Compact high mechanical energy storage and low trigger force actuator for the delivery of microprojection array patches (MAP)

Inventors

LEMAIRE, Pierre Armand Vincent

Assignees

Vaxxas Pty Ltd

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices and methods for providing a triggering mechanism which lowers the trigger force to activate the trigger mechanism to a comfortable range of while still preserving or increasing the speed at which the triggering mechanism accelerates or imparts velocity to a device attached to the triggering mechanism. The present invention further relates to improved applicators for administering microprojection arrays to skin and methods of administering microprojection arrays. In particular, the present invention relates to compact stable self-contained mechanical energy storage for delivery of a medical device such as a microprojection array.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a device for applying a microprojection array to the skin of a mammal. The device includes a housing with a top shell and a collapsible trigger, and the trigger is operably linked to a pre-loaded dome. The pre-loaded dome is encased in the housing such that, when the trigger is collapsed, the dome transitions from a loaded position to an unloaded position.

Upon transition to the unloaded position, the dome contacts the spring and propels the microprojection array through a space between the device and the mammal's skin. The propelled microprojection array is thereby driven through the mammal's skin. The disclosed compact mechanical arrangement uses an asymmetric bi-stable metal dome in a partially buckled, encased state to reduce user trigger force while preserving or increasing microprojection array velocity.

The encased dome arrangement is further described through dome design parameters and encasement approaches. The dome is described as an asymmetric bi-stable metal dome, and the housing encases the pre-loaded dome using encasement methods such as plastic over-molding and other encasement configurations. The device is integrated into a sterile low-water-ingress applicator concept that includes a housing, a skin contact membrane, and a sterile barrier such as a foil lid with defined lid contents in some embodiments.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim is directed to a trigger-housed, encased pre-loaded dome that transitions from a loaded to an unloaded position to contact a spring and propel a microprojection array into a mammal’s skin. The dependent claims refine the independent claim with main inventive features that constrain microprojection propulsion performance and define dome material/thickness and processing, along with some embodiments specifying sterile lid contents.

Across the independent claim and its dependent refinements, the core coverage is the encased pre-loaded dome that transitions upon collapse of a trigger to contact a spring and propel a microprojection array into mammalian skin, with added constraints on propulsion speed and microprojection mass plus dome material/thickness and dome heat-treatment temperature, and embodiments specifying desiccant-containing foil lid contents.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found