Valved delivery device and method of delivering a substance to a patient

Abstract

A delivery device for delivery a substance into the skin of a patient has a fluid chamber for containing the substance, at least one micro skin penetrating member, and a valve controlling the flow of the substance from the fluid chamber to the micro skin penetrating member. An adhesive releasably attaches the device to the skin of the patient, the fluid chamber can be sized to hold a unit dose of the substance, and, in some embodiments, the fluid chamber can be releasably coupled to a housing of the device.

1 . A method for delivering a substance into the skin of a patient, comprising:
 positioning on the skin of a patient a delivery device including a housing, a fluid chamber having an outlet, a substance in the fluid chamber, a manually operated valve for controlling movement of the substance through the outlet of said fluid chamber wherein said valve is operable by the patient, and at least one skin penetrating member in fluid communication with said channel;   applying a pressure sufficient for said skin penetrating members to penetrate said skin to a depth from about 50 microns to about 4,000 microns, sufficient to deliver said substance to the patient; and   opening said valve to enable the substance to move from said fluid chamber, through said skin penetrating members, and into the skin of the patient.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying pressure to the substance in the fluid chamber to help move the substance into the skin of the patient. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid chamber is defined at least in part by a movable wall, and the step of applying pressure to the substance in the fluid chamber comprises applying pressure to the movable wall. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, prior to the step of positioning, coupling the fluid chamber to the housing. 
   
   
       5 . A method for delivering a substance into the skin of a patient, comprising:
 positioning on the skin of a patient a delivery device including a housing, a fluid chamber having an outlet, a substance in the fluid chamber, a manually operated valve for controlling movement of the substance through the outlet of said fluid chamber wherein said valve is operably connected to a button, wherein said valve is operable in turn by the patient manually moving the button, and at least one skin penetrating member in fluid communication with said channel;   applying a pressure sufficient for said skin penetrating members to penetrate said skin to a depth from about 50 microns to about 4,000 microns, sufficient to deliver said substance to the patient; and   opening said valve to enable the substance to move from said fluid chamber, through said skin penetrating members, and into the skin of the patient.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising applying pressure to the substance in the fluid chamber to help move the substance into the skin of the patient. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid chamber is defined at least in part by a movable wall, and the step of applying pressure to the substance in the fluid chamber comprises applying pressure to the movable wall. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, prior to the step of positioning, coupling the fluid chamber to the housing.