Microblade array impact applicator

• US 10,342,963 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2015
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Cao, Michael T., Keenan, Richard L., Trautman, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shi, Katherine M
• Application Number:
  US14/949,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20160074644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 606167, 606172, 606181-186, 604 22, 604 46, 604117, 604118, 604135, 604272, 604289, 604506
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150282 for piercing elements, e.g. blade, lancet, canula, needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150984 Microneedles or microblades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15194 fully automatically retracted, i.e. the retraction does not require a deliberate action by the user, e.g. by terminating the contact with the patient's skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

An applicator device (10) is provided for applying a patch (44) having an array of microprotrusions (90) to the stratum corneum. The applicator device (10) includes a device body (12) and a piston moveable within the device body (12). A cap (16) is provided on the device body (12) for activating the device (10) to impact the stratum corneum with a microprotrusion array (44,90). The device (10) is capable of being cocked by one handed operation of the user which allows the device (10) to be used by patients having neither the strength nor the manual dexterity to cock other types of applicator devices.

Claims

1. A method of impacting a penetrating member against the stratum corneum, the method comprising:

providing an impacting device having a device body, a piston, and an impact spring;

cocking the impacting device using only one hand by moving the piston and the device body together to a cocked position whereby the piston is locked in the cocked position;

providing a penetrating member;

mounting said penetrating member on said impacting device; and

releasing said piston to impact the penetrating member against the stratum corneum, wherein said penetrating member comprises microprotrusions and wherein the impacting device comprises a rotational locking arrangement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the releasing comprises:

holding the impacting device against the stratum corneum with a predetermined hold down force.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the microprotrusions are arranged in an array.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the piston has a lower surface which is substantially planar, convex, or configured to a body surface.

5. A method of transdermal drug delivery, the method comprising:

providing an impacting device having a device body, a piston, a penetrating member comprising a patch which includes microprotrusions, and an impact spring;

cocking the impacting device using only one hand whereby the piston is locked in the cocked position;

mounting said penetrating member on the device body; and

releasing said piston to impact the penetrating member against the stratum corneum, wherein the impacting device is cocked by moving the piston and the device body together to a cocked position by compressing the impacting device between a user'"'"'s hand and another surface.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the patch is frangibly connected to a retainer, further, wherein the retainer is attached to the device body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the patch is separated from the retainer by the downward force of the piston.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the patch comprises an adhesive for adhering the patch to the stratum corneum.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the impacting device comprises a rotational locking arrangement.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the piston has a lower surface which is substantially planar, convex, or configured to a body surface.