An object of the present invention is to provide a microneedle array which has strength of withstanding the impact at the time of puncture. According to the present invention, provided is a microneedle array including: a sheet; and a plurality of needles which are present on an upper surface of the sheet, in which the needles contain a water-soluble polymer, the sheet contains a water-soluble polymer, the sheet has a central portion, which is a region where the plurality of needles are formed, and an end portion, and an average film thickness of the end portion is smaller than an average film thickness of the central portion.

The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.

A medicament delivery device includes a housing, a medicament container disposed within the housing, an activation mechanism, a cover and an electronic circuit system. The activation mechanism includes an energy storage member configured to produce a force to deliver the dose of a medicament and/or vaccine. The cover is configured to receive at least a portion of the housing. The electronic circuit system is coupled to the housing such that a protrusion of the cover electrically isolates a battery from a portion of the electronic circuit system when the portion of the housing is received by the cover. The electronic circuit system is configured to be electrically coupled to the battery and to produce a recorded speech output when the portion of the housing is at least partially removed from the cover. The electronic circuit system configured to produce a signal when the activation mechanism is actuated.

A medicament delivery device includes a housing, a medicament container disposed within the housing, an activation mechanism, a cover and an electronic circuit system. The activation mechanism includes an energy storage member configured to produce a force to deliver the dose of a medicament and/or vaccine. The cover is configured to receive at least a portion of the housing. The electronic circuit system is coupled to the housing such that a protrusion of the cover electrically isolates a battery from a portion of the electronic circuit system when the portion of the housing is received by the cover. The electronic circuit system is configured to be electrically coupled to the battery and to produce a recorded speech output when the portion of the housing is at least partially removed from the cover. The electronic circuit system configured to produce a signal when the activation mechanism is actuated.

Embodiments of the invention provide multi-stage biodegradable drug delivery platforms and methods for the subcutaneous delivery of therapeutic agents (TA). Embodiments of the platform may be configured to subcutaneously deliver a first dose of a first TA which is absorbed into the body and/or blood stream (BBS) to produce a first therapeutic effect for a first selectable time period (STP), and subsequently after a second STP, deliver a second dose of a second TA which is absorbed into the BBS to produce a second therapeutic effect for a third STP. An embodiment of the platform may comprise a body having a tissue-penetrating end, a primary cavity having a first TA dose and a shell having a secondary cavity having a second TA dose. The first TA dose is released after the first STP and the second TA dose is released after the second STP by biodegradation of the shell.

A device can be used for delivering a dose of a vaccine, a medicine, a medication, a drug, or a prescription. For example, this document describes a wearable vaccination device that plays an audible sound or a musical tune for distracting or entertaining a patient while an intradermal vaccine is delivered via the patient's skin. A control portion of the wearable vaccination device includes a processing unit, a rhythm producer that produces audible sounds to distract or entertain the patient, and an injection module that provides an intradermal injection using one or more microneedles.

In an aspect of the invention, an array of microprotrusions is formed by providing a mold with cavities corresponding to the negative of the microprotrusions, casting atop the mold a first solution comprising a biocompatible material and a solvent, removing the solvent, casting a second solution atop the first cast solution, removing the solvent from the second solution, and demolding the resulting array from the mold. The first solution preferably contains an active ingredient.

To achieve stable administration of a medicine into a dermis by improving the operability of a device that inserts a microneedle into a skin. An impacting type applicator (1) for a microneedle patch is an applicator that applies a microneedle patch (3) to a skin includes a main body (5), a spring expanding/compressing lever (7), a resilient body (9), a lock mechanism (11), and a piercing switch (13). The spring expanding/compressing lever (7) is movably attached to the main body (5), and the microneedle patch (3) can be attached to a leading end of the spring expanding/compressing lever (7). The resilient body (9) is a member that imparts a biasing force to the spring expanding/compressing lever (7). The lock mechanism (11) is a mechanism that locks the spring expanding/compressing lever (7) in a state where the resilient body (9) exerts the biasing force on the main body (5). The piercing switch (13) is a member that releases the engagement between the lock mechanism (11) and the spring expanding/compressing lever (7). In addition, a biasing force imparting mechanism (121) further imparts a biasing force to the spring expanding/compressing lever (7) in a state where the spring expanding/compressing lever (7) is moved toward the leading end of the main body (5) and thereby presses the microneedle patch (3) against the skin.

A mask system includes a cushion for a mask that seals at its upper extent in a region of the nose that is generally above the tip of the nose or pronasale, and extends across a portion of the cartilaginous framework, alar or flares of the patient's nose, e.g., not extending over or across the nasal bone of the patient's nose.

An inhaler device for dispensing medicament comprising: a dispenser flow channel leading to a mouthpiece, a medicament holder, and a mesh part placed in the dispenser flow channel between the medicament holder and the mouthpiece, wherein said mesh part is made of a Polyoxymethylene.