US6471903B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for manufacturing an intracutaneous microneedle array
Assignee: Corium LLC
•
Filing: 2001-09-19
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Granted: 2002-10-29
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Expires: 2021-09-19
Abstract
Abstract An array of hollow microneedles is constructed of molded plastic, in which a micro-machining technique is used to fabricate the molds used in a plastic microforming process. The molds are detachable and can be re-used. The preferred process for making the plastic arrays of microneedles is a microinjection technique. In the microinjection method, a molten plastic substance is injected between two micro-machined molds that contain microhole and micropillar arrays. Once the desired shape of the microneedle array has been formed, the mold and the plastic material are cooled down. Next, the molds are separated and the plastic microneedle array is detached from the mold structures.
Inventors
- 👤 Faiz Feisal Sherman
- 👤 Vadim Vladimirovich Yuzhakov
- 👤 Vladimir Gartstein
- 👤 Grover David Owens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:21
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/08; B29C51/082; A; A61; A61M; A61M37/00; A61M37/0015; B26; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/24; B29C33/00; B29C33/0033; B29C33/42; B29C37/00; B29C37/0053; B29C45/00; B29C45/17; B29C45/26; B29C45/2628; B81; B81C; B81C1/00; B81C1/00015; B81C1/00023; B81C1/00111; A61M2037/0023; A61M2037/003; A61M2037/0053; B29C59/00; B29C59/02; B29C59/022; B29C2059/023; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/7544; B29L2031/756; B81B; B81B2201/00; B81B2201/05; B81B2201/055; B81C2201/00; B81C2201/03; B81C2201/036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of manufacturing a microneedle array, comprising: (a) providing a top mold structure and bottom mold structure, said top mold structure having a bottommost substantially planar surface, said bottom mold structure having a topmost substantially planar surface, said top mold structure defining a plurality of microholes and a plurality of micropillars that are located within said microholes, said micropillars each extending a substantially equal length which causes said micropillars to extend beyond said bottommost surface, said micropillars being configured so as to prevent said bottommost surface from contacting said topmost surface when said top and bottom mold structures are closed, thereby creating a gap between the bottommost surface of said top mold structure and the topmost surface of said bottom mold structure; (b) heating, in a separate container, a moldable material to above its melting temperature; (c) injecting, when said top and bottom mold structures are closed, said moldable material into said gap between the bottom surface of said top mold structure and the top surface of said bottom mold structure; (d) cooling said mold and said material to a temperature below the melting temperature of said material; and (e) opening said top and bottom mold structures, and detaching said material from said top and bottom mold structures, thereby leaving a unitary structure of an array of hollow microneedles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of manufacturing a microneedle array, comprising: (a) providing a top mold structure and bottom mold structure, said top mold structure having a bottommost substantially planar surface, said bottom mold structure having a topmost substantially planar surface, said top mold structure defining a plurality of microholes and a plurality of micropillars that are located within said microholes, said micropillars each extending a substantially equal length which causes said micropillars to extend beyond said bottommost surface, said micropillars being configured so as to prevent said bottommost surface from contacting said topmost surface when said top and bottom mold structures are closed, thereby creating a gap between the bottommost surface of said top mold structure and the topmost surface of said bottom mold structure; (b) heating, in a separate container, a moldable material to above its melting temperature; (c) injecting, when said top and bottom mold structures are closed, said moldable material into said gap between the bottom surface of said top mold structure and the top surface of said bottom mold structure; (d) cooling said mold and said material to a temperature below the melting temperature of said material; and (e) opening said top and bottom mold structures, and detaching said material from said top and bottom mold structures, thereby leaving a unitary structure of an array of hollow microneedles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said material comprises a polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of micropillars is substantially cylindrical in shape, and each of said plurality of microholes is substantially conical in shape, and said individual micropillars and microholes being concentric.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-28 | 2006-04-29 | 2006-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-28 | 2010-04-29 | 2010-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-28 | 2014-04-29 | 2014-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |