INTEGRATED MICRONEEDLE ARRAY DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20140257187A1
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P.
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Colburn, David J., Johnson, Erik J., Brandwein, David H., Gysbers, Jerome E., Young, Patrick J., Cantor, Adam S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,010,707 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 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a low-profile system and methods for delivering a microneedle array. The delivery system includes a housing that may be secured to and temporarily worn on a patient'"'"'s skin. A carrier assembly coupled to a microneedle array is received in the housing proximate an applicator device. The carrier assembly is at least releasably secured to the housing and it is typically not attached or otherwise fixed to any portion of the applicator device.

Claims

1. An integrated system for delivering a microneedle array, the system comprising:

a housing having a cavity therein and including an applicator device; and

a carrier assembly including a solid microneedle array, wherein a portion of the carrier assembly is attached to the housing proximate the cavity and is in contact with a portion of the applicator; and

wherein neither the carrier assembly nor the array are attached to the applicator device.

2. The integrated system of claim 1, wherein the carrier assembly comprises a flexible membrane.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the membrane comprises a bellowed height greater than 500 microns and less than 1 cm.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the membrane is non-vented.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the membrane comprises vents or apertures.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the membrane comprises a polymeric film.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the membrane comprises a sterilizable material.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the applicator device comprises a stored energy device and an actuator.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the stored energy device comprises a bifurcating spring.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the stored energy device comprises a plurality of bifurcating springs.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator is movable within the housing in a certain direction substantially parallel to the major plane of the stored energy device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator is movable within the housing in a certain direction orthogonal to the major plane of the stored energy device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator is slidably coupled to the housing.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the actuator comprises an elongated arm and at least one protrusion, wherein a portion of the actuator is external to the housing, and wherein the elongated arm is operable to transfer energy to the stored energy device via the protrusion.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a screw received in a series of helical threads in the housing.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a planar surface and one or more elongated posts, wherein at least one of the posts is received in a recess in the housing, and wherein at least one post is operable to contact the stored energy device when an activation force is applied to the planar surface.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises a cam proximate a surface of the stored energy device and rotatable to direct energy to the stored energy device.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the height of the cavity is at least 550 microns and no greater than 2.0 cm.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the height of the housing is at least 2 mm and no greater than 3.0 cm.

20. The system of claim 3, wherein the membrane will not return to the bellowed height upon transfer of an application energy to the carrier assembly.

21-30. -30. (canceled)