Microneedle Sheet Bending Resistance and Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microneedle apparatuses face safety concerns during handling due to exposed microelements that can touch or get caught on objects before application, and there is a need for enhanced bending resistance to prevent fractures or ruptures during bending.
Innovation Solution
A microneedle sheet with microneedles formed from a water-soluble polysaccharide and water, where the water content is between 1% and 19% by mass, providing excellent bending resistance and ensuring the microneedles do not protrude until applied to the skin, thus preventing accidental contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microneedles are exposed on the roller surface, then microneedle penetration function is improved, but safety during handling deteriorates due to risk of touching or catching on objects
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having microneedles exposed on the roller surface (conventional design), the invention inverts the configuration by embedding microneedles within a flexible sheet structure where they remain concealed until application. The microneedles are positioned such that they only protrude when the sheet is bent during skin application, thereby eliminating handling safety risks while preserving penetration function.
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedles are nested within the flexible sheet structure, concealed inside the sheet body during storage and handling. When the sheet is bent for application, the nested microneedles are revealed and positioned against the skin, enabling penetration without exposing the needles during normal handling operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If microneedles are raised from the principal surface by bending the sheet, then safety during handling is improved, but bending resistance deteriorates causing fracture or rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a flexible sheet made of elastomeric material that can undergo bending without fracture. This flexible film structure allows the sheet to be bent into various configurations for microneedle deployment while maintaining structural integrity and preventing rupture, thus enabling safety improvement without sacrificing bending resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes changes in physical parameters of the flexible sheet, particularly its elastic properties and bending radius, to enable microneedle exposure. By controlling the bending parameters within specific ranges, the sheet can reveal microneedles for skin application while avoiding excessive stress that would cause fracture or rupture.
3Ease of manufacture
If microneedles are formed along the principal surface, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but microneedle exposure and penetration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a static microneedle configuration (where needles are fixed in position) to a dynamic configuration where microneedles can change their exposure state. The microneedles are arranged along the principal surface but are designed to become exposed through the dynamic action of bending the flexible sheet, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving penetration capability.
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
Ensures safe handling and effective bending resistance, allowing the microneedle sheet to be safely stored and applied without risk of fracture or rupture, while providing efficient administration of active components.
Implementation Method 1
such a microneedle sheet is required to have bending resistance so that fracture, cracks, rupture or the like will not occur in the sheet even when the sheet is bent
Implementation Method 2
the microneedles are raised from the principal surface by bending the sheet, and the raised microneedles pierce skin
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A microneedle sheet is disclosed that comprises a plurality of microneedles formed on a sheet generally along a principal surface of the sheet, wherein the microneedles contain a water-soluble polysaccharide and water, the water content is 1 mass% or more and less than 19 mass% based on the total mass of the microneedles, and the microneedles are raised from the principal surface by bending the sheet.