Microstructures for delivering a composition cutaneously to skin
First Claim
1. A microstructure apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate, said substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposed thereto; and
a plurality of non-rigid microelements affixed upon said first surface of said substrate and extending outwardly therefrom;
said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes and so designed to make multiple slits or cuts in a stratum corneum layer of skin, when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one predetermined direction, wherein said at least one predetermined direction is in a direction that is substantially parallel to a surface of said skin, said apparatus further comprising a nonwoven absorbent backing layer mounted on said second surface of said substrate, said absorbent backing layer being impregnated with at least one fluidic compound and thereby acting as a fluid reservoir for use with said substrate, at least one of said substrate and said microelements having passageways therethrough, said passageways allowing for said fluidic compound to flow with efficiency from said backing layer to said surface of said skin when said apparatus is moved in at least one predetermined direction substantially parallel to a surface of said skin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus is provided as a system to deliver a composition, preferably a medical or pharmaceutical composition or active, through the stratum corneum of skin, without introducing bleeding or damage to tissue, and absent pain or other trauma. The dimensions and shapes of the microelements are controlled so as to control the penetration depth into the skin. The microelements can be “hollow” such that passageways are created therethrough to allow the composition to flow from a chamber, through the microelements, and into the skin. Alternatively, the microelements can be “solid,” and the composition is applied directly to the skin just before or just after the microelements are applied to the skin surface to create the openings in the stratum corneum.
254 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A microstructure apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate, said substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposed thereto; and
a plurality of non-rigid microelements affixed upon said first surface of said substrate and extending outwardly therefrom;
said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes and so designed to make multiple slits or cuts in a stratum corneum layer of skin, when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one predetermined direction, wherein said at least one predetermined direction is in a direction that is substantially parallel to a surface of said skin, said apparatus further comprising a nonwoven absorbent backing layer mounted on said second surface of said substrate, said absorbent backing layer being impregnated with at least one fluidic compound and thereby acting as a fluid reservoir for use with said substrate, at least one of said substrate and said microelements having passageways therethrough, said passageways allowing for said fluidic compound to flow with efficiency from said backing layer to said surface of said skin when said apparatus is moved in at least one predetermined direction substantially parallel to a surface of said skin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a substrate, said substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposed thereto; and
Specification