Microneedle device with microcurrent

Abstract

Provided is a microneedle device with microcurrent, the microneedle device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising: a battery having first and second microneedle attachment surfaces on the bottom, the battery power generation being based on concentration gradient; conductive first and second microneedles containing medicinal substance for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes; an air-permeable cover in contact with first and second electrolyte sheets in the battery to allow moisture to evaporate; and an adhesive sheet surrounding and supporting the outer surface of the battery.

Description

microcurrent microneedle device

[0001] The present invention relates to a microcurrent microneedle device based on concentration gradient energy generation including an evaporation system.

[0002] Traditionally, drugs have been administered orally or through subcutaneous injection. For effective drug delivery, direct injection in liquid form is increasingly preferred over oral administration, which carries significant losses due to internal body processes. However, the injection process can cause skin irritation and pain, leading to the emergence of a new injection method using microneedles. While the microneedle market is currently dominated by cosmetic products, it is expanding into therapeutic applications such as acne treatment and drug injection.

[0003] Acne patches on the market today feature microneedles with diameters of tens of microns and lengths of hundreds of microns, aimed at delivering active ingredients to the epidermis via drug diffusion. Active ingredients for skin care, such as hyaluronic acid, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid, typically have molecular weights exceeding 500 Da. Diffusion through conventional microneedles alone would require patch attachment times of more than six hours. Among these active ingredients, the introduction of an electromotive force system can enhance the penetration rate of charged ions, and the expression of these active ingredients can be activated relatively quickly using electrical stimulation.

[0004] Furthermore, there are reports that applying microcurrents to the human body helps stimulate collagen production in the skin, and products utilizing this principle, such as microcurrent mask packs, have been commercialized. Microneedle patches, which incorporate an electromotive force system based on this principle, can contribute to skin improvement and treatment by directly applying current to the skin, in addition to their traditional beauty and therapeutic effects. When a microneedle patch is directly attached to the human body and operates, biocompatibility and body stability of all components are crucial.

[0005] However, power sources currently under development in power devices primarily use voltages in the several volt range. To simplify product use, small lithium-ion batteries are commonly used, necessitating a separate circuit board to control the current.

[0006] Furthermore, since direct current can flow through the body via microneedles, there are concerns about adverse effects caused by electrical current in the event of a circuit error. Furthermore, conventional batteries require caution, as they are not only harmful to the human body when current leaks, but also environmentally hazardous when disposed of.

[0007] The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the prior art, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a microneedle device equipped with a concentration difference generation device that stably produces a microscopic biocurrent of 100 μA level and, at the same time, uses a concentration difference generation-based battery, which is an environmentally friendly energy device, as a power source to maximize skin improvement and treatment effects.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a microneedle device that effectively enhances drug expression by electrically connecting first and second microneedles separated from each other on both electrode parts of a concentration difference generator, thereby applying microcurrent simultaneously with drug delivery through the first and second microneedles.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a microcurrent microneedle device can be provided that effectively implements penetration of skin improvement ingredients and skin improvement while the formed electromotive force provides electrical stimulation through the first and second microneedles.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a microcurrent microneedle device may be provided, comprising: a concentration difference generation-based battery; conductive first and second microneedles protruding in a needle shape from the lower side of the concentration difference generation-based battery and containing a drug for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes; a breathable cover that contacts the first and second electrolyte sheets within the concentration difference generation-based battery to enable moisture evaporation; and an adhesive sheet that wraps around and supports the outer periphery of the concentration difference generation-based battery.

[0011] In addition, a microcurrent microneedle device can be provided in which, when a saline solution is applied to the above-described concentration difference power generation-based battery, the solid salt dissolves and changes into liquid first and second electrolyte sheets, thereby operating the battery.

[0012] In addition, the concentration difference power generation-based battery may be provided with a microcurrent microneedle device including a first electrolyte sheet including a solid-state salt; and a second electrolyte sheet including an electrolyte having a concentration lower than the concentration at the time of dissolution of the first electrolyte sheet.

[0013] In addition, the concentration difference power generation-based battery may be provided with a microcurrent microneedle device further including an ion exchange membrane disposed between first and second electrolyte sheets to selectively transmit ions between the first and second electrolyte sheets.

[0014] In addition, a microcurrent microneedle device may be provided in which a first conductive microneedle is formed on the lower side of the first electrolyte sheet to electrically connect the concentration difference power generation-based battery and the percutaneous tissue, and a second conductive microneedle is formed on the lower side of the second electrolyte sheet to electrically connect the concentration difference power generation-based battery and the percutaneous tissue.

[0015] In addition, a microcurrent microneedle device can be provided in which a breathable cover is installed on the surface of the first electrolyte sheet to maintain a high concentration of salt while evaporating moisture in the saline solution.

[0016] In addition, a microcurrent microneedle device may be provided in which the first and second electrolyte sheets include a biocompatible solid-state salt, which is one of the substances existing inside the body, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride ions.

[0017] In addition, a microcurrent microneedle device may be provided in which the first and second electrolyte sheets include any one of a general mask pack sheet fabric or a porous polymer, but include any one of a non-woven fabric, cotton, hydrogel, biocellulose, and agarose gel.

[0018] In addition, a microcurrent microneedle device may be provided in which the first and second microneedles include any one of the following active ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy axid (AHA), beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), and retinoic acid.

[0019] In addition, a microcurrent microneedle device may be provided in which the first and second microneedles contain any one of fentanyl, lidocaine, epinephrine, Dex-P (Dexamethasone sodium phosphate), tranexamic acid, dexamethasone, and etodolac as a therapeutic injection drug.

[0020] Additionally, the above breathable cover may be provided as a microcurrent microneedle device attached over the first electrolyte sheet to provide a moisture evaporation passage as large as the area of ​​the first electrolyte sheet.

[0021] According to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, the microcurrent microneedle device can effectively improve the skin through electrical stimulation by enhancing the penetration rate of effective ingredients into the dermal layer and the dermal layer by forming an electric field in the skin by penetrating the first and second conductive microneedles into the skin.

[0022] The microcurrent microneedle device according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention can maintain the potential difference between both ends of the ion exchange membrane due to the difference in electrolyte concentration in the first electrolyte sheet and the second electrolyte sheet for a relatively long time by positioning the breathable cover at the center of the adhesive sheet to induce evaporation of moisture from the upper part of the first electrolyte sheet, and accordingly, the case where the salt in the first electrolyte sheet is more than the salt in the second electrolyte sheet is maintained for a relatively long time, and the microcurrent emission time of the microcurrent microneedle device is increased, thereby maximizing the effect of the effective ingredient of the cosmetic.

[0023] The microcurrent microneedle device according to the technical idea of ​​the present invention can output microcurrents of a size similar to a bioelectric current directly to the first and second microneedle electrodes by using a concentration difference generation-based battery instead of a conventional lithium ion battery, and has the effect of being harmless to the human body and the environment by using an eco-friendly electrolyte material, and being disposable and disposable after use.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a microcurrent microneedle device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the cover and sheet of a microcurrent microneedle device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the first and second microneedle arrangements of a microcurrent microneedle device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the operation method of a microcurrent microneedle device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 is a distribution diagram showing an electric field within a skin layer of a microcurrent microneedle device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the technical idea of ​​the present invention to those skilled in the art. The following embodiments may be converted into various other forms, and the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to more faithfully and completely convey the technical idea of ​​the present invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers throughout this specification represent like elements. Furthermore, various elements and areas in the drawings are schematically drawn. Therefore, the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited by the relative sizes or intervals drawn in the attached drawings.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a microcurrent microneedle device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, a microcurrent microneedle device (100) may include a concentration difference power generation-based battery (110), a first microneedle (120), a second microneedle (130), an insulating material (140), a battery cover (150), a breathable cover (160), and an adhesive sheet (170).

[0032] In addition, the concentration difference power generation-based battery (110) further includes a first electrolyte sheet (111), a second electrolyte sheet (112), and an ion exchange membrane (113).

[0033] The above concentration difference power generation-based battery (110) may include a laminated structure of first and second electrolyte sheets (111, 112) and an ion exchange membrane (113). At this time, the ion exchange membrane (113) may be placed between the first electrolyte sheet (111) and the second electrolyte sheet (112).

[0034] The above-described concentration difference energy generation method forms a potential difference across both ends of the membrane due to the selective permeation of ions by the ion exchange membrane (113). The formed potential difference is transmitted to the skin through the first and second conductive electrolyte sheets (111, 112) and the first and second microneedles (120, 130), thereby inducing an electric field within the skin layer.

[0035] Additionally, an insulating material (140) may be filled between the first electrolyte sheet (111) and the second electrolyte sheet (112). The insulating material (140) can prevent ions of the first electrolyte sheet (111) from moving to the second electrolyte sheet (112) through a passage other than the ion exchange membrane (113), thereby minimizing electrical loss.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, the microcurrent microneedle device (100) may be configured in the form of a circular patch. At this time, an adhesive sheet (170) may be formed to wrap and support the outer periphery of a concentration difference power generation-based battery (110).

[0037] The above adhesive sheet (170) serves as a support for the concentration difference power generation-based battery (110) and is intended for stable drug injection of the first and second microneedles (120, 130). The lower part of the adhesive sheet (170) is a contact point with the skin and a separate adhesive (171) can be placed. A part of the adhesive sheet (170) can be formed to cover the breathable cover (160). The breathable cover (160) can be installed so as to be in contact with the surface of the first electrolyte sheet (111) on the upper side of the concentration difference power generation-based battery (110).

[0038] Referring to FIG. 3, the first and second microneedles (120, 130) can be installed in a state of being electrically connected to the lower surfaces of the first and second electrolyte sheets (111, 112), respectively.

[0039] The first micro needle (120) may be positioned on the outside of the second electrolyte sheet (112) and electrically connected to the first electrolyte sheet (111) on top. In addition, the second micro needle (130) may be positioned on the lower side of the second electrolyte sheet (112) and electrically connected to the second electrolyte sheet (112).

[0040] The above first and second microneedles (120, 130) penetrate into the skin layer to provide a direct electrical path to the transdermis, and because they form a circuit with low resistance, they can form a current of the size of a biocurrent using a concentration difference-based battery (110).

[0041] Regarding the ion exchange membrane (113) and the concentration difference power generation-based battery (110), the sign of the voltage applied to the first and second electrolyte sheets (111, 112) in the battery (110) may change depending on the type of ion exchange membrane (113). For example, when a cation exchange membrane (113) is disposed, the cation of the first electrolyte sheet (111) moves to the second electrolyte sheet (112), so that the second micro needle (130) can be used as a positive electrode. Conversely, when an anion exchange membrane (113) is disposed, the anion of the first electrolyte sheet (111) moves to the second electrolyte sheet (112), so that the second micro needle (130) can be used as a negative electrode.

[0042] For example, when a negatively charged active ingredient is contained in the second micro needle (130), the movement of the active ingredient toward the skin can be accelerated by using an anion exchange membrane (113).

[0043] The first and second microneedles (120, 130) may contain an effective ingredient for skin improvement. The effective ingredient of the first and second microneedles (120, 130) may experience a repulsive force from an electrode having the same charge due to the influence of the electric field formed by the concentration difference power generation-based battery (110). At this time, the effective ingredient for cosmetic purposes having a charge may include any one of hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), and retinoic acid. The effective ingredient may provide an anti-aging effect for the skin by promoting collagen production.

[0044] The above concentration difference power generation-based battery (110) can operate by applying a saline solution. The breathable cover (160) can provide a path for applying the saline solution to the first electrolyte sheet (111).

[0045] Referring to FIG. 4, when saline solution is not applied, the first electrolyte sheet (111) may include various solid salts. When saline solution is applied, the solid salt of the first electrolyte sheet (111) is dissolved in the saline solution, and the first electrolyte sheet (111) may include a liquid electrolyte. The first electrolyte sheet (111) contains a higher concentration of electrolyte than the second electrolyte sheet (112), and the second electrolyte sheet (112) may include a liquid electrolyte regardless of whether the saline solution is applied. The first electrolyte sheet (111) to the second electrolyte sheet (112) may include, for example, any one of a porous polymer or fabric material. For example, it may include any one of a non-woven fabric, cotton, hydrogel, biocellulose, and agarose gel.

[0046] Solid salts are composed of highly biocompatible components, as their ions can move directly into the body and induce electric fields. Liquid electrolytes formed from solid salts can include magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride, which are substances found in the body, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride ions.

[0047] The moisture of the first electrolyte sheet (111) can be evaporated during operation of the battery (110) through the above-mentioned breathable cover (160). In addition, the battery cover (150) can be placed on the outer portion of the first electrolyte sheet (111) to induce evaporation in a selective area such as the breathable cover (160).

[0048] Moisture may evaporate from the joint between the first electrolyte sheet (111) and the breathable cover (160), and salt may be dissolved in the remaining moisture. The joint between the first electrolyte sheet (111) and the ion exchange membrane (113) may be maintained at a relatively higher concentration than the joint between the second electrolyte sheet (112) and the ion exchange membrane (113).

[0049] Referring to Fig. 5, when voltage is generated by a concentration difference-based battery (110), an electric field having a current direction from the positive electrode to the negative electrode can be formed. Depending on the specifications of the concentration difference-based battery (110) and the first and second microneedles (120, 130), the electrical resistance of the transdermis and dermis may differ. When the voltage generated by the battery (110) is 0.1 V, if it is manufactured with a structure having an electrical resistance of 1000 Ω, a current of approximately 100 μA can be formed.

[0050] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be determined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Battery based on concentration difference power generation; Conductive first and second microneedles protruding in a needle shape from the lower side of the above-mentioned concentration difference-based power generation battery and containing a drug for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes; A breathable cover that contacts the first and second electrolyte sheets in the above-mentioned concentration difference-based power generation battery to enable moisture evaporation; and An adhesive sheet that wraps and supports the outer periphery of the battery based on the above concentration difference generation; Microcurrent microneedle device.

2. In paragraph 1, When the salt solution is applied to the above concentration difference power generation-based battery, the solid salt dissolves and changes into liquid first and second electrolyte sheets, and the battery operates. Microcurrent microneedle device.

3. In paragraph 1, The above concentration difference power generation-based battery comprises: a first electrolyte sheet including a solid-state salt; and A second electrolyte sheet comprising an electrolyte having a concentration lower than the concentration when the first electrolyte sheet is dissolved; Microcurrent microneedle device.

4. In paragraph 1, The above concentration difference power generation-based battery further includes an ion exchange membrane disposed between the first and second electrolyte sheets, selectively allowing ions to pass between the first and second electrolyte sheets. Microcurrent microneedle device.

5. In paragraph 1, A first conductive microneedle is formed on the lower side of the first electrolyte sheet to electrically connect the concentration difference power generation-based battery and the percutaneous tissue, and a second conductive microneedle is formed on the lower side of the second electrolyte sheet to electrically connect the concentration difference power generation-based battery and the percutaneous tissue. Microcurrent microneedle device.

6. In paragraph 2, A breathable cover is installed on the surface of the first electrolyte sheet to evaporate the moisture in the saline solution while maintaining a high salt concentration. Microcurrent microneedle device.

7. In paragraph 2, The above first and second electrolyte sheets are one of the substances existing in the body, including sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride ions, and include a biocompatible solid-state salt. Microcurrent microneedle device.

8. In paragraph 2, The above first and second electrolyte sheets include any one of a general mask pack sheet fabric or a porous polymer, and include any one of a non-woven fabric, cotton, hydrogel, bio cellulose, and agarose gel. Microcurrent microneedle device.

9. In paragraph 4, The first and second micro needles contain one effective ingredient selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), and retinoic acid. Microcurrent microneedle device.

10. In paragraph 4, The first and second microneedles contain one or more therapeutic injection drugs, including fentanyl, lidocaine, epinephrine, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, tranexamic acid, dexamethasone, and etodolac. Microcurrent microneedle device.

11. In paragraph 6, The above breathable cover is attached over the first electrolyte sheet and provides a moisture evaporation passage equivalent to the area of ​​the first electrolyte sheet. Microcurrent microneedle device.

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