Microneedle Patch for Rapid, Low-Pain Allergen Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing and treating allergies, such as skin prick tests and patch tests, cause pain, discomfort, and are inaccurate or time-consuming, with allergens taking too long to penetrate the dermal layer.

Innovation Solution

A micro-needle patch that can easily and effectively inject allergens into the dermis using biodegradable micro-needles, allowing for accurate and efficient diagnosis and treatment of allergies without significant pain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a needle is inserted through the skin for skin prick test, then the allergen can be injected into the skin tissue, but the patient experiences significant pain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidpain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is divided into multiple micro-needles (each 20-50 micrometers in diameter) arranged in an array. This segmentation allows the allergen to be delivered through many small punctures rather than one large needle, significantly reducing pain while maintaining diagnostic reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The needle diameter is changed from conventional sizes (typically >500 micrometers) to micro-scale dimensions (20-50 micrometers). This parameter change enables painless or minimally painful penetration while still allowing effective allergen delivery to the dermal layer for accurate diagnosis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a patch is attached to the skin for patch test, then the allergen can be delivered to the skin, but it takes 48 to 96 hours for the allergen to penetrate the epidermal layer into the dermis

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconvenienceVSAvoiddiagnosis time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patch incorporates an array of micro-needles that physically penetrate the epidermal barrier, enabling rapid allergen delivery to the dermis within minutes rather than requiring 48-96 hours for passive diffusion through intact skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The passive diffusion mechanism of conventional patches is replaced with active mechanical penetration using micro-needles. This substitution enables controlled, rapid allergen delivery directly to the target dermal layer, reducing diagnosis time from days to minutes while maintaining ease of patch application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional patch test is used, then the allergen delivery method is simple, but the diagnostic accuracy is reduced due to variable injection action

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesimplicityVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The allergen delivery is segmented into multiple controlled micro-injections through the needle array, ensuring uniform and reproducible allergen distribution in the dermis. This eliminates the variability associated with manual injection techniques while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The micro-needle patch is designed to self-penetrate and self-deliver the allergen when attached to the skin, eliminating the need for manual injection actions by the diagnostician. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent, reproducible allergen delivery and improves diagnostic accuracy while keeping the device simple to manufacture and use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 micro-needle patch allows for rapid and painless delivery of allergens to the dermis, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy by minimizing discomfort and reducing the time required for allergic reactions to occur.

Implementation Method 1

a patch with a selected allergen directly to the skin... for the allergen to be injected through the epidermal layer into the dermis layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

micro-needle patch... configured to inject an allergen into a dermis of an entity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical penetration: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3498175B1Microneedle patch and manufacturing method therefor

Publication Date: 2025.08.06 PROLAGEN CO LTD

Figure 1(a)~1(d)
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(f)

AI summary

There are provided a micro-needle patch for diagnosing and treating an allergy disease which can easily and effectively inject an allergen into a dermal layer of an entity, a method for producing the micro-needle patch, and a method for diagnosing an allergy disease using the micro-needle patch. The micro-needle patch includes a plurality of micro-needles constructed to inject an allergen into an entity; and a pad for supporting the plurality of micro-needles. The micro-needle patch in accordance with the present disclosure may inject the allergen easily and effectively into the dermis of the entity, thereby to allow diagnosing or treating the allergy disease easily and efficiently without causing great pain to the patient. Further, controlling the type and content of the allergen contained in the micro-needle patch may allow diagnosing or treating allergy diseases accurately.