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US 2014/0276580 A1Published application
Microprojection applicators and methods of use
AssigneeCorium International, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Le, Doug Bourne, Ashutosh Shastry, Robert Wade Worsham, Parminder Singh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Applicators for a microprojection array and methods of using the applicators are described.
Claims31
An applicator, comprising:
- a rigid plate member with an upper surface and a lower surface, the plate member having at least one opening;
- a blocking element in contact with the upper surface of the plate member and being capable of moving between a first position and a second position;
- a plunger having a proximal end, a distal end on which at least one microprojection can be retained, and a shaft extending therebetween, the proximal end being at least partially retained by the blocking element in its first position;
- an energy-storing element positioned between the lower surface of the plate member and the distal end of the plunger;
- and
- an actuating member having an external surface for application of a force, and having at least one surface in mechanical communication with the blocking element, wherein the actuating member moves the blocking element from its first position to its second position when a force is applied to the external surface of the actuating member, thereby to effect release of the energy-storing element.
3 more elements
An applicator, comprising:
- a planar plate member with an upper surface and a lower surface, the plate member having at least one opening;
- a planar flexure element in contact with the upper surface of the plate member, the flexure element (i) having a gap capable of moving between first and second positions and (ii) being positioned to align the gap with the opening in the plate member;
- a plunger slidably disposed within the aligned gap and opening, the plunger having a shaft with a distal end on which at least one microstructure can be retained and a proximal end dimensioned such that the proximal end is retained by the gap in its first position and passes through the gap in its second position;
- an energy-storing element positioned between the lower surface of the plate member and the distal end of the plunger;
- and
- an actuating member having an external surface and a polyhedral-shaped member, the polyhedral-shaped member dimensioned to move the gap between its first and second positions when the external surface of the actuating member is contacted with sufficient force to effect release of the energy-storing element.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.