Micro-needle and method of manufacturing the micro-needle
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10716925-B2
Publication Date
2020-07-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is a micro-needle including a tip formed using medicine that penetrates into the skin and melts therein; and at least one guide groove each in a stepped shape inward from the outer surface of the tip, and provided to the tip. The micro-needle configured as above may be used to administer a fixed quantity of medicine within a relatively short period of time. Also, since a guide space stepped based on the tip is provided to a base that supports the tip, a large amount of medicine may easily penetrate into the skin.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a micro-needle for transdermal drug delivery. A plurality of tips are disposed on a base with the tips spaced apart from each other, and each tip is formed using medicine that penetrates into skin and melts in the skin. Each tip includes outer surfaces and a bottom, extends from a front end to the bottom along a first direction, and has a quadrangular pyramidal shape from the front end to a portion between the front end and the bottom.
Each outer surface is triangular when viewed from a side, and each tip has a plurality of guide grooves formed as steps inwardly from the outer surfaces and extending from a portion between the front end and the bottom to the bottom. A cross section of each guide groove is a recess formed inwardly from the outer surfaces, and the size of the recess increases from the portion between the front end and the bottom toward the bottom along the first direction. The inwardly stepped guide-groove structure is used to guide separation of the tips and enable rapid, fixed-quantity administration.
The base includes an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, without a hole penetrating from the upper side to the lower side. A stepped groove space is provided on the upper side and is formed by a recessed surface of the base, where the bottom of the tip is disposed on the recessed surface. The stepped groove space is coated or filled with medicine corresponding to the medicine used to form the tip, and the medicine in the stepped groove space is delivered to the inside of the skin when the tip is inserted into the skin.
The document further describes that capillary phenomenon enables delivery of larger medicine amounts via the stepped guide space at the base, and that a waterproof coating with a hydrophobic or lipid-based waterproof agent can protect the needle.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims covering a micro-needle structure and a manufacturing method, with six inventive features in total.
Melting medicine tips on a base
A micro-needle comprising a base and a plurality of tips disposed on the base with the plurality of tips being spaced apart, wherein each tip is formed using medicine that penetrates into skin and melts in the skin.
Inwardly stepped guide-groove geometry with increasing recess size
Each tip has a quadrangular pyramidal shape from the front end to a portion between the front end and the bottom, triangular outer surfaces when viewed from a side, and a plurality of guide grooves formed as steps inwardly from the outer surfaces and extending toward the bottom, where a cross section of each guide groove is a recess formed inwardly and the size of the recess increases toward the bottom.
Stepped groove space at the base coated or filled with medicine
A stepped groove space provided on an upper side of the base and formed by a recessed surface, where the bottom of the tip is disposed on the recessed surface, and the stepped groove space is coated or filled with medicine corresponding to the medicine used to form the tip, with the medicine delivered to the inside of the skin when the tip is inserted into the skin.
Medicine supply to a mold to form tips and inwardly stepped guide grooves
A method of manufacturing a micro-needle comprising preparing medicine and supplying the medicine to a mold having a plurality of tip grooves to form a plurality of tips and a base, wherein inwardly stepped guide grooves are formed on each tip.
Tip and guide-groove forming with increasing recess size and support on recessed base surface
The method where the tip has a quadrangular pyramidal shape with triangular outer surfaces, each guide groove is in a step shape formed inwardly and extends from a portion between the front end and the bottom to the bottom, a cross section is a recess formed inwardly with increasing recess size toward the bottom, and the tip is supported by the base with the bottom disposed on a recessed surface.
Coating or filling stepped groove space for delivery on insertion
Providing a stepped groove space in the upper side of the base formed by a recessed surface, where the stepped groove space is coated or filled with medicine corresponding to the medicine used to form the tip, and the medicine in the stepped groove space is delivered to the inside of the skin when the tip is inserted into the skin.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage lies in a micro-needle whose spaced tips are made of medicine that penetrates and melts in skin, where each tip carries inwardly stepped guide grooves with a recess size that increases toward the bottom, and where a stepped groove space in the base is coated or filled with corresponding medicine to deliver medicine into the skin upon insertion; the method claim corresponds by forming such tips and grooves by supplying the medicine to a mold having tip grooves.
Stated Advantages
Increased delivered medicine amount with the micro-needle having the guide-groove structure.
Rapid, fixed-quantity administration enabled by the inwardly stepped guide grooves.
Capillary phenomenon enables delivery of larger medicine amounts via the stepped guide space at the base.
A waterproof coating with a hydrophobic or lipid-based waterproof agent can protect the needle.
Documented Applications
Transdermal drug delivery using a micro-needle with medicine that penetrates into skin and melts in the skin.
Delivery of larger medicine amounts via capillary phenomenon from a stepped guide space at the base.
Interested in licensing this patent?