Needle electrode for position-dependent injection
A device includes a syringe, which has a tip, plunger, and barrel containing a fluid. The device also includes a needle electrode coupled to the tip of the syringe, a release component, and a control component configured to receive electrical measurements made by the needle electrode, determine impedance values from the electrical measurements, and identify a target tissue based on the impedance values. In response to the identification, the control component generates instructions to reposition a release component. A method includes receiving electrical measurements from a needle electrode, determining impedance values based on the electrical measurements. A target tissue is identified based on the impedance values, and a release component is repositioned in response. An article of manufacture includes a needle electrode and a microprocessor configured to receive electrical measurements, determine impedance values, identify a target tissue based on the impedance values, and generate instructions to reposition a release component.
1. A device, comprising:
a syringe having a tip, a plunger, and a barrel that contains a fluid;
a needle electrode coupled to the tip of the syringe;
a release component; and
a control component configured to:
receive an electrical measurement made by the needle electrode;
determine an impedance value of the biological tissue from the electrical measurement using an electrical characteristic;
identify a target tissue based on a computation using the impedance value; and
in response to the identifying the target tissue, generate an instruction to reposition the release component.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the repositioning of the release component allows the fluid to exit the barrel.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control component is further configured to generate instructions to automatically inject the fluid into the target tissue.
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a communication component.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the communication component displays impedance values on a display screen.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the needle electrode has a coaxial structure comprising:
a first conductive layer comprising a hollow needle;
a coaxial dielectric layer coating an outer surface of the hollow needle; and
a coaxial second conductive layer coating an outer surface of the dielectric layer.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the hollow needle is a stainless steel needle.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a frequency-dependent capacitance and a resistance.
9. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a needle electrode electrically connected to a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
receive an electrical measurement made by the needle electrode;
determine an impedance value of the biological tissue from the electrical measurement using an electrical characteristic;
identify a target tissue based on a computation using the impedance value; and
generate an instruction to reposition a release component in response to the identification of the target tissue.
10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , further comprising a syringe coupled to the needle electrode.
11. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the release component is a valve.
12. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , wherein the needle electrode has a coaxial structure.