# US 11,433,224 B2 · Method for manufacturing hollow needling implement, device for manufacturing hollow needling implement, and hollow needling implement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,224 B2 - Document ID: US11433224B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/646,722 - Filed: 2018-06-14 - Published: 2020-08-27 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-13 - Assignees: Kao Corporation - Applicants: Kao Corporation - Inventors: Shinji Hamamoto; Takatoshi Niitsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433224B2 ## CPC - A61M 37/0015: {by using microneedles} - A61M 37/00: Other apparatus for introducing media into the body (for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30); Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin (salt baths A61H33/04) - B23K 26/0093: {combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K} - B23K 26/389: {of fluid openings, e.g. nozzles, jets} - B26D 7/086: {by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically} - B29C 35/0261: {using ultrasonic or sonic vibrations} - B29C 51/268: {Cutting, rearranging and joining the cut parts} - B29C 51/42: Heating or cooling - B29C 51/425: {using movable heating devices} - B29C 69/00: Combinations of shaping techniques not provided for in a single one of main groups B29C39/00 - B29C67/00, e.g. associations of moulding and joining techniques; Apparatus therefore {(B29C48/001 takes precedence)} - A61M 2037/0023: {Drug applicators using microneedles} - A61M 2037/003: {having a lumen} - A61M 2037/0038: {having a channel at the side surface} - A61M 2037/0046: {Solid microneedles} - A61M 2037/0053: {Methods for producing microneedles} - A61M 2207/10: Device therefor - B29C 2035/0838: {using laser} - B29C 2035/1666: {dried air} - B29C 2791/009: Using laser - B29C 2793/0045: Perforating - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement (1) including a fine hollow protrusion (3) having an opening (3h) of the present invention includes a protrusion forming step of inserting a projecting mold part (11) into a base material sheet (2A) from one face (2D) side thereof, the base material sheet containing a thermoplastic resin, thereby forming a non-penetrated hollow protrusion (3) projecting from another face (2U) side of the base material sheet (2A). Subsequently, an opening forming step is performed in which an opening (3h) that penetrates the hollow protrusion (3) is formed by using a contactless opening forming means disposed on the other face (2U) side of the base material sheet (2A). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement including a fine hollow protrusion having an opening, the method comprising: a protrusion forming step of inserting a protrusion-forming projecting mold part into a base material sheet from one face side thereof, the base material sheet containing a thermoplastic resin, thereby forming a non-penetrated hollow protrusion projecting from another face side of the base material sheet; a cooling step of cooling the non-penetrated hollow protrusion, the cooling step being performed after the protrusion forming step; an opening forming step of forming an opening as a through hole in the non-penetrated hollow protrusion by using a contactless opening forming means disposed on the other face side of the base material sheet while the non-penetrated hollow protrusion is being cooled in the cooling step, and in the opening forming step, the opening is formed in a state in which the projecting mold part is inserted in an interior of the non-penetrated hollow protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 1, wherein, in the opening forming step, the opening is formed at a position offset from a center of a tip portion of the non-penetrated hollow protrusion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 1, wherein a laser device is used as the contactless opening forming means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 3, wherein, in the opening forming step, the opening is formed by irradiating laser light from the laser device onto the non-penetrated hollow protrusion from a direction that is inclined with respect to an insertion direction of the projecting mold part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 4, wherein an angle that is formed by the insertion direction of the projecting mold part and the inclined direction in which the laser light is irradiated is from 5 to 85 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 1, wherein the projecting mold part has a heating means, and in the protrusion forming step, the base material sheet is heated and softened by the heating means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 6, wherein a time for which the base material sheet is heated and softened by the heating means is from 0 to 10 seconds. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 1, wherein the projecting mold part has a heating means, and an ultrasonic vibration device is used as the heating means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 1, wherein, in the protrusion forming step, an insertion speed at which the projecting mold part is inserted into the base material sheet is from 0.1 to 1,000 mm/sec. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 1, wherein, in the cooling step, the non-penetrated hollow protrusion is cooled in a state in which the projecting mold part is inserted in an interior of the non-penetrated hollow protrusion. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement including a fine hollow protrusion having an opening, the apparatus comprising: a protrusion forming section including a protrusion-forming projecting mold part that is disposed on one face side of a base material sheet containing a thermoplastic resin; a cooling section that cools the non-penetrated hollow protrusion; and an opening forming section including a contactless opening forming means that is disposed on another face side of the base material sheet, wherein the apparatus is configured to insert the projecting mold part into the base material sheet from the one face side thereof, thereby forming a non-penetrated hollow protrusion projecting from the other face side of the base material sheet, and to subsequently form an opening as a through hole in the non-penetrated hollow protrusion by using the opening forming means from the other face side of the base material sheet while the non-penetrated hollow protrusion is being cooled by the cooling section, and wherein the opening forming section is configured to form the opening in a state in which the projecting mold part is inserted in an interior of the non-penetrated hollow protrusion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 11, wherein the opening forming section is configured to form the opening at a position offset from a center of a tip portion of the non-penetrated hollow protrusion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 11, wherein the contactless opening forming means is a laser device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 13, wherein the opening forming section forms the opening by irradiating laser light from the laser device onto the non-penetrated hollow protrusion from a direction that is inclined with respect to an insertion direction of the projecting mold part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 14, wherein an angle that is formed by the insertion direction of the projecting mold part and the inclined direction in which the laser light is irradiated is from 5 to 85 degrees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus for manufacturing a hollow protruding implement according to claim 11, wherein the projecting mold part has an ultrasonic vibration that heats and softens the base material sheet. ### Claim 17 A hollow protruding implement including a fine hollow protrusion having an opening, wherein the opening is a through hole disposed at a position offset from a center of a tip portion of the hollow protrusion, an inner diameter of the opening on an outer surface side of the hollow protrusion is greater than the inner diameter thereof on an inner surface side of the hollow protrusion, and a space in the hollow protrusions is formed in a shape that conforms to the outer shape of the hollow protrusion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hollow protruding implement according to claim 17, wherein the inner diameter of the opening gradually increases from the inner surface side of the hollow protrusion toward the outer surface side thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The hollow protruding implement according to claim 17, wherein the inner diameter of the opening on the inner surface side is from 1 to 500 μm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The hollow protruding implement according to claim 17, wherein the inner diameter of the opening on the outer surface side is from 1.1 to 15 times greater than the inner diameter thereof on the inner surface side. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The hollow protruding implement according to claim 17, wherein an opening area of the opening on the outer surface side of the hollow protrusion is larger than the opening area of the opening on the inner surface side of the hollow protrusion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The hollow protruding implement according to claim 17, wherein the space in the hollow protrusion is formed in a conical shape that conforms to the outer shape of the hollow protrusion.