Stacked microneedle systems

• US 20010053891A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valeritas, Inc. (Zealand Pharma A/S)
• Original Assignee: Valeritas, Inc. (Zealand Pharma A/S)
• Inventors: Ackley, Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US09/747,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053891A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0038 having a channel at the side surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0053 Methods for producing microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration

Abstract

The present invention relates to microneedle arrays in stacked configurations for fluid delivery, including for example, chemical delivery, sensing, combinatorial chemistry, fluid injections, and microfluidic connectors.

Claims

1. A device for fluid delivery comprising:

a plurality of needles having channels defining a fluid flow path; and

at least one chamber which is selectably in fluid communication with the plurality of needles.

2. The device of

claim 1

wherein the plurality of needles are connected and aligned along a common axis.

3. The device of

claim 1

wherein the plurality of needles are detachably connected.

4. The device of

claim 1

wherein a plurality of fluids can be delivered simultaneously.

5. The device of

claim 1

wherein a plurality of fluids can be delivered sequentially.

6. The device of

claim 1

wherein the plurality of needles comprise a plurality of dispensing ends located in approximately the same plane.

7. The device of

claim 1

wherein the plurality of needles comprises a contact needle array.

8. The device of

claim 7

further comprising at least one dispensing needle array that is mounted within the contact needle array.

9. The device of

claim 8

wherein the at least one dispensing needle array comprises at least one reservoir.

10. The device of

claim 1

further comprising a sensing array.

11. The device of

claim 10

wherein the sensing array comprises a chamber and at least one sensor circuit.

12. The device of

claim 1

wherein the contact array comprises at least one reservoir in fluid communication with the contact array.

13. A method for fluid delivery comprising:

providing a plurality of needles having channels, defining a fluid flow path; and

connecting the plurality of needles.

14. The method of

claim 13

further comprising connecting the plurality of needles such that the channels are aligned along a common axis.

15. The method of

claim 14

further comprising detachably connecting the plurality of needles.

16. The method of

claim 13

further comprising connecting the plurality of needles to a fluid source.

17. The method of

claim 13

further comprising connecting the needles to a plurality of fluid sources.

18. The method of

claim 13

further comprising mixing a plurality of fluids.

19. The method of

claim 13

further comprising delivering a fluid across a biological barrier.

20. The method of

claim 19

further comprising delivering a drug to a patient across tissue of the patient.

21. The method of

claim 13

further comprising providing a first needle array connected to a first reservoir and a first fluid source and a second needle array connected to a second reservoir and a second fluid source.

22. The method of

claim 13

further comprising providing a pump that pumps fluid through the needles.

23. The method of

claim 13

further comprising providing a sensor that detects a fluid.

24. The method of

claim 13

further comprising controlling fluid flow with a control circuit.

25. The method of

claim 13

further comprising reacting a first fluid and a second fluid.

26. The method of

claim 13

further comprising delivering a plurality of drugs through the skin of a patient.

27. The method of

claim 13

further comprising removing fluid from a site with the needle array.

28. A drug flow device comprising:

a first needle array; and

a second needle array in fluid communication with the first needle array such that a drug can be conducted along a path through the first needle array and the second needle array.

29. The device of

claim 28

further comprising alignment pins, wherein the alignment pins provide alignment between the first needle array and the secondary needle array.

30. The device of

claim 28

further comprising needles having distal ends with a diameter in a range of 30-80 microns.

31. The device of

claim 28

wherein the needles having a length in a range of 100-1000 microns.

32. The device of

claim 28

wherein the first array has a first taper and the second array has a second taper.

33. The device of

claim 28

further comprising a sensor circuit that measures a fluid in the device.

34. The device of

claim 28

further comprising an actuator that controls fluid flow in the device.

35. The device of

claim 28

further comprising a control circuit that controls the device.

36. The device of

claim 28

further comprising a plurality of fluid pathways extending through a plurality of coaxially positioned needles.

37. The device of

claim 28

further comprising a pump to deliver fluid through the device.

38. The device of

claim 28

further comprising a seal between the first array and the second array.

39. The device of

claim 28

further comprising a circuit board mounted on the device.

40. The device of

claim 28

further comprising a laminated structure having at least three arrays of metal needles.