An applicator device including a housing, an impactor for impacting a microneedle array and accelerating the microneedle array toward the target site, wherein the impactor is capable of moving along an arcuate path to move the microneedle array toward the target site. Also, an applicator device including a housing, a patch applicator pivotally supported by the housing, and a torsion spring. The patch applicator has a retaining portion and a patch contacting portion, and the patch contacting portion is capable of moving along a substantially arcuate path between a first position and a second position. The torsion spring is capable of biasing the patch applicator relative to the housing.

A microneedle array includes a plurality of microneedles of which surfaces are coated with a liquid drug and a base for supporting the microneedles in which the microneedles are divided into two or more areas, and the surfaces of microneedles disposed in each of the divided areas are coated with different liquid drugs, and the ingredient of a liquid drug coated on microneedles disposed in one of the divided areas is different from the ingredients of liquid drugs coated on microneedles disposed in the remainder of the divided areas.

A core-shell microneedle system and a method of manufacturing the microneedle system provides a pulsatile drug delivery system which is programmed to release drugs/vaccines at predictable times using biodegradable polymers and with controllable dosages. This microneedle system can be fully embedded into the skin and then release drugs/vaccines as sharp bursts in a timely manner, similar to multiple bolus injections.

Various embodiments are directed to an applicator for dispensing a substance according to a desired flow rate. The applicator comprises a flexible card, a substance reservoir attached thereto, and an applicator head secured to the flexible card opposite the substance reservoir. The applicator head comprises a plurality of pores that, when secured to the flexible card, are compressed. In various embodiments, the pores are compressed by physical compression and/or by annealing. Upon flexing the flexible card along a score line, the substance reservoir ruptures and the substance is directed into the applicator head. Upon introduction of the substance to the applicator head, the pores of the applicator head expand and the substance is directed to an applicator surface of the applicator head.

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens. An ultrasound transmission member or wire extends longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in many embodiments, a guide wire tube also extends through the same lumen. A distal head is fixed to or otherwise mechanically coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member or wire and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Although the distal end of the catheter body overlaps the distal head, the distal head is not directly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body. Thus, the distal tip may move freely, relative to the distal end of the catheter body when ultrasonic energy is applied through the ultrasound transmission member. Such a freely floating distal head enhances the efficiency of an ultrasound catheter, enabling the catheter to ablate calcific occlusions and increasing the useful life of the ultrasound transmission member and catheter.

A device for repeated piercing of an organic tissue and method thereof are disclosed. The device may comprise an arrangement of application tools each of which is connected to an operating mechanism and has a distal tool end which is formed for at least one application tool with a penetration device, whereby by way of the operating mechanism the tools can be displaced relative to each other between an initial position and a penetration position. During the relative movement, the effect direction of an application force provided by at least one application tool is counter to the effect direction of the application force provided by the other application tool. A mechanical actuation device, which is connected to the operating mechanism, is suitable for repeatedly effecting the relative displacement of the at least one application tool between the initial position and the penetration with an operating frequency.

The tip assembly includes a base portion which is sufficiently rigid to be conveniently insertable onto and removable from a drive end of a motor for the applicator and a tip portion which is securely attached to the base portion either by casting or molding, and is sufficiently soft to provide comfortable contact with the skin, the tip portion having a concave front surface for receiving skin formulations which are applied to the skin, such as the facial skin, of a user during operation of the applicator.

A transdermal administration device including a first administration member including a first substrate and a first projection protruding from a first administration surface of the first substrate, and a second administration member including a second substrate and a second projection protruding from a second administration surface of the second substrate. The first substrate has an aperture, and the second substrate is positioned within the aperture when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the second administration surface.

A device for delivery of material or stimulus to targets within a body to produce a desired response, the targets being at least one of cells of interest, cell organelles of interest and cell nuclei of interest. The device includes a number of projections for penetrating a body surface, with the number of projections being selected to produce a desired response, and the number being at least 500. A spacing between projections is also at least partially determined based on an arrangement of the targets within the body.

A medical device for delivering a drug compound through a stratum corneum includes a support having an aperture, an array of microneedles extending outwardly from the support, a plurality of nanostructures associated with each microneedle, and a reservoir wherein the drug compound is retained. At least one microneedle contains a shaft extending from the support. The shaft includes a tip configured to penetrate the stratum corneum. The shaft defines a channel extending from the support to the tip. The channel is in at least partial alignment with the aperture. At least some of the microneedles of the array of microneedles each have a cross-sectional dimension of from about 1 micrometer to about 1 millimeter. At least some of the nanostructures have a cross-sectional dimension less than about 500 nanometers and greater than about 5 nanometers and an aspect ratio of from about 0.2 to about 5.