Microneedle adapter

• US 20030181863A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valeritas, Inc. (Zealand Pharma A/S)
• Original Assignee: Valeritas, Inc. (Zealand Pharma A/S)
• Inventors: Davis, Shawn, Ackley, Donald E., Jackson, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/412,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181863A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adapter for the transport of fluids with a microneedle device. The adapter can receive a syringe, for example, that is used to transport a fluid through the adapter for injection into a patient using the microneedle device. The adapter can include a seal through which a syringe needle is inserted to deliver fluid from the syringe into a fluid cavity in the adapter.

Claims

1. An adapter for a fluid transport comprising:

a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an aperture;

a fluid cavity within the housing;

a fluid pathway within the housing; and

a microneedle device mounted to the housing, the microneedle device being in fluid communication with the fluid pathway.

2. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a septum within the housing.

3. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fluid channels.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the microneedle device is attached to the housing with a fluid coupler.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the microneedle device comprises an array of microneedles mounted to the fluid coupler at the distal end.

6. The adapter of claim 5 further comprising a membrane connected to an array of needles wherein the membrane is a flexible material.

7. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises second cavity in fluid communication with the fluid cavity and the microneedle array.

21. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises a second cavity in fluid communication with the fluid cavity in the microchannel array.

30. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the microneedle device includes at least one microneedle having a length of at least about 500 microns.

8. A medication delivery pen comprising:

a housing;

a medication cartridge mounted within the housing;

a plunger mountable to the medication cartridge;

a needle mountable to a second portion of the medication cartridge; and

an adapter that receives a syringe mounted to the needle wherein the adapter has a microneedle array.

9. The delivery pen of claim 8 wherein the medication cartridge comprises insulin or growth hormone.

10. The delivery pen of claim 8 wherein the adapter further comprises a septum mounted within the adapter.

11. The delivery pen of claim 8 wherein the adapter further comprises a plurality of fluid channels in fluid communication with the microneedle array.

12. The delivery pen of claim 8 wherein the microneedle array comprises a membrane that mounts to a distal surface of the adapter.

13. The delivery pen of claim 12 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material.

14. The delivery pen of claim 12 wherein the membrane comprises a second cavity in fluid communication with the fluid cavity and the microneedle array.

31. The medication delivery pen of claim 8, wherein the microneedle array includes at least one microneedle having a length of at least about 500 microns.

15. An infusion set comprising:

a housing;

a fluid conduit housing a first end mounted within the housing and a second end attached to a fluid source;

a needle attached to the housing; and

an adapter mounted to the needle wherein the adapter has a microneedle array.

16. The infusion set of claim 15 wherein the adapter further comprises a septum mounted within the adapter.

17. The infusion set of claim 15 wherein the adapter further comprises a plurality of fluid channels in fluid communication with the microneedle array.

18. The infusion set of claim 15 wherein the microneedle is attached to the housing at an angle in the range between 5°

and 60°

relative to a long axis of the housing.

19. The infusion set of claim 15 wherein the microneedle array comprises a membrane that mounts to a distal surface of the housing.

20. The infusion set of claim 19 wherein the membrane comprises a flexible material.

32. The infusion set of claim 15, wherein the microneedle array includes at least one microneedle having a length of at least about 500 microns.

22. A method for injecting a fluid into an injection site comprising:

providing a fluid coupled with a needle and an adapter having a microneedle array;

placing the microneedle array in fluid communication with the needle;

positioning the microneedle array at an injection site; and

injecting the fluid through the needle and the microneedle array into the injection site.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising penetrating a seal in the adapter and injecting fluid into a fluid cavity in the adapter.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

removing a syringe and needle from the adapter;

maintaining the microneedle array within the injection site;

placing a second syringe and needle in fluid communication with the microneedle array; and

injecting a fluid from the second syringe through the microneedle array and into the injection site.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising connecting the needle to a fluid pump.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising providing an infusion set having an infusion needle and inserting the infusion needle into the adapter.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing a fluid source that is in fluid communication with the infusion needle.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing the microneedle array with a plurality of needles that extend along a first axis and inserting the infusion needle along a second axis having an angle between 10°

and 90°

relative to the first axis.

29. The method of claim 22 further comprising providing an expandable cavity that enlarges a volume of the cavity during transfer of fluid from the needle into the cavity.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the microneedle array includes at least one microneedle having a length of at least about 500 microns.