WEARABLE DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE HAVING SPRING DRIVE AND SLIDING ACTUATION MECHANISM

• US 20120109066A1
• Filed: 11/03/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FluGen, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FluGen, Inc.
• Inventors: Chase, Kent B., Smith, Garrick D.S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type

Abstract

A drug delivery device is provided. The drug delivery device includes a drug reservoir in fluid communication with a microneedle array. The drug delivery device has a sliding actuation mechanism that may be activated by a button or lever. Actuation of the drug delivery device inserts the microneedle array into the skin of a subject and causes a piston to compress the drug reservoir, thereby delivering the drug through the microneedle array to the subject.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a subject having a skin surface, the device comprising:

a base portion for resting on the skin surface;

a drug reservoir supported by the base portion, the reservoir containing the drug;

at least one hollow microneedle having a tip portion for penetrating the skin of the subject and in fluid communication with the reservoir;

a first stored energy mechanism releasable to force the tips into the skin;

a second stored energy mechanism releasable to force drug from the reservoir through the needle; and

a trigger moveably supported by the base portion and coupled to the first and second stored energy mechanisms to release the mechanisms such that the tip is forced into the skin before the drug is forced through the needle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hollow microneedle is a side port microneedle, and wherein the side ports are positioned on the hollow microneedle to be in fluid communication with a fluid infusion zone.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the microneedle has a plurality of side ports.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger is actuated by translation of an activation button, wherein the activation button is translated in a direction substantially parallel to the base portion of the device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger is actuated by rotation of an activation lever, wherein the activation lever translates the trigger in a direction substantially parallel to the base portion of the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a microneedle array having a plurality of microneedles.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger is further moveable to place the hollow microneedle into a retracted position.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a window providing a visual indication of the completion of drug delivery.

9. A microneedle array, the microneedle array comprising:

a plurality of hollow microneedles having a height, wherein each hollow microneedle includes at least one side port, a lumen in fluid communication with the side port, and a solid tip; and

a bottom plane, the bottom plane having a center axis parallel to the plurality of microneedles;

side walls defining an internal cavity, wherein the bottom plane and side walls define an internal cavity having a depth greater than height of the microneedles, such that a first microneedle array may be contacted with a second microneedle array without contacting the microneedles of the first microneedle array with the bottom plane of the second microneedle array, when the first and second microneedle arrays are coaxially aligned along the center axis of each microneedle array.

10. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein the microneedle array is a single piece of material.

11. The microneedle array of claim 10, wherein the microneedle array is formed from a liquid crystal polymer.

12. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein each microneedle of the plurality of microneedles further comprises three side port openings.

13. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein the plurality of hollow microneedles have a shaft height of about 0.035 inches.

14. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein the plurality of hollow microneedles are about 0.070 inches in height.

15. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein the plurality of hollow microneedles are between about 0.060 inches to 0.080 inches in height.

16. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein each microneedle of the plurality of hollow microneedles has a plurality of side ports.

17. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein each microneedle of the plurality of hollow microneedles has three side ports.

18. The microneedle array of claim 9, wherein the microneedle array further comprises an installation tab.

19. A drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a subject having a skin surface, the device comprising:

a base portion for resting on the skin surface, wherein the base portion has a substantially planar bottom wall defining a bottom plane;

a drug reservoir supported by the base portion, the reservoir containing the drug;

at least one hollow microneedle having a tip portion for penetrating the skin of the subject and in fluid communication with the reservoir during drug delivery;

a first stored energy mechanism releasable to force the tips into the skin;

a second stored energy mechanism releasable to force drug from the reservoir through the needle; and

a trigger moveably supported by the base portion and coupled to the first and second stored energy mechanisms to release the mechanisms such that the tip is forced from a position above the bottom plane to a position below the bottom plane before the drug is forced through the needle.

20. The drug delivery device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of hollow microneedles are between about 0.060 inches to 0.080 inches in height.