The present invention relates to a dissolvable microneedle comprising needles made of a water-soluble material assembled on one side of a base, which is a sheet material having liquid-permeable cavities, wherein the needles being assembled to the base such that bottom portion of the needles is directly connected to the base, the connection of the bottom portion of the needle s to the base forming through a structure in which the bottom portion of the needles penetrates into the base (102), occupying some or all cavities of the base. The dissolvable microneedle with the structure according to the present invention is convenient to use as the penetrating structure that connects the needle s to the base can be dissolved quickly and efficiently; therefore, the base can be removed from the top skin without the needles embedded within the skin being pulled out. Hence, there is no clearly visible remainder on the top skin, and the active agent contained in or coated on the needles can also be released more effectively.

Methods and apparatus for the reproducible, consistent and efficacious delivery of an HBV vaccine to a subject. The disclosure comprises apparatus for the controlled administration of the HBV vaccine through an orifice to the subject, a plurality of penetrating electrodes arranged with a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the orifice, and an electrical signal generator operatively connected to the electrodes.

A delivery device may comprise a main body. The main body may comprise a peripheral region. The main body may further comprise a central region extending proud of the peripheral region. The peripheral region may have a top surface and a base. The peripheral region may include a number of bodies spaced apart by slits which extend from the periphery of the peripheral region toward the central region. The delivery device may further comprise an adhesive coupled to at least a part of the main body. The delivery device may further comprise a collapsible reservoir coupled to the main body and to at least one delivery sharp.

A medical agent delivery device may comprise a laminate of a number of layers coupled together. The device may further comprise a collapsible reservoir within the laminate. The device may further comprise a sharp bearing body having at least one microneedle. The device may further comprise a collar element attached to the sharp bearing body. The device may further comprise a removable cover assembly including a microneedle encasing body coupled to the sharp bearing body and to a release liner. The microneedle encasing body may be attached more weakly to the sharp bearing body than to the release liner.

An intravascular device can comprise a carrier and an expansion apparatus. The device can be used for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque. The carrier can be reversibly expandable and collapsible within a vessel and can have ribbon strips extending between opposite ends in a longitudinal direction of the carrier. The ribbon strips can each be formed with a plurality of elongated protrusions thereon. The expansion apparatus can be used to actuate the ribbon strips each with the plurality elongated protrusions to pierce a luminal surface of the plaque with lines or patterns of microperforations which act as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque.

A recombinant coronavirus vaccine is provided. Methods of making and delivering the coronavirus vaccine also are provided. A microneedle array is provided, along with methods of making and using the microneedle array.

Systems, instruments, and methods for minimally invasive procedures including one or more of fractional resection, fractional lipectomy, fractional skin grafting, and/or fractional scar revision are described. Embodiments include instrumentation comprising a scalpet assembly coupled to a carrier, and the scalpet assembly includes a scalpet array. The scalpet array includes one or more scalpets configured for fractional resection, fractional lipectomy, fractional skin grafting, and/or fractional scar revision. The system includes a vacuum component coupled to the scalpet assembly and configured to evacuate tissue from the a site. The carrier is configured to control application of a rotational force and/or a vacuum force to the scalpet assembly.

The present invention includes a surgical stapler having a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a cutting member having a cutting surface, wherein the cutting member is relatively movable with respect to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, one of the anvil and the staple cartridge defines a slot which is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting member and guide the cutting member as it is moved relative to the anvil and the staple cartridge. In these embodiments, the slot can define a path having linear and/or curved portions. In various embodiments, the path can include a curved portion having a first portion that extends away from the shaft axis and a second portion that extends toward the axis. In one embodiment, the path can include a curved portion defined by an arc corresponding to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

A microprojection array comprising a substrate with a plurality of microprojections protruding from the substrate wherein the microprojections have a tapering hexagonal shape and comprise a tip and a base wherein the base has two substantially parallel sides with a slight draught angle of approximately 1 to 20 degrees up to a transition point at which point the angle increases to from about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees.

A device and method for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque prior to balloon angioplasty which microperforates the plaque with small sharp spikes acting as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque. The spikes may also be used to transport medication into the plaque. The plaque preparation treatment enables subsequent angioplasty to be performed at low balloon pressures of about 4 atmospheres or less, reduces dissections, and avoids injury to the arterial wall. The subsequent angioplasty may be performed with a drug-eluting balloon (DEB) or drug-coated balloon (DCB). The pre-angioplasty perforation procedure enables more drug to be absorbed during DEB or DCB angioplasty, and makes the need for a stent less likely. Alternatively, any local incidence of plaque dissection after balloon angioplasty may be treated by applying a thin, ring-shaped tack at the dissection site only, rather than applying a stent over the overall plaque site.