Microneedles to be placed in the skin for the transdermal application of pharhmaceuticals

An array kit, comprising:

• an array to be placed on the skin of a human patient or an animal patient for transdermally applying pharmaceuticals, toxins or active agents, including a carrier substrate, and
• microneedles situated on the carrier substrate, the microneedles having a preset breaking point in an area of a transition to the carrier substrate;
• and
• a cover material to be placed over the array after the array is placed in the skin.

A method for producing an array, the method comprising:

• a) providing a carrier substrate made up of a material containing silicon;
• b) applying an etching mask onto the substrate using a photolithographic process;
• and
• c) etching a desired structure using isotropic and anisotropic etching processes;
• wherein the array is to be placed on the skin of a human patient or an animal patient for transdermally applying pharmaceuticals, toxins or active agents, and wherein the array includes the carrier substrate, and microneedles situated on the carrier substrate, the microneedles having a preset breaking point in an area of a transition to the carrier substrate.

A method for using a microneedle array, the method comprising:

• a) applying a microneedle array onto the skin;
• b) inserting the microneedles of the microneedle array into the outer skin layers;
• c) separating the microneedles from the carrier and removing a carrier;
• and
• d) administering pharmaceuticals, toxins or active agents via the microneedles and openings created using the microneedles;
• wherein the array includes the carrier, and microneedles situated on the carrier, the microneedles having a preset breaking point in an area of a transition to the carrier.