Intradermal Active Ingredient Delivery System

Abstract

An intradermal active ingredient delivery system includes an extraction device, which in particular has a several hollow needles, for extracting interstitial liquid. A conveying device is fluidically connected to the extraction device. The conveying device is also fluidically connected to an active ingredient reservoir. The conveying device is fluidically connected to a delivery device for delivering an interstitial liquid comprising active ingredient. The delivery device preferably has hollow needles to be able to delivery the liquid mixture intradermally.

Claims

1. An intradermal active ingredient delivery system comprising an extraction device for extracting interstitial liquid, a conveying device fluidically connected to the extraction device for conveying liquid, an active ingredient reservoir fluidically connected to the conveying device, and a delivery device fluidically connected to the conveying device for intradermal delivery of the interstitial liquid comprising an active ingredient.

2. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the extraction device comprises microneedles, in particular a microarray having at least 4 needles/cm.sup.2, in particular at least 50 needles/cm.sup.2, and particularly preferred at least 100 needles/cm.sup.2.

3. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 2, wherein the extraction device comprises two microarrays each having in particular at least 4 needles/cm.sup.2, in particular at least 50 needles/cm.sup.2, and particularly preferred at least 100 needles/cm.sup.2.

4. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device comprises at least one pump.

5. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein an active ingredient in solid, liquid or powder form is stored in the active ingredient reservoir.

6. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient reservoir containing the liquid active ingredient and the extraction device are connected to an inlet of the conveying device, in particular to a pump inlet.

7. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 6, wherein the active ingredient reservoir and the extraction device are connected to the inlet of the conveying device, in particular to the pump inlet, in such a way that the active substance and the initial liquid are drawn in simultaneously.

8. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient reservoir is connected to an outlet of the conveying device, in particular to a pump outlet.

9. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device comprises two pumps, and that the active ingredient reservoir is arranged between the two pumps.

10. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the delivery device comprises microneedles, in particular a microarray having at least 4 needles/cm.sup.2, in particular at least 50 needles/cm.sup.2, and particularly preferred at least 100 needles/cm.sup.2.

11. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the delivery device is connected to the outlet of the conveying device, in particular to the pump outlet.

12. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient reservoir is integrated into the delivery device, wherein the active ingredient is preferably provided in the needles of the delivery device.

13. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 1, characterized by a mixing chamber for mixing interstitial liquid and active ingredient.

14. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 13, wherein the active ingredient reservoir forms the mixing chamber.

15. The intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to claim 13, wherein the mixing chamber is integrated into the conveying device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In the following, the invention is described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] In the drawings:

[0023] FIGS. 1-4 show different preferred embodiments of the intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to the invention,

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a schematic highly simplified sectional view of an extraction device or a delivery device, and

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a schematic highly simplified illustration of a conveying device in the form of a diaphragm pump.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In the various embodiments of the intradermal active ingredient delivery system according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, identical and similar components are marked with the same reference numerals.

[0027] The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises an extraction device 10 having two microarrays with a plurality of hollow needles. The two microarrays 10 are each connected to a pump or a conveying device 14 via channels 12. An active ingredient reservoir 16, in which liquid active ingredient is stored, is also connected to pump 14 via a channel 18. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, all three channels 12, 18 are merged upstream of pump 14 and connected to a single pump inlet 20.

[0028] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, pump 14 comprises two pump outlets 22, each connected to a channel 24. Alternatively, pump 14 may also have an outlet which is then also connected to the two channels 24. The channels 24 are connected to a delivery device 26. The delivery device 26 is a microarray with a plurality of hollow needles.

[0029] FIG. 5 schematically shows a section of a microarray, which can be a microarray 10 of the extraction device or a microarray 26 of the delivery device. The microarray 10, 26 comprises a plurality of hollow needles 28 having an opening 30 at the tip. Interstitial liquid can be drawn in through opening 30 if the microarray is an extraction device. If the microarray is a delivery device, the interstitial liquid enriched with active ingredient is delivered to the patient through the openings 30. The hollow needles 28 are connected to a channel 32 on the side opposite the openings 30. The channel 32 preferably extends over the entire surface of the microarray and is connected to either channel 12 or channel 24.

[0030] The intradermal active ingredient delivery system shown in FIG. 1 allows interstitial fluid to be drawn in by the pump through the channels 12 via the hollow needles of the microarrays 10. At the same time, liquid active ingredient is drawn in from the active ingredient reservoir 16. Within pump 14 or already in the area where the channels 12 and 18 are merged, the two liquids are mixed. After closing pump inlet 20, pump 14 can be used to convey the fluid mixture through the two outlets 22 and the channels 24 to the microneedles 30 of delivery system 26 and inject it into the patient.

[0031] For example, pump 14 may be a diaphragm pump shown schematically in FIG. 6. In the state of pump 14 shown in FIG. 6, both outlet 22 and inlet 20 are closed. The pump 14 is in an unloaded state. For example, force can be applied to a pump cavity 34 by a piezo element not shown. When negative pressure or vacuum is created in pump cavity 34, inlet 20 opens to allow liquid to flow into cavity 34 in the direction of an arrow 36. To convey the liquid out of pump cavity 34, pressure is again applied to cavity 34, for example by means of a piezo element. This closes inlet 20 according to the lower illustration in FIG. 6. At the same time, outlet 22 opens so that liquid flows in the direction of an arrow 38.

[0032] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the two microarrays 10 of the extraction device are again connected to a first pump 14 via channels 12. In this exemplary embodiment, outlet 22 of the first pump 14 is connected to active ingredient reservoir 16. The active ingredient reservoir 16 is then connected in the direction of flow, i.e. to the right in FIG. 2, to a second pump 40 via its inlet 42. An outlet 44 of the second pump 40 is connected to delivery device 26 via the channels 24.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first pump 14 thus draws in interstitial liquid via extraction device 10 and conveys it into active ingredient reservoir 16. A liquid, solid or powdered active ingredient is provided in active ingredient reservoir 16. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, active ingredient reservoir 16 also serves as a mixing chamber. The second pump 40 draws in the liquid mixture from active ingredient reservoir 16 and conveys it to delivery device 26 via the channels 24.

[0034] The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 substantially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, with the difference that no second pump is provided. The interstitial liquid drawn in by pump 14 is thus pumped by pump 14 through active ingredient reservoir 16, wherein the interstitial liquid absorbs active ingredient. The pump 14 then continues to convey the liquid mixture directly through the channels 24 to delivery device 26.

[0035] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 substantially corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wherein no active ingredient reservoir 16 is connected to pump inlet 20.

[0036] Rather, in this exemplary embodiment, the active ingredient reservoir is integrated into extraction device 26. For example, the active ingredient is provided in the hollow needles 30 and/or in channel region 32 (FIG. 5) and is absorbed by the interstitial liquid immediately prior to injection.