Patent ID: 6623457
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A delivery device for introducing a substance into or below the stratum corneum of a patient, said device comprising:a top wall having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one opening extending between said top and bottom surfaces; a bottom wall having an inner surface and an outer surface coupled to said top wall by at least one side wall and spaced from said top wall to define a reservoir therebetween for containing said substance, said bottom wall having a plurality of openings extending between said inner and outer surfaces, and said reservoir being in fluid communication with at least one of said at least one opening in said top wall; a coupling member attached to said top wall for supplying a fluid selected from the group consisting of said substance, a diluent, and a solvent for said substance through said at least one opening in said top wall and into said reservoir with sufficient pressure to expel said fluid through said plurality of said bottom wall openings at a predetermined rate; and a plurality of individual hollow microneedles attached to and in contact with said outer surface of said bottom wall and being in fluid communication with said openings in said bottom wall and having a length sufficient to penetrate or pierce the stratum corneum without penetrating into the dermis of said patient; and further comprising at least one internal wall extending between said top and bottom walls to divide said reservoir into at least two chambers, each of said chambers communicating with at least one opening in said top wall and with at least one opening in said bottom wall.