Microneedle arrays and methods of use thereof

• US 8,554,317 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P.
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Duan, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, BRANDY SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/090,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,518 Days
• Field of Search: 604/103.1, 604/529, 604/21, 604/65
• US Class Current: 604/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

A method of treating a patient with a microneedle array having an active agent disposed on at least a portion of one or more of the microneedles, wherein the array with active agent is characterized by a first optical response when probed with a selected incident light spectrum. The array with active agent is applied to a skin surface, optionally allowed to remain on the skin surface for a specified time, and removed. The used array is probed with the selected incident light spectrum, a second optical response is sensed, and the difference between the first optical response and the second optical response is determined and compared to a predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device comprising:

a plurality of microneedles arranged on a substrate, each microneedle having a base and a tip;

wherein the tip of one or more of the microneedles has a first optical response when probed with a selected incident light spectrum;

wherein the base of the microneedle has a second optical response when probed with the selected incident light spectrum, the second optical response differing from the first optical response;

an active agent formulation covering at least a portion of the tip of one or more of the microneedles; and

wherein the active agent formulation modulates the first optical response of the microneedles when probed with the selected incident light spectrum.

2. A drug delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first optical response is selected from the group consisting of absorbance, reflection, scattering, fluorescence, image analysis, and phosphorescence.

3. A drug delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first optical response is fluorescence.

4. A drug delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first optical response is absorbance.

5. A drug delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incident light spectrum comprises visible wavelengths.

6. A drug delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incident light spectrum comprises ultraviolet wavelengths.

7. A drug delivery device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the active agent formulation prevents a portion of the incident light spectrum from reaching one or more of the microneedles.