Microneedle arrays formed from polymer films

• US 8,366,677 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transderm, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Transderm, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kaspar, Roger L., Speaker, Tycho
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Jr., Bradley G
• Application Number:
  US12/187,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 604/272, 604/506, 604/173, 604/501, 604/21, 604/174, 604/264, 604/117, 264/159
• US Class Current: 604/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/685 Microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0021 Intradermal administration, e.g. through microneedle arrays, needleless injectors mechanical aspects A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/003 having a lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0053 Methods for producing microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2059/023 Microembossing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/38 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/42 Casting under special conditions, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/02 for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/50 Shaping under special conditions, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7544 Injection needles, syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/055 Microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00111 Tips, pillars, i.e. raised structures microneedles A61M37/0015

Abstract

The present invention provides for transdermal delivery devices having microneedle arrays, as well as methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, a transdermal delivery device is provided. The transdermal delivery device includes a polymer layer which has microneedles projecting from one of its surfaces. The microneedles are compositionally homogenous with the polymer base layer.

Claims

1. A transdermal delivery device, comprising:

a polymer base layer having microneedles projecting from a surface thereof, wherein the microneedles are compositionally homogenous with the polymer base layer, and wherein the microneedles of the transdermal delivery device are configured to be left in a skin surface of a subject to provide sustained delivery of an active agent even after removal of the polymer base layer, and wherein the polymer of the polymer base layer and the microneedles is polyvinyl alcohol.

2. The transdermal delivery device of claim 1, wherein the microneedles are hollow.

3. The transdermal delivery device of claim 2, wherein the microneedles contain an active agent.

4. The transdermal delivery device of claim 1, wherein the polymer base layer has active agent included therein.

5. The transdermal delivery device of claim 1, wherein the microneedles have a length of from about 10 μ

m to about 10000 μ

m.

6. The transdermal delivery device of claim 1, wherein the polymer base layer is attached to a backing layer.

7. The transdermal delivery device of claim 1, wherein the transdermal delivery device is a transdermal patch.