Optimal standoff distance for a highly focused microjet penetrating a soft material

A needle-free injector using a highly focused microjet has the potential to minimize the invasiveness of drug delivery. In this study, the jet penetration depth in a soft material—which is a critical parameter for practical needle-free injections—was investigated. We conducted jet penetration experiments by varying the inner diameter of the injection tube and the standoff distance between the meniscus surface and the soft material. Interestingly, the results showed that the penetration depths peaked at certain distances from the meniscus, and the positions shifted further away as the inner diameter was increased. By analyzing the velocity distribution of the microjet, the peak positions of the penetration depth and the maximum velocities were inconsistent due to the effects of the jet shape. To account for this, we introduce the concept of the “jet pressure impulse,” a physical quantity that unifies the velocity and jet shape. However, direct estimation of this parameter from experimental data is challenging due to limitations in spatiotemporal resolution. Therefore, we used numerical simulations to replicate the experimental conditions and calculate the jet pressure impulse. Remarkably, the results show that the jet pressure impulse has peak values, which is consistent with the penetration depth. In addition, there is a correlation between the magnitude of the jet pressure impulse and the penetration depth, highlighting its importance as a key parameter. This study underlines the importance of the jet pressure impulse in controlling the penetration depth of a focused microjet, providing valuable insights for the practical use of needle-free injection techniques.