Microneedle Roller Infusion System With Vacuum Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transdermal delivery methods for active agents and skin-care products face inefficiencies in penetrating the skin's outer layer, resulting in low absorption rates and potential damage to the epidermis, especially when dealing with sensitive or temperature-sensitive formulations.
Innovation Solution
A micro-needle roller system that mechanically perforates the skin using 0.25 mm micro-needles attached to a roller surface, in conjunction with a vacuum system for controlled delivery, allowing for enhanced transdermal absorption of active agents and skin-care products with minimal dermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional transdermal delivery methods are used, then the skin barrier is preserved intact, but the penetration rate of active ingredients is low
Solution Approach 1:
The skin barrier is segmented into multiple micro-channels created by individual microneedles, allowing controlled penetration pathways rather than a single large breach. This segmentation enables effective ingredient delivery while preserving overall skin integrity and minimizing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle array creates localized penetration zones with specific properties (controlled depth, spacing, and distribution) rather than uniform treatment. This allows precise control over where and how ingredients penetrate, maximizing effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
2Productivity
If microneedles are used to increase penetration, then the delivery effectiveness is improved, but the risk of epidermal damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle array creates numerous identical, standardized penetration channels across the treatment area. Each needle replicates the same controlled penetration depth and pathway, ensuring consistent and predictable delivery effectiveness while minimizing variable damage to the epidermis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows precise control of penetration parameters including needle length, spacing, density, and depth. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves maximum delivery effectiveness while keeping epidermal damage within safe, minimal thresholds through controlled parameter selection.
3Productivity
If mechanical perforation is applied to enhance absorption, then the transdermal delivery rate increases, but the control over delivery environment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle array device serves multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical perforation for pathway creation, ingredient delivery through the channels, and environmental control via the sealed chamber. This multi-functionality integrates delivery rate enhancement with environment control in a single unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed chamber acts as an intermediary environment between the external atmosphere and the microneedle penetration site. This intermediate controlled environment allows precise management of temperature, humidity, and atmospheric composition during the delivery process, maintaining optimal conditions for sensitive active ingredients while enabling effective transdermal penetration.
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 system significantly increases the penetration rate of active ingredients into the dermis, offering a safer, more effective, and controlled delivery method compared to conventional treatments, with the ability to modify the local environment for sensitive agents and minimizing damage to the epidermis.
Implementation Method 1
A micro-needle roller system that mechanically perforates the skin using 0.25 mm micro-needles
Implementation Method 2
in conjunction with a vacuum system for controlled delivery
Implementation Method 3
enhanced transdermal absorption of active agents and skin-care products
Data Source
AI summary
A micro-needle roller (MNR) infusion system for transdermal delivery of active agents, skin-care products, and other topical formulations is described herein. The infusion system of the instant invention comprises a needle roller assembly with needles enclosed in a housing with a vacuum line and a disposable cartridge having the active agent, the skin-care product or the topical formulation. The vacuum delivers the fluid and ensures that the skin is being pulled against the needle wheel surface to ensure that penetration of the needles is complete into the skin, simultaneously the fluid is flowing to the wheel and to skin as it rolls along with the outer housing of the tip cap assembly being occluded to the skin surface.