Application of Linear Permanent Magnet Flux-Switching Motors to Needle-free Jet Injection

Needle-free jet injection allows delivery of a liquid drug through the skin in the form of a narrow fluid jet traveling at high speed, minimizing the risks of accidents. Doing this in a controlled way requires an actuator with exceptionally high force density. We propose the use of linear permanent magnet flux-switching motors for this task, and describe their characteristics relative to the needs of jet injection. This paper will introduce a design process which involves the use of artificial neural networks as a means of response surface modelling, combined with nonlinear constraint optimization, to deduce a motor design that satisfies all of the challenging linear motor requirements for needle-free jet injection applications.