Patent ID: 7473244

Claim:
An active microneedle device comprising: a hollow microneedle having an elongated shaft defining at least one microchannel and having a proximal and distal end; at least one input port at said proximal end of said elongated shaft and at least one output port at said distal end of said elongated shaft, said at least one microchannel providing fluid communication between said at least one input port and said at least one output port; and at least one non-living bioluminescence-based biosensor located in said elongated shaft, said at least one non-living bioluminescence-based biosensor including a reagent mixture, said reagent mixture including one or more anti-oxidant additives adapted to reduce oxidation due to sulfhydryl groups in the reagent mixture, and said reagent mixture further being stabilized for long-term storage such that at least half of its bioluminescent activity is preserved for at least six months, wherein said elongated shaft is formed of a first material and has an interior surface which has a coating formed of a second material, wherein said second material is a light enhancing reflective coating relative to said first material.