Transdermal patch containing microneedles
First Claim
1. A transdermal patch comprising:
- a drug delivery assembly that comprises a reservoir for holding a drug compound and a rate control membrane that is in fluid communication with the reservoir;
a microneedle assembly that comprises a support having a first surface and a second surface, wherein an aperture extends between the first surface of the support and the second surface of the support, and wherein the microneedle assembly further comprises a plurality of microneedles that extend outwardly from the second surface of the support, wherein at least one of the microneedles contains a channel that is in fluid communication with the aperture and has a cross-sectional dimension ranging from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers; and
a release member that is generally impermeable to the drug compound and positioned adjacent to the rate control membrane of the drug delivery assembly and the first surface of the support of the microneedle assembly, wherein the release member is configured to be at least partially separated from the rate control membrane of the drug delivery assembly and the support of the microneedle assembly when the patch is an active configuration, wherein the release member is positioned between the rate control membrane and the support.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transdermal patch that can easily deliver a controlled volume of a fluidic drug compound to skin is provided. More particularly, the patch contains a microneedle assembly that is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a drug delivery assembly. The microneedle assembly contains a support and a plurality of microneedles that extend outwardly from the support. The microneedles are formed with one or more channels of a certain dimension such that passive capillary flow drives a flow of the drug compound. The drug delivery assembly contains a reservoir for the drug compound that is in fluid communication with a rate control membrane that helps control a flow rate of the drug compound by modulating a pressure of the drug compound, downstream from the reservoir. A release member is also positioned adjacent to the microneedle and drug delivery assemblies. Prior to use, the release member acts as a barrier to the flow of the drug compound and thus inhibits premature leakage. In this manner, the patch can initially be provided in an “inactive” configuration in which the drug compound is securely retained. When it is desired to release the drug compound, the patch can simply be activated by at least partially separating the release member from the drug delivery and microneedle assemblies.
195 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A transdermal patch comprising:
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a drug delivery assembly that comprises a reservoir for holding a drug compound and a rate control membrane that is in fluid communication with the reservoir; a microneedle assembly that comprises a support having a first surface and a second surface, wherein an aperture extends between the first surface of the support and the second surface of the support, and wherein the microneedle assembly further comprises a plurality of microneedles that extend outwardly from the second surface of the support, wherein at least one of the microneedles contains a channel that is in fluid communication with the aperture and has a cross-sectional dimension ranging from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers; and a release member that is generally impermeable to the drug compound and positioned adjacent to the rate control membrane of the drug delivery assembly and the first surface of the support of the microneedle assembly, wherein the release member is configured to be at least partially separated from the rate control membrane of the drug delivery assembly and the support of the microneedle assembly when the patch is an active configuration, wherein the release member is positioned between the rate control membrane and the support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification