Foam support sheet for microneedle array
Inventors
Quan, Ying-shu • Tanaka, Hiroshi • Kamiyama, Fumio
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11534588-B2
Publication Date
2022-12-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
To provide a means which makes it possible to hold a microneedle array without an adhesive sheet and protect tips of microneedles.A foam support sheet for a microneedle array, which has an open cell surface on at least one side, the open cell surface being an arrangement portion for the microneedle array holding the microneedle array with a microneedle side of the microneedle array facing downward; as well as a microneedle array sheet consisting of a microneedle array and a foam support sheet, the foam support sheet having an open cell surface on at least one side, and the microneedle array being arranged on the open cell surface with a microneedle side of the microneedle array facing downward.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a microneedle array sheet consisting of a microneedle array and a foam support sheet, where the foam support sheet has an open cell surface on at least one side. The microneedle array is arranged on the open cell surface with a microneedle side facing downward into the foam support sheet so that the microneedles are received in the foam. The foam includes open cells that lock and accommodate microneedle tip portions in voids, thereby holding and protecting the microneedle tips.
The microneedle array includes a water-soluble polymer or a water-swellable resin as a base. The document relates this approach to a microneedle array that can be taken out easily for administration while avoiding adhesive attachment. The disclosure also refers to microneedles that are removed by water or swelling behavior rather than attachment by an adhesive sheet.
The foam support sheet is described using synthetic polymer foam materials, including polyurethane, polystyrene, polyolefin, phenol resin, polyvinyl chloride, urea resin, and mixtures thereof. The foam structure is characterized in terms of foam expansion ratio and foam morphology, including continuous-cell foam or foam processed to open cells, and the disclosure reports that higher expansion ratios and open-cell structure support negligible deformation compared with the comparative case.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a microneedle array sheet integrating a foam support sheet with an open cell surface, a downward-facing microneedle arrangement into the foam, and a microneedle base formed from a water-soluble polymer or a water-swellable resin. The claim set identifies six inventive features across the independent and dependent claims.
Open cell foam support receiving downward-facing microneedles
A microneedle array sheet consisting of a microneedle array and a foam support sheet, wherein the foam support sheet has an open cell surface on at least one side, and the microneedle array is arranged on the open cell surface with a microneedle side of the microneedle array facing downward into the foam support sheet.
Water-soluble polymer or water-swellable resin microneedle base
The microneedle array includes a water-soluble polymer or a water-swellable resin as a base.
Open cells holding microneedle tip portions
The microneedle array sheet where open cells on the open cell surface hold the tip portions of microneedles.
Synthetic polymer foam support material
The microneedle array sheet includes a foam support sheet made from a synthetic polymer material, where the synthetic polymer material is selected from polyurethane, polystyrene, polyolefin, phenol resin, polyvinyl chloride, urea resin, or mixtures thereof.
Foam expansion ratio of 5 or higher
The microneedle array sheet is characterized by a foam support sheet having an expansion ratio of 5 or higher.
Foam expansion ratio of 10 or higher
The microneedle array sheet has an expansion ratio of 10 or higher.
Overall, the claim set centers on mounting a microneedle array into an open-cell foam support with the microneedle side facing downward, using a water-soluble polymer or water-swellable resin as the microneedle base, and specifying open-cell accommodation of tip portions, synthetic polymer foam materials, and expansion-ratio thresholds of at least 5 and at least 10.
Stated Advantages
Provides holding and protection of microneedle tips by accommodating microneedle tip portions in open-cell voids.
Supports negligible needle deformation at higher foam expansion ratios compared with a lower expansion ratio comparative case.
Enables the microneedle array to be taken out easily for administration.
Allows administration while avoiding adhesive attachment.
Documented Applications
Administration of a microneedle array after the microneedle array can be taken out easily, with administration performed while avoiding adhesive attachment.
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