Abstract:
The invention discloses a method of manufacturing a microneedle including the steps of forming an island etching mask having thickness distribution on a substrate, and processing the substrate into a needle by taking advantage of a difference in etching rates between the etching mask and the substrate. The invention enables to readily control a point angle and height of the manufactured needle.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating a micro-needle array is provided. The method of fabricating a micro-needle array having a substrate having a first surface and a second surface spaced in a predetermined interval apart from the first surface, includes patterning on the first surface, thereby forming a shape of micro-needle bodies. Further, micro-passageways are formed that penetrate the first surface of the substrate from the second surface by a porous silicon process, and integrates the micro-passageways, thereby forming the bodies and channels of micro-needles.
Abstract:
A method for producing a device which is suitable for delivering a substance into or through the skin and includes an array of microneedles developed out of an Si semiconductor substrate, the microneedles being affixed on and/or inside a flexible support made from a polymer material. A device producible by this method.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing semiconical microneedles in an Si-semiconductor substrate and a semiconical microneedles manufacturable made by this method.
Abstract:
Microneedle arrays are fabricated by providing a sacrificial mold including a substrate and an array of posts, preferably solid posts, projecting therefrom. A first material is coated on the sacrificial mold including on the substrate and on the array of posts. The sacrificial mold is removed to provide an array of hollow tubes projecting from a base. The inner and outer surfaces of the array of hollow tubes are coated with a second material to create the array of microneedles projecting from the base. The sacrificial mold may be fabricated by fabricating a master mold, including an array of channels that extend into the master mold from a face thereof. A third material is molded into the channels and on the face of the master mold, to create the sacrificial mold. The sacrificial mold then is separated from the master mold. Alternatively, wire bonding may be used to wire bond an array of wires to a substrate to create the sacrificial mold. The first material preferably is coated on the sacrificial mold by plating. Prior to plating, a plating base preferably is formed on the sacrificial mold including on the substrate and on the array of posts. The inner and outer surfaces of the array of hollow tubes preferably are coated with the second material by overplating the second material on the inner and outer surfaces of the array of hollow tubes.
Abstract:
A device, preferably a micro-device, is molded from a plastic material by injection molding, compression molding or embossing. A microabrader can be molded having microneedles for abrading the stratum corneum of the skin to form an abraded site in the tissue for enhancing drug delivery. The micro-device is molded using a mold assembly having a silicon molding surface. The silicon molding surface can include a recess corresponding to the desired shape and length of the microneedles. The silicon molding surface enables micron and submicron size features to be molded from polymeric materials without the polymeric material adhering to the mold surface. Micro-devices having molded features having micron and submicron dimensions can be rapidly produced without the use of a release agent.
Abstract:
A device, preferably a micro-device, is molded from a plastic material by injection molding, compression molding or embossing. A microabrader can be molded having microneedles for abrading the stratum corneum of the skin to form an abraded site in the tissue for enhancing drug delivery. The micro-device is molded using a mold assembly having a silicon molding surface. The silicon molding surface can include a recess corresponding to the desired shape and length of the microneedles. The silicon molding surface enables micron and submicron size features to be molded from polymeric materials without the polymeric material adhering to the mold surface. Micro-devices having molded features having micron and submicron dimensions can be rapidly produced without the use of a release agent.
Abstract:
Surface micro-machined micro-needles (32) are formed as single needles (32) or in two-dimensional or three-dimensional micro-needle arrays (30). The micro-needles (32) are fabricated on a substrate (12) which can remain attached to the micro-needles (32) or can be subsequently removed. The two-dimensional or three-dimensional micro-needle arrays (30) can have cross-coupling flow channels (36) which allow for pressure equalization, and balance of fluid flow within the micro-needle arrays (30). Each of the micro-needles (32) has a micro-channel (36) therethrough that provides communication between at least one input port (37) at a proximal end of the micro-needles (32), and at least on output port (39) at an opposite distal end.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a 3-D high aspect-ratio microneedle array device, comprising steps of: providing a substrate, with a photoresist layer coated thereon; performing photolithography on the photoresist layer by using a gray-tone mask so as to form a patterned photoresist layer; performing high-selectivity etching on the patterned photoresist layer and the substrate by using inductively coupled plasma etching so as to transfer the pattern onto the substrate and form a structure; applying a material on the structure; and de-molding the structure from the substrate.
Abstract:
Improved microneedle arrays are provided having a sufficiently large separation distance between each of the individual microneedles to ensure penetration of the skin while having a sufficiently small separation distance to provide high transdermal transport rates. A very useful range of separation distances between microneedles is in the range of 100-300 microns, and more preferably in the range of 100-200 microns. The outer diameter and microneedle length is also very important, and in combination with the separation distance will be crucial as to whether or not the microneedles will actually penetrate the stratum corneum of skin. For circular microneedles, a useful outer diameter range is from 20-100 microns, and more preferably in the range of 20-50 microns. For circular microneedles that do not have sharp edges, a useful length for use with interstitial fluids is in the range of 50-200 microns, and more preferably in the range of 100-150 microns; for use with other biological fluids, a useful length is in the range of 200 microns—3 mm, and more preferably in the range of 200-400 microns. For circular microneedles having sharp side edges, a useful length for use with interstitial fluids is in the range of 50-200 microns, and more preferably in the range of 80-150 microns; for use with other biological fluids, a useful length is again in the range of 200 microns—3 mm, and more preferably in the range of 200-400 microns. For solid microneedles having a star-shaped profile with sharp edges for its star-shaped blades, a useful length for use with interstitial fluids is in the range of 50-200 microns, and more preferably in the range of 80-150 microns; for use with other biological fluids, a useful length is again in the range of 200 microns—3 mm, and more preferably in the range of 200-400 microns, while the radius of each of its blades is in the range of 10-50 microns, and more preferably in the range of 10-15 microns.