Transdermal transport device with suction

• US 20030139727A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Hunter, Ian W., Hansen, Peter, Angel, Aimee B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1405 Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1581 Right-angle needle-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• 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 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/155 pressurised by gas introduced into the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/425 Protruding skin to facilitate piercing, e.g. vacuum cylinders, vein immobilising means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

A transdermal transport device includes a reservoir for holding a formulation of an active principle, and one or more needles. Each needle has a bore through which the formulation is transported between the reservoir and a biological body, and has an end portion that is substantially aligned in a plane parallel to a surface of the biological body when the device is placed on the surface. The device also includes a vacuum generator which creates a suction to draw a portion of the surface beyond the plane of the end portions to enable the end portions to penetrate the portion of the surface as the needles are translated along an axis that is substantially parallel to the plane.

Claims

1. A transdermal transport device, comprising:

a reservoir for holding a formulation of an active principle;

one or more needles, each needle having a bore through which the formulation is transported between the reservoir and a biological body, each needle having an end portion that is substantially aligned in a plane parallel to a surface of the biological body when the device is placed on the surface; and

a vacuum generator which creates a suction to draw a portion of the surface beyond the plane of the end portions to enable the end portions to penetrate the portion of the surface as the needles are translated along an axis that is substantially parallel to the plane.

2. The transdermal transport device of claim 1 wherein the vacuum is used to secure the device to the surface of the body.

3. The transdermal transport device of claim 2 wherein the vacuum is turned off after the needles penetrate the skin.

4. The transdermal transport device of claim 1 wherein the needles are rotated about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane.

5. A transdermal transport device, comprising:

a means for holding a formulation of an active principle;

a means for transporting the formulation between the means for holding the liquid formulation and a target area of a biological body; and

a means for creating a suction to draw a portion of the target area towards the means for transporting to facilitate penetrating the portion of the target area with the means for transporting.

6. A method of transdermally transporting a formulation of an active principle, comprising:

generating a suction to draw a portion of a target area of a biological body towards an array of needles of a transdermal transport device, each needle have an end portion which is substantially aligned in a plane parallel to a surface of the biological body; and

driving the end portions into the portion of the target area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the suction secures the device to the surface of the body.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising turning off the suction after the end portions have penetrated the portion of the target area.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein driving includes rotating the end portions of the needles about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane that is parallel to the surface of the biological body.