Drug delivery device including pump with floating microneedle assembly
Inventors
McCaffrey, Maureen • CARDINALI, Steven • O'Connor, Jason
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12697472-B2
Publication Date
2026-08-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques, processes, devices or systems including a floating microneedle assembly decoupled from the device and protected by a pump housing. In one approach, a wearable drug delivery device may include a pump housing including a base attachable to a user, and a microneedle assembly coupled to a cannula. The microneedle assembly may be operable to deliver a liquid drug to the user, wherein the microneedle assembly comprises a carrier positioned proximate an opening of the base, and wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of microneedles operable to extend through the opening of the base to penetrate a skin of the user.
Core Innovation
The invention concerns a microneedle assembly of a wearable drug delivery device. A carrier coupled to a cannula supports microneedles that receive liquid drug and penetrate the user’s skin when the carrier is biased relative to the microneedle housing. The housing surrounds the carrier and includes a snap-fit tab that engages the carrier to maintain its position relative to the user.
The carrier and microneedle housing are decoupled, and in the deployed configuration the housing constrains the carrier only in a direction away from the user while providing lateral clearance within a recess. This arrangement reduces transfer of upward and lateral forces from the housing to the carrier. The stated problem is that forces transferred from the housing could dislodge microneedles from the skin.
Claims Coverage
The supplied claims identify one independent claim comprising three inventive features.
Carrier coupled to a cannula
The microneedle assembly comprises a carrier coupled to a cannula.
Decoupled microneedle housing with snap-fit tab and lateral clearance
The microneedle housing surrounds the carrier and comprises a snap-fit tab operable to engage the carrier to maintain its position relative to a user. The housing and carrier are decoupled; in a deployed configuration, the housing constrains the carrier only in a direction away from the user and provides lateral clearance within a recess to reduce transfer of upward and lateral forces from the housing to the carrier.
Microneedles for liquid drug delivery
A plurality of microneedles extends from the carrier and is operable to receive a liquid drug from the cannula and penetrate the user’s skin to deliver the liquid drug when the carrier is biased relative to the microneedle housing.
The independent claim covers a cannula-coupled carrier with microneedles, together with a decoupled housing that retains the deployed carrier while providing lateral clearance to reduce force transfer.
Stated Advantages
The lateral clearance reduces transfer of upward and lateral forces from the housing to the carrier, helping reduce the risk that microneedles are dislodged from the skin.
Documented Applications
The wearable system is described for delivering liquid drug to a user through microneedles.
The disclosure also describes analyte sensing and controlled drug delivery using the wearable system.
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