Microneedle Sheet Packaging with Protective Recesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microneedles in microneedle sheets are prone to damage and lack effective protection during packaging and transportation, necessitating a reliable method to safeguard them.

Innovation Solution

A microneedle-sheet packaging body comprising a microneedle sheet, a sheet member with micro-recess parts to house and protect the microneedles, and a sheet-shaped base material fixed to the microneedle sheet, along with an adhesive for secure bonding, allowing easy peeling and handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If microneedles are formed on a microneedle sheet, then the microneedles can be used for transdermal drug administration, but the microneedles are prone to breakage and damage during packaging and transportation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicroneedle integrityVSAvoiddamage during packaging
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The microneedles are housed within micro-recess parts formed on the sheet member, creating a nested structure where the fragile microneedles are protected inside cavities. This nesting approach prevents direct exposure of the microneedles to external forces during packaging and transportation, thereby preventing breakage while maintaining their functional integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet member with micro-recess parts is designed beforehand to provide protective cushioning for the microneedles. The recess parts act as pre-prepared protective structures that cradle the microneedles, absorbing and distributing mechanical stresses before they can cause damage to the microneedles during subsequent packaging and handling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If additional protective structures are added to protect microneedles, then microneedle protection is improved, but the packaging structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicroneedle protectionVSAvoidpackaging structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the base substrate for forming microneedles, provides the micro-recess parts for housing and protecting the microneedles, and functions as part of the packaging structure itself. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective components, reducing overall packaging complexity while maintaining effective microneedle protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective structure is merged with the microneedle sheet by forming micro-recess parts directly on the sheet member that houses the microneedles. This integration combines the microneedle substrate and protection structure into a single unified component, simplifying the overall packaging structure while ensuring reliable microneedle protection during handling and transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If microneedles are housed in micro-recess parts, then microneedle protection is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicroneedle protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The micro-recess parts are formed on the sheet member in advance, before the microneedles are attached or packaged. This preliminary formation of protective structures allows for optimized manufacturing workflows where the protective features are created during initial sheet production, and subsequent steps simply involve placing microneedles into the pre-formed recesses, thereby minimizing additional manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3181182B1Packaged microneedle sheet and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 NISSHA PRINTING CO LTD
  • EP3181182B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3181182B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3181182B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Problem Solved To protect a plurality of microneedles on a microneedle sheet. Solution A microneedle-sheet packaging body 1 includes a microneedle sheet 5, a forming sheet 3, and a support body 7. The microneedle sheet 5 includes a substrate 10, and a plurality of microneedles 11 formed on a lower surface of the substrate 10. The forming sheet 3 is tightly adhered to the lower surface of the substrate 10. The forming sheet 3 incudes a plurality of micro-recess parts 13 in which the plurality of microneedles 11 are housed. The support body 7 is fixed to an upper surface of the substrate 10 of the microneedle sheet 5 and is further fixed to the forming sheet 3 around the substrate 10.