Methods and moulds for use in fabricating side-ported microneedles
AssigneeAgency for Science, Technology and Research
InventorsYuan Xu, Meí Ma Chen, Zhongli Li, Chee Yen Lim, Pei Ying Joyce Tan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microneedle mold and a method of manufacturing a microneedle mold are provided for use in fabricating microneedles. The method includes providing a microneedle mold base with recesses therein, the recesses corresponding to the microneedles to be fabricated and extending from a first surface of the microneedle mold base; and forming side-port forming holes in the microneedle mold base, the side-port forming holes extend in side surfaces of the recesses within the microneedle mold base at side-port forming positions of the recesses.
Claims33
A method of manufacturing a microneedle mould for use in fabricating microneedles, comprising:
- providing a microneedle mould base with recesses therein, the recesses corresponding to the microneedles to be fabricated and extending from a first surface of the microneedle mould base;
- forming side-port forming holes in the microneedle mould base, the side-port forming holes extend in side surfaces of the recesses within the microneedle mould base at side-port forming positions of the recesses;
- and
- providing a seed layer on the first surface of the microneedle mould base and in the recesses,
- wherein forming the side-port forming holes comprises:
- providing the side surfaces of the recesses with discontinuities at the side-port forming positions of the recesses;
- and
- depositing the seed layer after providing the side-port forming discontinuities, with the seed layer failing to deposit substantially on the side-port forming discontinuities.
A microneedle mould comprising a microneedle mould base with a plurality of recesses extending from a first surface thereof and a plurality of side-port forming holes in the microneedle mould base, the side-port forming holes extending in side surfaces of the recesses within the microneedle mould base at side-port forming positions of the recesses,
- wherein the side surfaces of the recesses are provided with discontinuities at the side-port forming positions of the recesses, and
- a seed layer is deposited on the first surface of the microneedle mould base and in the recesses, with the seeding layer failing to deposit substantially on the side-port forming discontinuities.
A method of fabricating microneedles, comprising:
- providing a microneedle mould fabricated according to a method of manufacturing a microneedle mould for use in fabricating microneedles, the method of manufacturing a microneedle mould comprising:
- providing a microneedle mould base with recesses therein, the recesses corresponding to the microneedles to be fabricated and extending from a first surface of the microneedle mould base;
- and
- forming side-port forming holes in the microneedle mould base, the side-port forming holes extend in side surfaces of the recesses within the microneedle mould base at side-port forming positions of the recesses;
- forming a microneedle layer onto a first surface of the microneedle mould and within the recesses of the microneedle mould, with gaps in the layers on the side-port forming holes;
- and
- removing the microneedle layer from the microneedle mould, the portions of the microneedle layer corresponding to the side-port forming holes comprising microneedle side-ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.