Patent ID: 8741377
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: A61B,A61K,A61M,B05D

Abstract:
1. A method of coating a microneedle array comprising: providing a microneedle array having a substrate and a plurality of microneedles; providing a coating solution comprising a carrier fluid and a coating material; providing a coating apparatus comprising a coating substrate and a supporting member for the microneedle array, wherein at least one of the coating substrate and the microneedle array is flexibly mounted within the coating apparatus; applying the coating solution onto a first major surface of the coating substrate to form a layer of applied coating solution having a thickness equal to or less than the height of at least one of the microneedles; performing a transfer step of bringing the first major surface of the coating substrate into contact with the microneedles and removing the coating substrate from contact with the microneedles, thereby transferring at least a portion of the coating solution to the microneedle array; and allowing the transferred carrier fluid to evaporate to leave a dried coating on the microneedles; and wherein the microneedle array is moved in a linear direction with respect to the coating substrate during the transfer step and wherein the linear direction is generally perpendicular to the plane of the microneedle array.