METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DELIVERING AGENTS ACROSS BIOLOGICAL BARRIERS

• US 20090187160A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeritas, Inc. (Zealand Pharma A/S)
• Original Assignee: Valeritas, Inc. (Zealand Pharma A/S)
• Inventors: DiMeglio, Ciro, McAllister, Devin V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,011,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0053 Methods for producing microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/322 Retractable needles, i.e. disconnected from and withdrawn into the syringe barrel by the piston devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The invention provides for microneedle devices for delivering agents across biological barriers. The microneedles include agent reservoirs integrated into the bodies of the microneedles, themselves.

Claims

1. A device for delivering an agent across a biological barrier comprising:

a first microneedle;

a first reservoir integrated into the microneedle for holding the agent.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir comprises an opening through one of the width and depth of the microneedle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir comprises a depression in the microneedle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first reservoir takes up a substantial portion of the volume of the first microneedle.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the portion is between about 5% and about 70% of the volume of the first microneedle.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the agent is suitable for intradermal delivery.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is filled with the agent.

8. The device of claim 1, comprising a second microneedle having a second reservoir integrated into the second microneedle.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first microneedle extends from a first base element, the second microneedle extends from a second base element, and wherein the first and second base elements are coupled to a common substrate.

10. The device of claim 1, comprising a depth guard for limiting the depth to which to the first microneedle can pierce the skin of a user.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the depth guard extends from one of the first microneedle, a substrate from which the first microneedle extends, and a base element from which the first microneedle extends.

12. The device of claim 10, comprising a base element having a proximal end and a distal end, the base element being wider at its proximal end than at distal end, wherein:

the first microneedle extends from the distal end of the base element, and

the depth guard extends beyond the base element towards the distal end of the first microneedle.

13. A method of manufacturing a device for delivering an agent across a biological barrier:

providing a microneedle having an integrated agent reservoir; and

filling the integrated agent reservoir with the agent.

14. The method of manufacturing a device for transdermal delivery of an agent of claim 13 wherein filling the integrated agent reservoir comprises dipping the microneedle into a solution containing the agent.

15. The method of manufacturing a device for transdermal delivery of an agent of claim 13 wherein filling the integrated agent reservoir comprises depositing a predetermined volume of a solution containing the agent into the integrated agent reservoir.

16. The method of manufacturing a device for transdermal delivery of an agent of claim 13 wherein filling the integrated agent reservoir comprises applying a hydrophilic compound to the interior of the integrated agent reservoir and applying a hydrophobic compound to a remainder of the microneedle.

17. The method of manufacturing a device for transdermal delivery of an agent of claim 13 further comprising

providing a second microneedle having a second integrated agent reservoir;

coupling the first microneedle and the second microneedles to a substrate; and

filling the second integrated agent reservoir with the agent.

18. A method of delivering an agent transdermally comprising:

providing a microneedle having an integrated agent reservoir filled with the agent;

applying the microneedle against the skin of a patient, thereby piercing the skin and positioning the integrated reservoir beneath the surface of the skin.