DEVICE FOR APPLYING A MICRONEEDLE ARRAY

• US 20090198189A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P.
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Frederickson, Franklyn L., Simons, John K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,119,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

A device (100) for applying a microneedle array to a skin surface. The device comprises a base (120) defining a skin contacting plane, an array component having a skin facing side comprising a microneedle array, and at least one connecting member (140) having a first portion affixed through a first hinge (142) to the base and a second portion affixed to the array component. The connecting member has a first equilibrium position with the microneedle array in a recessed position within the device and a second equilibrium position with the microneedle array positioned so as to be able to contact a skin surface.

Claims

1. A device for applying a microneedle array to a skin surface comprising:

a base defining a skin contacting plane;

an array component having a skin facing side comprising a microneedle array;

a connecting member having a first portion affixed through a first hinge to the base and a second portion affixed to the array component;

wherein the connecting member has a first equilibrium position with the microneedle array in a recessed position within the device; and

wherein the connecting member has a second equilibrium position with the microneedle array positioned so as to be able to contact a skin surface.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion of the connecting member is affixed to the array component through a second hinge.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a single, flexible member generally encircling the array component.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of connecting members.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device has four connecting members.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base comprises a pressure-sensitive skin adhesive disposed along the skin-contacting plane.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microneedle array is substantially parallel to the skin contacting plane in both the first equilibrium position and the second equilibrium position.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the microneedle array remains substantially parallel to the skin contacting plane when moving from the first equilibrium position to the second equilibrium position.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one connecting member, at least one hinge, and the base are integrally formed.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one connecting member, at least one hinge, the base, and the array component are integrally formed

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the array component and at least one connecting member are formed of dissimilar materials.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is in the first equilibrium position and further comprises a covering member releasably affixed to the base.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microneedle array comprises a plurality of microneedles with a height of less than about 500 microns.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the array component comprises a backing plate and a microneedle array.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the microneedle array is releasably attached to the backing plate.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microneedle array further comprises a dried coating on at least a portion of the microneedle surfaces.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the dried coating comprises a drug.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the dried coating comprises a vaccine.

19. A method of applying a microneedle array to a skin surface comprising the steps of:

i) providing a device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one connecting member is in its first equilibrium position with the microneedle array in a recessed position within the device;

ii) placing the device on a skin surface;

iii) applying a force to the array component sufficient to move the connecting member to its second equilibrium position.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the force is applied using a mechanical applicator.

21-26. -26. (canceled)