APPLICATOR AND METHOD FOR APPLYING A MICRONEEDLE DEVICE TO SKIN
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An applicator and method for applying a microneedle device to skin. The applicator can include a microneedle device and a housing configured to house the microneedle device. The housing can have a first surface configured to be positioned toward the skin. The applicator can include (i) an unactuated state in which the microneedle device is located within the housing and does not extend beyond the first surface of the housing, and (ii) an actuated state in which at least a portion of the microneedle device extends beyond the first surface of the housing. The applicator can further include a locking mechanism configured to lock the applicator in the actuated state. The method can include positioning the first surface of the housing of the applicator adjacent the skin; actuating the applicator to cause the applicator to change to the actuated state; and locking the applicator in the actuated state.
15 Citations
34 Claims
-
1-15. -15. (canceled)
-
16. An applicator for applying a microneedle device to a skin surface, the applicator comprising:
-
a housing having a first surface configured to be positioned toward the skin surface, the housing comprising a bore that extends through the first surface; a deformable sheet positioned to extend across the bore of the housing, spaced a distance from the first surface of the housing, the deformable sheet having a first side oriented toward the first surface of the housing and a second side opposite the first side; a microneedle device coupled to the first side of the deformable sheet, such that the microneedle device is oriented toward the first surface of the housing; a plunger dimensioned to be at least partially received in the bore of the housing adjacent the second side of deformable sheet and located opposite the deformable sheet from the microneedle device, the plunger being movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position to move the microneedle device, respectively, between a first position in which the microneedle device is recessed relative to the first surface of the housing, and a second position in which at least a portion of the microneedle device extends beyond the first surface of the housing; and a locking mechanism configured to lock the microneedle device in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. An applicator for applying a microneedle device to a skin surface, the applicator comprising:
-
a housing having a first surface configured to be positioned toward the skin surface, the housing comprising a bore that extends through the first surface; a deformable sheet positioned to extend across the bore of the housing such that the deformable sheet is spaced a distance from the first surface of the housing, the deformable sheet having a first side oriented toward the first surface of the housing and a second side opposite the first side, the deformable sheet having a first state and a second state; a microneedle device coupled to the first side of the deformable sheet, such that the microneedle device is oriented toward the first surface of the housing and is located within the housing and recessed relative to the first surface of the housing when the deformable sheet is in the first state; a plunger dimensioned to be at least partially received in the bore of the housing adjacent the second side of the deformable sheet and located opposite the deformable sheet from the microneedle device, the plunger being movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position to move the microneedle device, respectively, between a first position in which the deformable sheet is in its first state, and in which the microneedle device is located within the bore of the housing and recessed relative to the first surface of the housing, and a second position in which the deformable sheet is in its second state and at least a portion of the microneedle device extends beyond the first surface of the housing; and a locking mechanism configured to lock the microneedle device in the second position.
-
-
34. A method of applying a microneedle device to a skin surface, the method comprising:
-
providing an applicator comprising a housing having a first surface configured to be positioned toward the skin surface, the housing comprising a bore that extends through the first surface, a deformable sheet positioned to extend across the bore of the housing, the deformable sheet having a first side oriented toward the first surface of the housing and a second side opposite the first side, a microneedle device coupled to the first side of the deformable sheet, such that the microneedle device is oriented toward the first surface of the housing, and a plunger dimensioned to be at least partially received in the bore of the housing adjacent the second side of deformable sheet and located opposite the deformable sheet from the microneedle device, the plunger being movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position to move the microneedle device, respectively, between a first position in which the microneedle device is recessed relative to the first surface of the housing, and a second position in which at least a portion of the microneedle device extends beyond the first surface of the housing; positioning the first surface of the housing adjacent the skin surface; moving the plunger from the first position to the second position; and locking the microneedle device in the second position.
-
Specification