Mold element for manufacturing microstructures

Abstract

A mold element, in particular a casting mold for manufacturing microstructures, in particular microneedle arrays, includes a base body. On an upper side of the base body, several depressions for receiving material for manufacturing the microstructure are provided. In order to improve the quality of the microstructure to be manufactured, in particular during a drying process, channels are provided on the upper side of the base body, each of which is connected to at least one of the depressions.

Claims

1. A casting mold element for manufacturing microneedle arrays comprising: a base body having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the base body is formed from one piece with a negative image of the microneedle array extending away from the upper side of the base body to the lower side; and depressions extending from the upper side of the base body towards the lower side, the depressions designed to receive material for manufacturing the microneedle array, wherein channels are provided on the upper side of the base body, each of which is connected to at least one of the depressions, wherein a chamfer is provided in a connection area between a channel and a depression such that the chamfer is curved, with the curvature being convex relative to the channel such that a depth of the channel measured from the upper side increases towards the depression, and wherein the depressions are conical in longitudinal direction and the depressions are arranged offset from one another in plan view.

2. The mold element according to claim 1, wherein each depression is connected with two or more channels.

3. The mold element according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the channels connects neighboring depressions with each other.

4. The mold element according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the channels tapers from the respective depression.

5. The mold element according to claim 1, wherein at least one bar is provided in at least one depression.

6. The mold element according to claim 5, wherein at least one bar extends in longitudinal direction of the depressions.

7. The mold element according to claim 1, wherein each depression provides the casting mold for a microneedle.

8. The mold element according to claim 1, wherein the form of each depression corresponds to the negative image of a microneedle.

9. The mold element according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the channel measured from the upper side increases towards a tip of the depression.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the present disclosure is described in more detail by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of a mold element in the form of a die according to the present disclosure, and

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematic, greatly enlarged sectional view in longitudinal direction of a depression of the die.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The schematically shown die has a base body 10. Starting from an upper side 12 of the base body 10, a plurality of depressions 14 are arranged in the base body. The depressions are conical in cross-section (FIG. 2), with the cones tapering from the upper side 12 in the longitudinal direction 16 of the depression 14.

(6) On the upper side 12 of the base body 10, channels 18 are provided. The channels 18 are preferably arranged such that neighboring depressions 14 are connected to each other through the channels 18. In particular, in the preferred embodiment shown, a depression 14, which is not arranged at the edge of the die, has six connection channels 18 to the six surrounding depressions 14.

(7) In the preferred embodiment shown, the connection channels 18 have a chamfer 20 in a transition area to the depressions 14. The chamfer 20 is preferably curved, the curvature being convex relative to the channel 18. A depth of the channel 18, measured from the upper side 12, thus increases towards the depression 14.

(8) In a preferred further embodiment of the present disclosure, which is an independent proposed solution, at least one bar 22 is provided within the depression 14. The bar 22 is arranged at an inner wall 24 of the depression and extends in particular in longitudinal direction 16 of the depression 14.