Microneedle Devices

• US 20080319404A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Pekurovsky, Mikhail L., Johnson, Mitchell A.F.
• Application Number:
  US12/095,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0038 having a channel at the side surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

Microneedles and microarrays comprising such microneedles are described. The microneedles comprise: a base; a shaft portion extending from the base to a second end distal from the base; a microblade structure extending from the second end; capillary spaces associated with the microblade structure; and a coating in the capillary spaces, the coating comprising an active component. The invention also provides a method for delivering an active component through mammalian skin, comprising: applying the medical device to mammalian skin so that the at least one microneedle is inserted through the stratum corneum and the active component is exposed to interstitial fluids; and allowing the at least one microneedle to remain inserted through the stratum corneum for a sufficient amount of time to dissolve the active component. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for applying an active component to a microneedle, comprising: providing a microneedle, comprising: a base, a shaft portion extending from the base to a second end distal from the base, a microblade structure extending from the second end, and capillary spaces associated with the microblade structure; applying a liquid coating to at least the microblade structure of the microneedle, the liquid coating comprising an active component; and drying the liquid coating to provide a dried coating of active component, the dried coating located at least within the capillary spaces of the microblade structure.

Claims

1. A microneedle, comprising:

a base;

a shaft portion extending from the base to a second end distal from the base;

a microblade structure extending from the second end;

capillary spaces associated with the microblade structure; and

a coating in the capillary spaces, the coating comprising an active component.

2. The microneedle according to claim 1 wherein the microblade structure comprises at least one microscopic cutting surface capable of piercing mammalian stratum corneum.

3. The microneedle according to claim 1 wherein the microblade structure comprises a plurality of wing members extending outwardly from a common central axis, each of the plurality of wing members has a corresponding upper edge capable of slicing through the stratum corneum, the upper edges extending from a common first end at the central axis but terminating at different second ends.

4. The microneedle according to claim 3 wherein the microblade structure comprises a first wing member having a first upper edge, a second wing member having a second upper edge and a third wing member having a third upper edge.

5. The microneedle according to claim 4 wherein the first, second and third upper edges extend from the common first end and the first, second and third upper edges are coplanar.

6. The microneedle according to claim 4 wherein the common first end is a point, the common first end being the distal-most point from the base.

7. The microneedle according to claim 4 wherein the common first end is a point, the different second ends being coplanar and comprising the distal-most points from the base.

8. The microneedle according to claim 4 further comprising a fourth wing member having a fourth upper edge.

9. The microneedle according to claim 8 wherein the first, second, third and fourth upper edges extend from the common first end and the first, second, third and fourth upper edges are coplanar.

10. The microneedle according to claim 8 wherein the common first end is a point that is the distal-most point from the base.

11. The microneedle according to claim 8 wherein the common first end is a point, the different second ends being coplanar and comprising the distal-most points from the base.

12. The microneedle according to claim 1 wherein the coating is substantially within the capillary spaces.

13. The microneedle according to claim 1 wherein the coating extends outside of the capillary spaces.

14. The microneedle according to claim 13 wherein the coating covers the entire microblade structure.

15. A method for applying an active component to a microneedle, comprising:

(A) providing a microneedle, comprising;

a base,

a shaft portion extending from the base to a second end distal from the base,

a microblade structure extending from the second end, and

capillary spaces associated with the microblade structure;

(B) applying a liquid coating to at least the microblade structure of the microneedle, the liquid coating comprising an active component; and

(C) drying the liquid coating to provide a dried coating of active component, the dried coating located at least within the capillary spaces of the microblade structure.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the microblade structure comprises at least one microscopic cutting surface capable of piercing mammalian skin.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the microblade structure comprises a plurality of wing members extending outwardly from a common central axis, each of the plurality of wing members has a corresponding upper edge capable of slicing through the stratum corneum, the upper edges extending from a common first end at the central axis but terminating at different second ends.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the microblade structure comprises a first wing member having a first upper edge, a second wing member having a second upper edge and a third wing member having a third upper edge.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the first, second and third upper edges extend from the common first end and the first, second and third upper edges are coplanar.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the common first end is a point, the common first end being the distal-most point from the base.