Microneedle arrays and methods of use thereof
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorDaniel C. Duan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of treating a patient with a microneedle array having an active agent disposed on at least a portion of one or more of the microneedles, wherein the array with active agent is characterized by a first optical response when probed with a selected incident light spectrum. The array with active agent is applied to a skin surface, optionally allowed to remain on the skin surface for a specified time, and removed. The used array is probed with the selected incident light spectrum, a second optical response is sensed, and the difference between the first optical response and the second optical response is determined and compared to a predetermined threshold value.
Claims7
A drug delivery device comprising:
- a plurality of microneedles arranged on a substrate, each microneedle having a base and a tip;
- wherein the tip of one or more of the microneedles has a first optical response when probed with a selected incident light spectrum;
- wherein the base of the microneedle has a second optical response when probed with the selected incident light spectrum, the second optical response differing from the first optical response;
- an active agent formulation covering at least a portion of the tip of one or more of the microneedles;
- and
- wherein the active agent formulation modulates the first optical response of the microneedles when probed with the selected incident light spectrum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.