Micro-needle Device Coating Range and Load Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional micro-needle devices may fail to efficiently inject drugs due to inadequate dosage delivery, as described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, leading to suboptimal injection of physiologically active substances.
Innovation Solution
A micro-needle device with a coating agent on the micro-needles in a range of 100 to 230 μm height, including the top, and applying a load of 0.2 to 0.7 J/cm2 energy to the device when in contact with the skin, with the option to apply the load twice for enhanced drug delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the coating range of the coating agent is increased to enhance drug availability, then the amount of physiologically active substance increases, but the availability of the substance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the coating range to a specific height (100-230 μm including the top of the micro-needle) and controlling the applied load energy (0.2-0.7 J/cm2). These parameter optimizations balance the quantity of coating agent with its availability, resolving the contradiction between increasing drug amount and maintaining substance availability.
2Productivity
If conventional micro-needle devices are used without optimized parameters, then the device structure is simple, but the drug injection efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent improves drug injection efficiency by optimizing specific parameters: coating range height (100-230 μm) and applied load energy (0.2-0.7 J/cm2). These parameter changes enhance productivity without significantly increasing device structural complexity, as the micro-needle device itself remains relatively simple while achieving better performance through controlled parameters.
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
This approach enables efficient injection of physiologically active substances by optimizing the coating range and applied load, resulting in higher availability and effective drug delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a coating agent that contains a physiologically active substance is coated at least at a part of the micro-needle and a coating range of the coating agent is 100 to 230 μm in height including the top of the micro-needle
Implementation Method 2
a load due to the energy of 0.2 to 0.7 J/cm2 is applied to the micro-needle device which is in contact with the skin
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to efficiently inject a drug (physiologically active substance). Therefore, a micro-needle device 1 comprises a base plate 2 and a micro-needle 3 installed on the base plate 2. A coating agent containing the physiologically active substance is coated at least at a part of the micro-needle 3, and a coating range thereof is 100 to 230 μm including the top of the micro-needle 3. A load due to the energy of 0.2 to 0.7 J/cm2 is applied to the micro-needle device 1 which is in contact with the skin.