delivery devices such as:

• Long shelf-life
• Shock and vibration
• Temperature variation

Many parenteral drug products must be stored at low temperature which yields an additional risk as patients might use the device before it has warmed to the correct temperature range. In warmer climates, devices may be actuated above normal room temperatures. We’ll select or develop the right gel or fluid that optimizes mechanism functionality while also staying in its intended location, remaining structurally stable over time and temperature, and displaying appropriate materials compatibility.

Partner with the Industry Experts!

With a breadth of experience in this industry, a choice of solutions, and extensive tribological, physical and rheological testing capabilities, Nye’s Research and Development team are ready to partner with you.  Our projects are discretely and effectively managed and our ISO 13485:2016 QS certification ensures that partners receive the specification development, documentation and audit support they need, as well as batch-to-batch consistency. We’ll assist from concept to the industrialization phase of your device, and beyond.

Want to learn more? Contact us to let us know how we can help with your application.