Microneedle patch delivery applicator and method
AssigneeUniversity of Southern Queensland
InventorsVahid EBRAHIMINEJAD, Zahra FARAJI RAD
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An applicator for delivery of a microneedle patch to a surface of a subject is disclosed. The applicator includes: a barrel having an open delivery end; a plunger mechanism including a plunder slidable within the barrel for moving the microneedle patch through a delivery stroke towards the open delivery end; a microneedle patch holder operatively associated with an end of the plunger for releasably holding the microneedle patch through the delivery stroke; at least one leg pivotally coupled to a side of the barrel and configured to stretch taut the underlying surface; and an electric actuator for vibrating at least the microneedle patch holder at a selected frequency during the delivery stroke.
Claims21
An applicator for delivery of a microneedle patch to a surface of a subject, said applicator comprising:
- a barrel having an open delivery end through which the microneedle patch is delivered to an underlying said surface of the subject;
- an adjustable spring-loaded plunger slidable within the barrel for moving the microneedle patch through a delivery stroke towards the open delivery end;
- a microneedle patch holder operatively associated with an end of the spring-loaded plunger for releasably holding the microneedle patch through the delivery stroke;
- at least one leg pivotally coupled to a side of the barrel and configured to stretch taut said underlying said surface, said leg comprising a distal end for contacting the surface and a biasing mechanism for biasing the leg away from the barrel and thereby stretching the surface taut;
- and
- an electric actuator operatively associated with the microneedle patch holder and configured to vibrate at least the microneedle patch holder at a selected frequency during the delivery stroke.
19-22. (canceled)
An applicator for delivery of a microneedle patch to a surface of a subject, said applicator comprising:
- a barrel having an open delivery end through which the microneedle patch is delivered to an underlying said surface of the subject;
- a plunger mechanism comprising a plunder slidable within the barrel for moving the microneedle patch through a delivery stroke towards the open delivery end, an adjustable biasing mechanism associated with the plunger for biasing the plunger towards the open delivery end and a release member for releasing the plunger under a force of the biasing mechanism for movement through the delivery stroke;
- a microneedle patch holder operatively associated with an end of the plunger for releasably holding the microneedle patch through the delivery stroke;
- at least one leg pivotally coupled to a side of the barrel and configured to stretch taut said underlying said surface, said leg comprising a distal end for contacting the surface and a biasing mechanism for biasing the leg away from the barrel and thereby stretching the surface taut;
- and
- an electric actuator operatively associated with the microneedle patch holder and configured to vibrate at least the microneedle patch holder at a selected frequency during the delivery stroke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.