SBIR Phase I: Ultra-low volume approach to injections using a novel jet injection system

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is to develop a rapid and labor-saving approach to managing diseases. Diseases that spread through timber's vascular system are among the most serious threats. For many of these diseases, direct injection treatments are the only effective option. This project aims to deliver treatment efficiently with a jet injection device that enables tailored dosing. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the untested hypothesis that volume-efficient materials can be delivered exclusively to the region of rapid bidirectional flow using a novel jet injection system, and that doing so will meaningfully improve treatment outcomes compared to conventional methods. Key technical hurdles include achieving an effective injection process, accurate volume delivery and avoiding phytotoxicity. To address these challenges, the project will control the relationships among injection port formation, infusion behavior, and dose delivery. The specific goals of the work are to (1) design and develop a jet injection prototype, (2) characterize, model and control for therapeutic infusion during injection port formation, and (3) create a volume-efficient approach to injections and reduced dosages by comparing health and quality outcomes with those of non-injected and conventionally injected treatment groups. Methods include jet injector design and fabrication, empirical validation of injection parameters, controlled field experiments, and statistical analysis of treatment outcomes across dosage levels and injection configurations. Successful completion will produce the first evidence-based framework for targeted vascular delivery and a validated end effector, ready for integration into an autonomous injection platform. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.