Patent ID: 6663820
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: A61B,A61M,B81B,B81C

Abstract:
A method for fabricating microneedles, said method comprising:(a) providing a substrate that includes a plurality of microstructures; (b) coating said substrate with a layer of a first moldable material that takes the negative form of said plurality of microstructures, and hardening said first moldable material; (c) separating said hardened first moldable material from said substrate, thereby creating a micromold from said hardened first moldable material containing said plurality of microstructures; and (d) applying a second moldable material onto said micromold, allowing said second moldable material to harden using a soft lithography procedure, then separating said hardened second moldable material from said micromold, thereby creating a microneedle structure from said hardened second moldable material having the three-dimensional negative form of said plurality of microstructures of the patterned micromold; wherein said microneedle structure comprises one of: (a) a plurality of solid protrusions, (b) a plurality of hollow protrusions forming through-holes, (c) a plurality of hollow protrusions forming microcups that do not extend entirely through said hardened second moldable material, or (d) a plurality of solid protrusions, each having at least one surface external channel.