Integrated Microneedle Patch with Separable Needle Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microneedle patches face challenges in achieving high rigidity without causing user discomfort due to residual needles and limited physical properties of active ingredients, which can lead to ineffective permeation and manufacturing difficulties.
Innovation Solution
An integrated-type microneedle patch design featuring a needle unit with high rigidity microneedles, a buffer portion for easy separation, and a patch unit with a protective layer and adhesive layers to prevent external leakage, allowing for the use of active ingredients in various states, including liquids, and ensuring complete removal of microneedles post-use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the needle body is made of a highly rigid material containing metal or silicon to increase rigidity, then the rigidity of the needle is improved, but the needle may remain in the skin without dissolution after microneedle patch attachment, causing user discomfort such as a feeling of slight stinging
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedle is divided into two distinct parts: a rigid needle body made of metal or silicon for effective skin penetration, and a separate coating layer that can dissolve or detach after insertion. This segmentation allows the rigid needle to perform its function while the dissolvable coating eliminates user discomfort by being completely removed from the skin
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aspect (rigid material remaining in skin) is extracted by applying a coating layer that dissolves or detaches, separating the functional rigid needle body from the problematic residual material, thus eliminating stinging sensation while maintaining penetration effectiveness
2Strength
If the needle itself contains an active ingredient to increase rigidity and provide drug delivery, then the rigidity is improved, but the physical properties of the active ingredient are limited and manufacturing becomes technically demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The active ingredient delivery function is separated from the needle body structure. The rigid needle body serves purely for penetration, while the coating layer contains the active ingredient. This allows independent optimization of needle rigidity and drug properties without manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The coating layer acts as an intermediary between the rigid needle body and the active ingredient. It provides a flexible medium that can accommodate various physical properties of drugs while the rigid needle maintains its structural integrity and penetration capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the needle itself contains an active ingredient, then the rigidity may be low, but this causes the needle tip to break during attachment and reduces permeation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is segmented into a rigid needle body for structural strength and a separate coating layer for active ingredient containment. This allows the needle body to maintain high rigidity for effective skin penetration while the coating provides versatile drug delivery capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The microneedle employs a composite structure combining a rigid material (metal or silicon) for the needle body with a dissolvable coating material containing the active ingredient. This composite design achieves both high rigidity for penetration and versatility for drug delivery
4Ease of manufacture
If heating is required to form microneedles containing an active ingredient by molding method, then the microneedles can be formed, but it adversely affects the active ingredient
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into two independent stages: first, forming the rigid needle body structure without heating (avoiding active ingredient degradation), and second, applying the coating layer containing the active ingredient through a gentle process that preserves drug stability
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid needle body is formed in advance through a molding process that does not require heating, preserving the integrity of the structure. The active ingredient is then introduced in a subsequent step through coating, preventing thermal degradation
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated-type microneedle patch according to the present invention includes: a needle unit (10) including an array of microneedles (12) for skin puncturing, and a needle base (11) supporting the array of the microneedles (12); an active ingredient portion (30) containing an active ingredient that consists of a drug or a functional cosmetic ingredient; and a patch unit (20) including a protective patch layer (21) covering the active ingredient portion (30) and protecting skin after a procedure, wherein the active ingredient portion (30) is located toward the skin with respect to the protective patch layer (21), and the needle base (11) is located opposite to the skin with respect to the protective patch layer (21), whereby the needle unit (10) is separated from the patch unit (20) after a skin puncture procedure using the microneedles (12) is performed.