Applicators for microneedles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An applicator for a microprojection array, comprising:
- an inner portion and an outer portion that is concentric to and integral with the inner portion;
a contact zone on the outer portion for contacting skin at an application site;
a region on the inner portion to which a microprojection array can be attached;
wherein upon application of force to the inner portion, the applicator is deformable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the applicator stably remains until a further force is applied to the applicator,wherein the microprojection array contacts the application site when the applicator is in the second configuration; and
wherein the applicator, when placed adjacent skin at the application site in its first configuration, has a shape such that the outer portion slopes towards the skin such that the contact zone is capable of contacting the skin, and the applicator has a shape in its second configuration wherein the outer portion extends away from the skin such that the contact zone is no longer in skin contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microneedle applicator is provided which has two roughly concentric portions which may be, for example, a solid disk and an annulus surrounding it. On the skin-facing side of the inner portion of the applicator a microneedle array is located. The outer portion of the applicator is placed against the skin, contacting it at a zone. The microneedle array is then pressed towards the skin.
324 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An applicator for a microprojection array, comprising:
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an inner portion and an outer portion that is concentric to and integral with the inner portion; a contact zone on the outer portion for contacting skin at an application site; a region on the inner portion to which a microprojection array can be attached; wherein upon application of force to the inner portion, the applicator is deformable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which the applicator stably remains until a further force is applied to the applicator, wherein the microprojection array contacts the application site when the applicator is in the second configuration; and wherein the applicator, when placed adjacent skin at the application site in its first configuration, has a shape such that the outer portion slopes towards the skin such that the contact zone is capable of contacting the skin, and the applicator has a shape in its second configuration wherein the outer portion extends away from the skin such that the contact zone is no longer in skin contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An applicator for a microprojection array, comprising:
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an inner and outer portion wherein (a) the inner portion comprises a region for attaching a microprojection array, (b) the outer portion comprises a contact zone designed for contacting skin at an application site, and (c) the relative positions of the inner and outer portions can be varied by application of force to the inner portion between a first stable configuration and a second configuration in which (i) the applicator remains until a further force is applied to return it to the first stable configuration, and (ii) the outer portion in the second stable configuration is inverted about the contact zone with respect to the first stable configuration, such that the outer portion and the contact zone extend at an angle away from the skin at the application site; wherein the microprojection array contacts the application site when the applicator is in the second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. An applicator for a microprojection array comprising an inner and outer portion wherein
(a) the microprojection array attaches to or is integral with the inner portion, (b) the outer portion has a contact zone designed for contacting skin at an application site, (c) the inner and outer portions are integral with each other, and (d) the relative positions of the inner and outer portions may be varied between a first and a second configuration, wherein the outer portion in the second stable configuration is inverted about the contact zone with respect to the first stable configuration in the absence of an adhesive, such that the outer portion and the contact zone extend at an angle away from the skin at the application site.
Specification