Patent ID: 8012566

Claim:
A fabricated composite structure, comprising: a master substrate that serves as a template for forming a microneedle, the master substrate comprising: a first layer having a surface and a topography; and an electrically conductive seed layer formed over the surface of the first layer and formed so as to mimic the topography of the first layer; a micromold formed over the electrically conductive seed layer, the micromold having an inner facing surface with respect to the surface of the first layer of the master substrate and an opposed outer facing surface with respect to the surface of the first layer of the master substrate, a desired shape along the outer surface that defines a shape of the formed microneedle, and a through-hole defined between the outer facing surface and the inner facing surface; a temperature sensitive layer conforming to and in contact with at least a portion of the inner facing or the outer facing surfaces of the micromold; and the microneedle formed of a releasable layer established over the outer facing surface such that the microneedle mimics the desired shape of the outer facing surface, the microneedle having an opening therethrough having been defined by the through-hole of the micromold; wherein, when the temperature sensitive layer is heated to a suitable temperature, at least the microneedle is released from the master substrate.