Microneedle injection apparatus comprising an inverted actuator
First Claim
1. A microneedle injection apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a base and a cavity that extends through the base to define an opening in the base, wherein the base of the housing is configured to be positioned toward a skin surface;
a microneedle array holder configured to hold a microneedle array within the cavity of the housing, the microneedle array holder configured to be at least partially located in the cavity of the housing and movable with respect to the opening in the base of the housing betweena retracted position in which the microneedle array is recessed within the housing such that the microneedle array does not contact the skin surface when the base of the housing is positioned on the skin surface and the microneedle array is coupled to the microneedle array holder, andan extended position in which at least a portion of the microneedle array is positioned to contact the skin surface via the opening when the base of the housing is positioned on the skin surface and the microneedle array is coupled to the microneedle array holder; and
an actuator movable with respect to the housing and the microneedle array holder between a first position and a second position to cause the microneedle array holder to move from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein at least a portion of the actuator is located adjacent the base of the housing and is configured to be moved from the first position to the second position in response to the apparatus being pressed toward the skin surface,wherein the actuator is movable with respect to the base of the housing, whereinwhen the actuator is in the first position, an outermost surface of the actuator extends beyond the base of the housing by a first distance, andwhen the actuator is in the second position, the outermost surface of the actuator does not extend beyond the base of the housing, orextends beyond the base of the housing by a second distance that is less than the first distance, and whereinthe actuator is an inverted actuator having at least a portion of the actuator located on the same side of the housing as the base that is configured to be positioned towards a skin surface.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microneedle injection apparatus (100) comprising an inverted actuator. The apparatus can include a housing (102) having a base and a cavity, and a microneedle array holder (106) configured to hold a microneedle array (107) within the cavity of the housing. The microneedle array holder can be movable between a retracted position, and an extended position. The apparatus can further include an actuator (104) movable with respect to the housing and the microneedle array holder between a first position and a second position to cause the microneedle array holder to move from the retracted position to the extended position. At least a portion of the actuator can be located on a skin-facing side of the apparatus (e.g., adjacent the base of the housing) and can be configured to be moved from the first position to the second position in response to the apparatus being pressed toward the skin surface.
43 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A microneedle injection apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a base and a cavity that extends through the base to define an opening in the base, wherein the base of the housing is configured to be positioned toward a skin surface; a microneedle array holder configured to hold a microneedle array within the cavity of the housing, the microneedle array holder configured to be at least partially located in the cavity of the housing and movable with respect to the opening in the base of the housing between a retracted position in which the microneedle array is recessed within the housing such that the microneedle array does not contact the skin surface when the base of the housing is positioned on the skin surface and the microneedle array is coupled to the microneedle array holder, and an extended position in which at least a portion of the microneedle array is positioned to contact the skin surface via the opening when the base of the housing is positioned on the skin surface and the microneedle array is coupled to the microneedle array holder; and an actuator movable with respect to the housing and the microneedle array holder between a first position and a second position to cause the microneedle array holder to move from the retracted position to the extended position, wherein at least a portion of the actuator is located adjacent the base of the housing and is configured to be moved from the first position to the second position in response to the apparatus being pressed toward the skin surface, wherein the actuator is movable with respect to the base of the housing, wherein when the actuator is in the first position, an outermost surface of the actuator extends beyond the base of the housing by a first distance, and when the actuator is in the second position, the outermost surface of the actuator does not extend beyond the base of the housing, or extends beyond the base of the housing by a second distance that is less than the first distance, and wherein the actuator is an inverted actuator having at least a portion of the actuator located on the same side of the housing as the base that is configured to be positioned towards a skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification