Patent ID: 7658728

Claim:
A microneedle array for insertion into a biological tissue and delivering a fluid through a biological barrier comprising: a substantially planar substrate having an array of spaced apertures therein; and a plurality of microneedles projecting at angle from the plane in which the planar substrate lies, the microneedles having a base portion integrally connected to the substrate, a tapered tip end portion distal to the base portion, and a rectangular body portion therebetween, wherein at least one of the microneedles has at least one elongated channel, which has a substantially rectangular middle portion, the channel extending through 50% to 99% of the length and about one-third of the width of the at least one microneedle substantially from the planar substrate, through the base portion, and through at least a part of the body portion, and wherein the channel (i) is open along at least part of the body portion and in fluid communication with at least one of the apertures in the substrate, and (ii) forms an opening extending through the substrate, thereby providing an unrestricted fluid conduit between the tapered tip end portion of the microneedle and the surface of the substrate distal to the microneedle.