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Publication Number
US-11213663-B2
Publication Date
2022-01-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is a microneedle including at least one tip portion that is capable of penetrating the skin and includes a liquid medicine melted in the skin; a base portion supporting the at least one tip portion; and at least one guide portion that is provided between the at least one tip portion and the base portion, is made of a non-soluble material, and is protruded in a direction in which the at least one tip portion penetrates the skin to couple with the at least one tip portion. In accordance with such a configuration, the at least one tip portion may be instantly separated in a short time, whereby superior liquid medicine supplyability is exhibited.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a microneedle having a base portion, a guide portion extending from the base portion, and a water soluble tip portion coupled to the guide portion. The tip portion is capable of penetrating a skin and comprises a medicine, while the base portion and the guide portion are not soluble in water.
When the guide portion causes the tip portion to penetrate the skin in the vertical direction and then is separated from the tip portion, the tip portion separated from the guide portion remains in the skin. This is achieved by coupling the guide portion to the tip portion with a coupling force smaller than a force with which the skin holds the tip portion.
The microneedle is configured in a quadrangular pyramidal shape, where the guide portion is composed of a support member and a guide protrusion that forms the bottom of the pyramid. The guide protrusion extends from three of four sides of the support member, and the tip portion composes the remainder of the pyramid, with side geometries defined such that opposite sides of the support member each have triangular shaped guide protrusion sides and the third side has a trapezoidal shaped guide protrusion side.
The tip portion has a distal end in a pointed tip shape that also forms the distal end of the microneedle, and the guide portion does not form a portion of the tip of the microneedle. The guide portion is integrally formed with the base portion, and the support member and the guide protrusion are formed as one body.
Claims Coverage
The document contains one independent claim. Across the dependent claims noted, the coverage further refines the construction relationships between the base portion, the guide portion, the support member, and the guide protrusion.
Water-soluble medicine-containing tip coupled to a non-water-soluble guide
A microneedle comprising a base portion, a guide portion extending from the base portion, and a water soluble tip portion coupled to the guide portion, wherein the tip portion is capable of penetrating a skin and comprises a medicine, and wherein the base portion and the guide portion are not soluble in water.
Quadrangular pyramidal shape with specified guide-protrusion side geometries
The combination of the tip portion and the guide portion is in a quadrangular pyramidal shape, wherein the guide portion is composed of a support member and a guide protrusion such that the support member extends from the base portion and forms the bottom of the pyramid, wherein the guide protrusion extends from three of the four sides of the support member and the tip portion composes the remainder of the pyramid, wherein the sides of the guide protrusion that extend from opposite sides of the support member are each in a triangular shape and the side of the guide protrusion extending from the third side of the support member is in a trapezoidal shape.
Pointed distal end and guide separation leaving the tip in the skin
The tip portion has a distal end in a pointed tip shape that also forms the distal end of the microneedle, wherein the guide portion does not form a portion of the tip of the microneedle, and wherein the guide portion is coupled to the tip portion with a coupling force smaller than a force with which the skin holds the tip portion, and thus, when the guide portion causes the tip portion to penetrate the skin in the vertical direction and then is separated from the tip portion, the tip portion separated from the guide portion remains in the skin.
Integral formation of the guide portion with the base portion
The guide portion is integrally formed with the base portion.
Single-body formation of the support member and guide protrusion
The support member and the guide protrusion are formed as one body.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a microneedle structure where a water soluble, medicine-containing tip penetrates skin and remains there after the non-water-soluble guide portion separates, with the geometry constrained to a quadrangular pyramidal form and the guide structure defined by a support member and guide protrusion having specified triangular and trapezoidal side shapes; dependents further specify integral formation relationships.
Stated Advantages
Improved liquid medicine supplyability
Reduced medicine loss by ensuring the predetermined medicine amount in the tip remains in the skin while the guide/base detach quickly
Increased penetration force
Convenience by enabling finger-force separation without a high-pressure applicator
Reduced drying and manufacturing time
Improved ingredient stability
Rapid separation of the guide portion from the tip portion while the tip portion remains in the skin
Documented Applications
Vaccines
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