Multiple mechanical microporation of skin or mucosa
First Claim
1. A device for reducing the barrier properties of skin or mucosa to the delivery of a substance into the body or the withdrawal of an analyte from the body comprising:
- (a) a base having a lower side and an upper side;
(b) a plurality of puncturing members extending from the lower side of the base, said puncturing members configured for puncturing said skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof without significantly damaging underlying tissues;
(c) a plurality of holes extending from the lower side of the base to the upper side of the base, said holes configured for permitting a liquid to move therethrough by capillary action; and
(d) a network of channels configured in the upper side of said base to interconnect said holes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of enhancing the permeability of a biological membrane, including the skin or mucosa of an animal or the outer layer of a plant to a permeant is described utilizing microporation of selected depth and optionally one or more of sonic, electromagnetic, mechanical and thermal energy and a chemical enhancer. Microporation is accomplished to form a micropore of selected depth in the biological membrane and the porated site is contacted with the permeant. Additional permeation enhancement measures may be applied to the site to enhance both the flux rate of the permeant into the organism through the micropores as well as into targeted tissues within the organism.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A device for reducing the barrier properties of skin or mucosa to the delivery of a substance into the body or the withdrawal of an analyte from the body comprising:
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(a) a base having a lower side and an upper side;
(b) a plurality of puncturing members extending from the lower side of the base, said puncturing members configured for puncturing said skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof without significantly damaging underlying tissues;
(c) a plurality of holes extending from the lower side of the base to the upper side of the base, said holes configured for permitting a liquid to move therethrough by capillary action; and
(d) a network of channels configured in the upper side of said base to interconnect said holes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for reducing the barrier function of skin or mucosa to the delivery of substances into a body or withdrawal of analytes out of the body, comprising:
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(a) providing a device comprising;
a base having a lower side and an upper side;
a plurality of puncturing members extending from the lower side of the base, said puncturing members configured for puncturing said skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof without significantly damaging underlying tissues;
a plurality of holes extending from the lower side of the base to the upper side of the base, said holes configured for permitting a liquid to move therethrough by capillary action; and
a network of channels configured in the upper side of said base to interconnect said holes;
(b) contacting said device with the skin or mucosa such that said plurality of puncturing members puncture the skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of transdermal or transmucosal monitoring of a selected analyte in a body comprising:
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(a) providing a device comprising;
a base having a lower side and an upper side;
a plurality of puncturing members extending from the lower side of the base, said puncturing members configured for puncturing said skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof without significantly damaging underlying tissues;
a plurality of holes extending from the lower side of the base to the upper side of the base, said holes configured for permitting a liquid to move therethrough by capillary action; and
a network of channels configured in the upper side of said base to interconnect said holes, said network of channels including a reservoir;
(b) contacting said device with the skin or mucosa such that said plurality of puncturing members puncture the skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof resulting in seepage of interstitial fluid to the surface of said skin or mucosa such that interstitial fluid moves by capillary action through the holes, through the channels, to the reservoir;
(c) collecting the interstitial fluid from the reservoir; and
(d) analyzing the interstitial fluid with respect to the selected analyte. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of transdermally or transmucosally delivering a drug in liquid form to a body comprising:
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(a) providing a device comprising;
a base having a lower side and an upper side;
a plurality of puncturing members extending from the lower side of the base, said puncturing members configured for puncturing said skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof without significantly damaging underlying tissues;
a plurality of holes extending from the lower side of the base to the upper side of the base, said holes configured for permitting a liquid to move therethrough by capillary action; and
a network of channels configured in the upper side of said base to interconnect said holes, said network of channels including a reservoir;
(b) contacting said device with the skin or mucosa such that said plurality of puncturing members puncture the skin or mucosa to a depth sufficient to reduce the barrier properties thereof;
(c) supplying the drug to said reservoir such that said drug moves from the reservoir, through the channels and holes to the site of the punctures of the skin or mucosa and thus into the body. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification