An object of the present invention is to provide a microneedle array in which the stability of influenza vaccine during production is satisfactory and the utilization efficiency of the influenza vaccine is high, and a method of producing the same. According to the present invention, provided is a self-dissolving microneedle array including a sheet portion, and a plurality of needle portions which are present on an upper surface of the sheet portion, in which the needle portion contains a saccharide, influenza vaccine, a natural amino acid or a salt thereof, and a surfactant and the influenza vaccine is administered into a body by dissolution of the needle portions.

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.

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.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses, kits, and methods for treating skin, such as skin tightening, e.g., reducing skin laxity, for treating conditions that would benefit from tissue area or volume reduction, skin restoration, skin tightening, skin lifting, and/or skin repositioning, and/or for generally improving skin function or appearance. Such apparatuses, kits, and methods include one or more hollow needles each having at least one prong and a mechanism for removing skin tissue portion(s) from the hollow needle(s).

According to some embodiments, a method of treating a skin surface of a subject comprises heating a skin surface, abrading native skin tissue of a subject using a microdermabrasion device, wherein using the microdermabrasion device comprises moving the microdermabrasion device relative to the skin surface while simultaneously delivering at least one treatment fluid to the skin surface being treated and cooling the abraded skin surface.

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.

Methods of performing surgical operations and associated devices are disclosed. An example method may include locating a first position on a first surface of a biological tissue; locating a second position on a second opposing surface of the biological tissue, the second position corresponding to the first position; and marking the second position on the second surface. The second surface may be generally opposite the first surface. An example method may include, after marking the second position, performing a therapeutic procedure on the biological tissue in the vicinity of the second position.

Embodiments of a method for removing a tattoo through patterned trans-epidermal pigment release includes determining first treatment area of skin of a patient through a primary template including primary apertures, marking the first treatment area of skin of the patient along borders of the primary apertures to outline a grid of primary tegulae, and delivering a tattoo removal fluid to the marked first exposed skin. In an alternate embodiment, a template, which may be adhered to the skin, is used during a microneedling process to create a structured, patterned procedure to remove skin irregularities. The template has a plurality of needle apertures, an adhesive layer, and a release liner. The release liner may be removed, exposing the adhesive layer, so that the template, with the plurality of needle apertures, may be positioned over the skin irregularity.

An applicator for a microprojection array is described. In one embodiment, the applicator comprises an energy-storing element. Application of force causes the compressed energy-storing element to extend or transition from first and second configurations, releasing stored energy to deploy a holding member in the application which is configured to hold an array of microprojections. In another embodiment, the applicator comprises an energy storing element with two stable configurations, a first stable configuration and second stable configuration. Application of force causes the energy-storing element to transition from the higher energy first stable configuration to the lower energy second stable configuration, releasing the difference in energies of the two states to deploy a holding member in the application which is configured to hold an array of microprojections.

Disclosed are PTHrP analogue formulations for transdermal delivery of a therapeutically effective amount of a PTHrP analogue, as well as transdermal patches prepared using these formulations, methods of preparing the disclosed formulations and patches, and methods of using these formulations and patches to treat osteoporosis, osteopenia, osteoarthritis, and/or bone fracture, improve bone mineral density (BMD), improve trabecular bone score (TBS), and treat, prevent, and/or reduce bone fractures.