Segmented Adhesive Microneedle for Skin Piercing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing microneedle devices with sheet-like microneedles have limitations in achieving an optimal raised state when bent in the thickness direction, as one surface is entirely fixed to the base material, which affects the piercing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A microneedle device system with a sheet-like microneedle where one surface is a skin contact surface and the other is a rear surface, featuring a skin piercing region with microneedles raised from the contact surface upon bending, an adhesive layer on the microneedle, a releasable liner, and an auxiliary tool for bending, allowing the microneedle to pierce the skin effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If one surface of the sheet-like microneedle is entirely fixed to the affixing surface of the base material, then the microneedle device is stable during application, but the raised state of the microneedle when bent in thickness direction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is segmented into two distinct regions: a first adhesive region with strong adhesion for stabilizing the microneedle array during application, and a second adhesive region with weak or no adhesion allowing the microneedles to raise effectively when bent. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing different adhesive characteristics in different spatial zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the adhesive layer are assigned different adhesive properties tailored to their specific functions. The first adhesive region (peripheral area) provides strong bonding for stability, while the second adhesive region (central area beneath microneedles) provides weak bonding for effective raising. This local differentiation of quality enables both stability and effective microneedle elevation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the microneedle is entirely fixed to the base material, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the piercing efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive bonding is segmented into strong bonding regions for structural stability and weak bonding regions for microneedle elevation. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling effective piercing by allowing controlled differential movement between the base material and microneedles during the bending process.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer transitions from a static, uniformly fixed structure to a dynamic system where different regions exhibit different adhesive behaviors. During application, the peripheral adhesive region provides stable fixation, while the central region allows microneedles to raise dynamically when bent, thereby maintaining both ease of manufacture and piercing efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the adhesive layer has strong adhesion across the entire sheet, then the microneedle remains stable during handling, but the microneedle cannot be raised effectively when bent
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer is divided into a first adhesive region with strong adhesion for handling stability and a second adhesive region with weak adhesion for microneedle raising. This segmentation allows the microneedle array to remain stable during handling while enabling effective raising during the piercing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive properties are localized to match functional requirements: strong adhesion in peripheral areas for handling stability, and weak adhesion in central areas for facilitating microneedle elevation. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between handling stability and ease of raising.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A microneedle device system includes a microneedle device having a sheet-like microneedle having a sheet in which one surface is a skin contact surface and the other surface is a rear surface, and in which a plurality of microneedles are formed substantially along a surface of the sheet, and in which the microneedles in the skin piercing region are raised from the skin contact surface so as to be capable of piercing skin if the sheet is bent in a thickness direction, an adhesive layer that is disposed on the sheet-like microneedle, and a liner that is attached to the adhesive layer so as to be releasable therefrom, and an auxiliary tool having a bending portion which bends the microneedle device in the thickness direction, and on which the microneedle device is mounted so as to be movable along the bending portion.