ATLAS

When patients are diagnosed with a chronic condition, their lives change dramatically, often demanding obtrusive daily routines, expensive treatments, and devices that feel less like tools and more like burdens. On-body drug delivery systems keep patients tethered to rigid, medicalized hardware that signals illness to the world. ATLAS asks: what if it didn't have to?

The Automatic Treatment Lifestyle Assistive System is a modular, reusable OBDS platform designed from the ground up around the patient's lived experience. It replaces the typical plunger-driven injection mechanism with a peristaltic micropump, inspired by how IV drips work, ensuring sterility without direct drug-surface contact, and enabling compatibility with a far wider range of fluid viscosities.

At the core of ATLAS is modularity: interchangeable needle heads (hypodermic or transdermal microneedle arrays) let patients and clinicians choose the least invasive delivery method for their treatment. A reusable cartridge system clicks in and out cleanly, with a secure latch mechanism that prevents accidental removal mid-dose and releases automatically once delivery is complete.

The outer shell uses medical-grade silicone over a polyamide-polyethylene internal structure, reinforced with a graphene nanocomposite scaffold for strength and lightness. Breathable, sweat-resistant synthetic mesh adhesives in a range of inclusive skin tones replace the irritating residue-heavy adhesives common in current-day OBDS designs, making the device feel like a second skin, not a medical fixture.

ATLAS pairs with a detachable smartwatch that docks directly onto the unit or a bedside speaker station. The companion app handles adherence tracking, prescription management, caregiver coordination, and direct contact with healthcare providers, turning the isolated, often overwhelming experience of chronic care into a connected, supported routine.

The digital interface is designed for accessibility across all ages: high-contrast, legible UI for older adults; playful, expressive color customization options for children; and a neutral, low-profile mode for patients who want the system to disappear into daily life. The device reframes treatment not as a clinical obligation but as a quiet, steady companion.

Every design decision in ATLAS is grounded in direct patient testimony. We conducted field research with OBDS users managing Type 1 Diabetes and bone-density treatment, identifying recurring pain points: weight and bulk, stigmatizing visibility, forgotten doses, and the cognitive burden of managing multiple medications simultaneously. These insights, not assumptions, drove the design from first principles.

We also conducted a thorough prior art review across existing OBDS platforms (enFuse, Omnipod, Vertiva), relevant patents, and materials research into graphene composites, microneedle arrays, and double-eyelid crease adhesives, informing both the mechanical and material innovations that distinguish ATLAS from the field.