Date of Award
Fall 2024
Project Type
Thesis
Program or Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
John R LaCourse
Second Advisor
Wayne J Smith
Third Advisor
Alyssa O'Brien
Abstract
Injectable drug delivery is an extremely commonplace procedure in the world ofmedicine, with over 16 billion injections administered annually. Due to the high vascularity of muscle tissue, the intramuscular (IM) route is preferred for many antibiotic, biological, and hormonal drugs. Appropriate needle length plays a critical role in the success of IM injection, ensuring that the drug is deposited in the core muscle. Instances of over- or under-penetration are associated with reduced drug bioavailability and vaccine related injury. Unfortunately, guidelines for needle length selection do not always yield positive results due to practitioner error or adverse patient physiology. This thesis investigates the design of a low-cost, portable, and intuitive tissue detection system designed to mitigate IM injection failure. The system incorporates measurements of biological tissue impedance and hypodermic needle acceleration to detect transitions between tissue layers, ensuring that the medicant is delivered effectively.
Recommended Citation
Tausanovitch, Marc Peter, "Bioimpedance Smart Needle System for Real-Time Tissue Detection During Intramuscular Injection" (2024). Master's Theses and Capstones. 1901.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/1901