US 11,690,989 B2
Microneedle array and method for producing the same
Hiroyuki Nagai, Kyoto (JP); Kensaku Akita, Kyoto (JP); and Masateru Chiyama, Kyoto (JP)
Assigned to Nissha Co., Ltd., Kyoto (JP)
Filed by Nissha Co., Ltd., Kyoto (JP)
Filed on Nov. 27, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/201,300.
Application 16/201,300 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2017/019528, filed on May 25, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 2016-108263 (JP), filed on May 31, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0134368 A1, May 9, 2019
Int. Cl. B29C 45/14 (2006.01); A61M 37/00 (2006.01); B81B 1/00 (2006.01); B29C 39/10 (2006.01); B81C 1/00 (2006.01); B29K 101/12 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 37/0015 (2013.01) [A61M 37/00 (2013.01); B29C 39/10 (2013.01); B29C 45/14 (2013.01); B81B 1/00 (2013.01); B81B 1/008 (2013.01); B81C 1/00 (2013.01); B81C 1/00111 (2013.01); A61M 2037/0023 (2013.01); A61M 2037/0046 (2013.01); A61M 2037/0053 (2013.01); B29K 2101/12 (2013.01); B29L 2031/756 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7544 (2013.01); B81B 2203/0361 (2013.01); B81C 2201/034 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of producing a microneedle array, the method comprising:
a preparation step of preparing a foundation that is insoluble or sparingly soluble with respect to a raw material liquid, the foundation including a plurality of frustum-shaped protrusions or a plurality of columnar protrusions on a first main surface thereof;
an injection step of injecting a predetermined amount of the raw material liquid into each cone-shaped recess of a mold having a plurality of cone-shaped recesses, the predetermined amount being less than a volume of the cone-shaped recess, and filling a part of each of the plurality of cone-shaped recesses with the raw material liquid;
a tip forming step of stacking the foundation prepared in the preparation step before the tip forming step on the mold, mating the plurality of frustum-shaped protrusions or columnar protrusions with the plurality of cone-shaped recesses that are shaped to match the plurality of frustum-shaped protrusions or columnar protrusions of the foundation by the filling in the injection step, drying the raw material liquid in the plurality of cone-shaped recesses after stacking the foundation on the mold thereby fixing a plurality of cone-shaped tips that are dissolvable in an inner part of skin to a tip surface of each of the plurality of frustum-shaped protrusions or columnar protrusions; and
a mold release step of removing the foundation from the mold, and pulling out a microneedle array in which the cone-shaped tips are fixed to each of the frustum-shaped protrusions or the columnar protrusions of the foundation and the cone-shaped tips are formed at a position a predetermined height away from the first main surface of the foundation.