Device and method for enhancing transdermal agent flux

• US 6,918,901 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Armand P. Neukermans, Felix Theeuwes, Michel J.N. Cormier
• Original Assignee: Armand P. Neukermans, Felix Theeuwes, Michel J.N. Cormier
• Inventors: Cormier, Michel J. N., Theeuwes, Felix, Neukermans, Armand P.
• Primary Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US08/988,292
• Time in Patent Office: 2,778 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/46, 604/47, 604/500, 604/272, 604/501, 604/22, 132/207, 132108-110, 132/221, 600/573, 600/583, 600/309
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

An agent delivery or sampling device (2) comprising a member (6) having a plurality of blades (4) for piercing the skin and a connecting medium (65) covering at least a part of the skin contacting side (48) of the member (6) for increasing transdermal flux of an agent.

Claims

1. A method for introducing an agent through a body surface, comprising the steps of:

providing a member having a body surface proximal side, a body surface distal side, a first surface on the body surface proximal side of the member and a second-surface distal side of the member;

said member having a plurality of protrusions extending from the first surface and extending towards the body surface and a connecting medium disposed on at least a portion of the first surface;

introducing the agent in the connecting medium;

piercing the body surface with the plurality of protrusions extending from the first surface of the member;

contacting the body surface with the connecting medium; and

passing the agent through the body surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the passing step comprises:

administering the agent by a method selected from the group consisting of electrotransport, passive delivery, osmosis, and pressure.

3. A method for withdrawing an agent through a body surface, comprising the steps of:

piercing the body surface with a plurality of protrusions extending from a body surface proximal side of a member having a connecting medium capable of passing the agent therethrough, the connecting medium disposed on at least a portion of the body surface proximal side;

contacting the body surface with the connecting medium; and

withdrawing the agent through the body surface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the withdrawing step comprises:

withdrawing the agent by a method selected from the group consisting of reverse electrotransport, passive sampling, and osmosis.

5. A device for introducing or withdrawing an agent through a body surface, comprising:

a member having a body surface proximal side, a body surface distal side and a plurality of protrusions extending from said body surface proximal side;

a connecting medium capable of storing the agent therein or passing the agent therethrough on at least a portion of the body surface proximal side of the member; and

a sampling device connected to the body surface distal side, the sampling device selected from the group consisting of a reverse osmosis device, an electrotransport device, a passive device and an osmotic device.

6. A device for introducing or withdrawing an agent through a body surface, comprising:

a member having a body surface proximal side, a body surface distal side and a plurality of protrusions extending from said body surface proximal side;

said member further having at least one hole through the member;

a connecting medium capable of storing the agent therein or passing the agent therethrough on at least a portion of the body surface proximal side of the member; and

a sampling device connected to the body surface distal side, the sampling device selected from the group consisting of a reverse osmosis device, an electrotransport device, a passive device and an osmotic device.