Method and apparatus for coating skin piercing microprojections

• US 7,435,299 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Trautman, Joseph C., Cormier, Michel J.N., Wright, Cedric T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lamb; Brenda A.
• Application Number:
  US10/984,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20050084604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 118/258, 118/261, 118/247, 118/262, 118/206, 118/238, 118/246, 118/249
• US Class Current: 118/261
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0021 Intradermal administration, e.g. through microneedle arrays, needleless injectors mechanical aspects A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0053 Methods for producing microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/18 performed by dipping
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/28 performed by transfer from the surfaces of elements carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. brushes, pads, rollers

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for selectively applying an agent-containing liquid coating to extremely tiny skin piercing microprojections (10). The coating solution is applied to the skin piercing microprojections (10) using a coating technique which selectively coats only the skin piercing microprojections (10) and not the substrate (12) from which the microprojections (10) extend, and then dried. The coating method includes providing an agent-containing coating liquid and conveying the liquid to a liquid holding surface having a coating transfer region. The depth of the coating liquid at the coating transfer region is precisely controlled. The microprojections are then immersed to a predetermined level in the coating liquid. The liquid that coats the microprojections (10) is then dried to form a solid agent-containing coating on the microprojections (10).

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying an agent-containing coating liquid onto a plurality of microprojections extending from a surface or edge of a substrate substantially without coating said substrate, comprising:

a rotatable member with a liquid holding surface, said liquid holding surface having a coating transfer region;

a coating liquid conveyor for providing said coating liquid at said coating transfer region;

a coating liquid depth controller for controlling the depth of said coating liquid at said coating transfer region to a predetermined depth; and

a substrate conveyor for conveying said microprojections at a predetermined level of immersion through said coating liquid at said coating transfer region, wherein said substrate conveyor comprises a track which is adjustably positionable to a predetermined distance from said coating transfer region and a substrate holding sled which runs along said track.