Introduction

The patent describes procedures to aspirate, pump, pulverize, or vaporize for medical use a predefined amount of a compound through a device to introduce or deposit agents on the body. The 3D printed device allows the use of a modular structure that adapts the device to the drug delivery requirements.

Technical features

The invention (TRL 5) is applied in the administration of microlithic volumes of substances (e.g., drugs) to small and large animals, particularly laboratory animals. The invention is used in preclinical and clinical research, however, also applicable in clinical and therapeutic settings, both on human and animal patients, for the inhalation of substances, in gaseous, liquid or powder form, ensuring optimal handling of products obtained from the development of nano materials for nanomedicine and nanotoxicology studies. The device, totally 3D printed in its mechanical parts, can be produced, recycled and reused directly within hospitals and biological laboratories, adapting the modular and flexible structure from time to time and adopting the typical sterile products held by doctors and researchers.

Possible Applications

• In-vivo testing of new drugs;
• Standardization of tests for toxicological analysis;
• Contamination abatement for extraction of substances from cadavers and subsequent biopsy testing;
• Validation of therapies intended for humans by managing engineered nanoparticles intended for millimeter and micro-volume surfaces.

Advantages

• Adaptation of mechanism within new biodegradable inhalers, connected to monitoring devices, for polypharmacotherapy and personalization of therapy;
• Reducing the production of devices to be disposed of as hazardous materials;
• Single inhaler, without using pre-compressed canisters.