Method for forming hollow out-of-plane microneedles and devices formed hereby
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of manufacturing a microneedle device, comprising:
- providing a substantially planar base plate;
providing a plurality of micropillars substantially perpendicular to said base plate;
introducing a hardenable substance onto said base plate;
selecting conditions such that said substance is retained with a greater circumference near to said base plate and extends up said pillars to a lesser circumference to create a needle shape; and
removing said pillars while preserving said needle shape;
thereby forming a plurality of hollow microneedles.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming microneedles and other microstructures using hardenable materials and useful for substance monitoring and/or drug delivery.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A method of manufacturing a microneedle device, comprising:
-
providing a substantially planar base plate;
providing a plurality of micropillars substantially perpendicular to said base plate;
introducing a hardenable substance onto said base plate;
selecting conditions such that said substance is retained with a greater circumference near to said base plate and extends up said pillars to a lesser circumference to create a needle shape; and
removing said pillars while preserving said needle shape;
thereby forming a plurality of hollow microneedles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
19. A method of manufacturing a microneedle array, comprising:
-
providing a substantially planar base plate;
providing a plurality of microholes in said base plate;
introducing a hardenable substance onto said base plate;
selecting conditions such that said substance is retained with a greater circumference near to said base plate; and
forcing a solid, liquid or gaseous material from the flat supporting base plate up through the substance wherein the substance is selected that has an adequate viscosity, and the material penetrating the substance is drawn at a slow enough speed so that the substance can follow; and
thereby forming a plurality of hollow microneedles.
-
-
28. A device monitoring one or more substances of interest comprising:
-
a plurality of out-of-plane microneedles formed from a hardenable material for applying to a surface of an internal region, said microneedles long enough to sample one or more substances of interest at and/or just below said surface;
said microneedles comprising one or more membranes on a side opposite a side applied to said surface such that said membrane is not placed under said surface;
said membrane separating said microneedles from a dialysis material;
such that dialysis occurs outside of said internal region. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
-
31. A method of monitoring or delivering substances of interest to an internal region comprising:
-
applying a plurality of microneedles formed from a hardenable substance to a surface of an internal region, said microneedles long enough to prestress a region of the surface at a needle lumen;
applying high pressure to a small local surface region through said microneedles to cause rupture of the surface to open a connection between fluids inside the needle lumen and fluids underneath the broken surface layer; and
using said connection monitor or deliver one or more substances of interest at and/or just below said surface.
-
-
32. A method of monitoring or delivering substances of interest to an internal region comprising:
-
applying a plurality of puncture structures containing through-holes formed from a hardenable substance with a flexible backing to a surface of an internal region, said puncture structures long enough to prestress a region of the surface at a through-hole;
applying a deforming force to a flexible backing of said structures, said force widening a through-hole area in contact with said prestressed region to cause rupture of the surface to open a connection between fluids inside the through-hole and fluids underneath the surface layer; and
using said connection monitor or deliver one or more substances of interest at and/or just below said surface.
-
Specification