Method for manufacturing microstructures having multiple microelements with through-holes
First Claim
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1. A method for constructing a microstructure, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a substrate of a first material, said substrate having a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface opposite said first surface, said substrate having a plurality of openings in the form of through-holes formed between said first and second surfaces; and
then(b) pressing against the first surface of said substrate of material with an object having a predetermined shape to thereby form a plurality of permanent microelement protrusions in said first surface, said plurality of microelement protrusions being of at least one predetermined shape and size, each of said plurality of microelement protrusions having a base-shape that forms a perimeter along said first surface;
wherein at least one of said plurality of microelement protrusions exhibit at least one of said plurality of openings within their said perimeter, and said microelement protrusions are suitable for penetrating the stratum corneum of human skin.
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Abstract
A method is provided for manufacturing microstructures of the type which contain a substrate and an array of protruding microelements with through-holes, which are used in penetrating layers of skin. The microelements are embossed or pressed into an initial substrate structure, which in some embodiments is formed from extruded polymeric material, and in some cases from two layers of polymer that are co-extruded. The through-holes are formed from filled through-cylinders of a second material that is removed after the embossing or pressing step; in other instances, the through-holes are left hollow during the embossing or pressing step.
221 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for constructing a microstructure, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a substrate of a first material, said substrate having a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface opposite said first surface, said substrate having a plurality of openings in the form of through-holes formed between said first and second surfaces; and
then(b) pressing against the first surface of said substrate of material with an object having a predetermined shape to thereby form a plurality of permanent microelement protrusions in said first surface, said plurality of microelement protrusions being of at least one predetermined shape and size, each of said plurality of microelement protrusions having a base-shape that forms a perimeter along said first surface; wherein at least one of said plurality of microelement protrusions exhibit at least one of said plurality of openings within their said perimeter, and said microelement protrusions are suitable for penetrating the stratum corneum of human skin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8)
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5. A method for constructing a microstructure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a substrate of a first material, said substrate having a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface opposite said first surface, said substrate having a plurality of openings in the form of through-holes formed between said first and second surfaces;
then(b) pressing against the first surface of said substrate of material with an object having a predetermined shape to thereby form a plurality of microelement protrusions in said first surface, said plurality of microelement protrusions being of at least one predetermined shape and size, each of said plurality of microelement protrusions having a base-shape that forms a perimeter along said first surface;
wherein at least one of said plurality of microelement protrusions exhibit at least one of said plurality of openings within their said perimeter, and said microelement protrusions are suitable for penetrating the stratum corneum of human skin(c) before said pressing step (b), placing a second material into at least one of said plurality of openings, said second material having at least one property that is different from at least one property of said first material; and (d) after said pressing step (b), removing said second material from at least one of said plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 9, 10)
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Specification