Patent ID: 6454755
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A method for transdermal delivery of a compound to an animal at a site on said animal's skin, said skin comprising a stratum corneum layer, an epidermis layer under said stratum corneum, and a dermis layer under said epidermis, said method comprising the steps of:determining a depth of a cut that will extend through the stratum corneum of that animal at said delivery site but not penetrate the dermis of that animal at said delivery site; and applying an apparatus at said delivery site to generate a cut extending through said stratum corneum layer, said cut extending into said epidermis but not into said dermis layer, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of microprotrusions for disrupting the skin at said delivery site, said mircoprotrusions having a length determined by said determined depth; stop means for preventing said apparatus from penetrating said layer of skin beyond a predetermined distance; and a reservoir having a channel communicating with said layer of skin or one of said underlying dermis layers.