Microneedle array systems

• US 20030095582A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeritas, Inc. (Zealand Pharma A/S)
• Original Assignee: Valeritas, LLC
• Inventors: Ackley, Donald E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/108
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/382 with index-matching medium between light guides provisionally see G02B6/4212
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3834 Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4203 Optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4232 using the surface tension of fluid solder to align the elements, e.g. solder bump techniques flip-chip mounting techniques in assembly of semiconductor devices H01L24/81
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems of microneedle arrays to align and form optical components. Active components such as lasers are combined with optical fibers. Microneedles are fabricated using techniques such as laser drilled Kapton, and combined with optical fiber, using bump bonding and UV curing adhesives to manufacture a variety of optical components.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising:

a plurality of needles having channels;

a plurality of fibers inserted in the plurality of needles; and

a plurality of optical components aligned and connected with the plurality of fibers.

2. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the needles are microneedles.

3. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the optical components are vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.

4. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the optical components are photodetectors.

5. The optical device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of photodetectors.

6. The optical device of claim 1 further comprising a sensing element.

7. A method for forming an optical device including a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array and a fiber array, the method comprising:

aligning the fiber array and VCSEL array;

joining the fiber array and VCSEL array;

reflowing solder on the VCSEL array; and

applying underfill between the fiber array and VCSEL array.