 Snuff projector |
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| Localized liquid additive applicator system for continuous cylindrical product |
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| Portable massage unit |
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| Back support |
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| Adjustable speculum with incorporated lighting system |
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| Swimming glove |
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| Apparatus for supporting the human body |
| I claim: 1. A human body support apparatus for sitting and sleeping, comprising: a layer of ... |
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| Rolling massaging device |
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| Acupressure instrument |
| OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated an acupressure instrument 10 ... |
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Microneedles for minimally invasive drug delivery
| Details |
Inventors: Cho, Steve T.;
Assignee: Hospira, Inc. (Lake Forest, IL)
Primary Examiner: Bennett; Henry
Assistant Examiner: Nguyen; Camtu
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Woodworth; Brian R., Crabb; Michael R.
The present invention provides a microneedle incorporating a base that is broad relative to a height of the microneedle, to minimize breakage. The microneedle further includes a fluid channel and a beveled non-coring tip. Preferably arrays of such microneedles are fabricated utilizing conventional semiconductor derived micro-scale fabrication techniques. A dot pattern mask is formed on an upper surface of a silicon substrate, with each orifice of the dot pattern mask corresponding to a desired location of a microneedle. Orifices are formed that pass completely through the substrate by etching. A nitride pattern mask is formed to mask all areas in which a nitride layer is not desired. A nitride layer is then deposited on the bottom of the silicon substrate, on the walls of the orifice, and on the top of the silicon substrate around the periphery of the orifice. The nitride layer around the periphery of the orifice is offset somewhat, such that one side of the orifice has a larger nitride layer. Anisotropic etching is used to remove a substantial portion of the substrate, creating a plurality of angular, blunt, and generally pyramidal-shaped microneedles. A subsequent removal of the nitride layer, followed by an isotropic etching step, softens and rounds out the blunt angular microneedles, providing generally conical-shaped microneedles. The uneven nitride layer adjacent the orifice ensures that the microneedles will include a beveled tip. Such microneedle arrays are preferably incorporated into handheld diagnostic and drug delivery systems. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION 1.
A minimally invasive drug delivery system for transdermally delivering a medicinal fluid into a patient, comprising: (a) a handheld control unit comprising a housing, a processor, a display electrically coupled to said processor, a keypad electrically coupled to said processor, a memory electrically coupled to said processor; a medicinal fluid reservoir; a medicinal fluid outlet in fluid communication with said medicinal fluid reservoir, and an actuator that develops pressure to force the medicinal fluid from the medicinal fluid reservoir and through the medicinal fluid outlet for infusion into the patient, said actuator being electrically coupled to and controlled by the processor; (b) a disposable cartridge, said disposable cartridge comprising a housing, and an array of microneedles through which the medicinal fluid is infused into the patient; and (c) a fluid line having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end being connected to said medicinal fluid outlet, and said distal end being coupled with said disposable cartridge to provide fluid communication between the medicinal fluid outlet and the disposable cartridge; (d) wherein each individual microneedle of said array comprises: (i) a generally conical-shaped body having a beveled, non-coring tip, said tip being sharp and able to pierce tissue; (ii) said conical body further having a broad base formed of a substrate at an opposite end from the tip; and (iii) a fluid channel extending through the conical-shaped body, providing fluid communication between said broad base and said tip.
2.
The minimally invasive drug delivery system of claim 1, wherein a height of each microneedle, which is defined as a distance from said broad base to said tip, is substantially less than a width of said broad base.
3.
The minimally invasive drug delivery system of claim 2, wherein a height of the microneedle, which is defined as a distance from said broad base to said tip, is within a range from about 50 μm to about 100 μm
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Cosmetic Surgery 
