Applicator Piston Plate Protrusions for Microneedle Skin Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microneedle arrays used in skin applicators often bounce off the skin due to elastic forces, causing the microneedles to come out and hinder the transfer of active ingredients into the body.
Innovation Solution
An applicator design featuring a piston plate with protrusion parts surrounding the microneedle array, where the protrusion parts are spaced apart to absorb skin undulation and reduce bounce, potentially incorporating an adhesive substance to enhance skin adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the microneedle array collides against skin to transfer active ingredients, then the active ingredients can be delivered into the body, but the elastic force of the skin causes the microneedle array to bounce off and the microneedles to come out
Solution Approach 1:
The piston plate is divided into multiple functional regions: a central microneedle array region and multiple peripheral protrusion parts. Each protrusion part independently contacts the skin to provide localized stabilization, preventing the entire array from bouncing off while allowing the microneedles to remain inserted.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the piston plate have different functions: the central region delivers microneedles for active ingredient transfer, while the peripheral protrusion parts provide adhesive contact for stabilization. This local differentiation allows the device to simultaneously achieve penetration and anti-bounce functionality.
2Productivity
If the piston plate directly contacts the skin with the microneedle array, then the active ingredients are transferred, but the skin undulation causes the piston plate to bounce off
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral protrusion parts make preliminary contact with the skin surface before and during the microneedle insertion process. This preliminary adhesive contact stabilizes the piston plate position, preventing bounce caused by skin undulation and ensuring reliable active ingredient transfer.
3Reliability
If adhesive substance is added to the protrusion parts to reduce bounce, then the piston plate adhesion to skin is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive substance is integrated directly into the protrusion parts of the piston plate, merging the adhesive function with the structural component. This eliminates the need for separate adhesive layers or additional mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while enhancing skin adhesion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures that microneedles stay in the skin, effectively transferring active ingredients by minimizing the piston plate's bounce off the skin, thereby improving the delivery efficiency of active ingredients into the body.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive substance with adhesive capability is provided in at least a part of a surface of the at least one protrusion part
Data Source
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AI summary
An applicator A is configured to transfer an active ingredient into a body through skin by a puncture in the skin with microneedles 32. The applicator A includes a piston plate 20 that is provided with a protrusion part 33 and protrusion parts 20d1 to 20d4 on a lower surface side of a main body 20a of the piston plate. The microneedles 32 are provided on a surface of the protrusion part 33. The protrusion parts 20d1 to 20d4 are provided in a periphery of the protrusion part 33 while spaced apart from the protrusion part 33.