Delivery device

Abstract

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.

1 . 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 comprising:
 a number of projections for penetrating a body surface, wherein:
 a) the number of projections is selected to produce a desired response, the number being at least 500; and, 
 b) a spacing between projections is at least partially determined based on an arrangement of the targets within the body. 
   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of projections is selected by:
 a) determining a likelihood of a projection targeting at least one of the targets;   b) determining a number of targets to be targeted; and,   c) determining the number of projections using the determined likelihood and the determined number of targets.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of targets to be targeted is at least 1000. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of projections is at least 10000. 
     
     
         7 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing between at least some of the projections is selected to be greater than a diameter of the targets of interest. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing S is between 10 μm≤S≤200 μm. 
     
     
         13 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the projections include a support section and a targeting section. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the targeting section has a diameter of less 5 μm. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein a length for the targeting section is less than 2.0 μm. 
     
     
         19 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein a length for the support section is at least one of:
 a) for epidermal delivery <200 μm;   b) for dermal cell delivery <1000 μm;   c) for delivery to basal cells in the epithelium of the mucosa 600-800 μm; and,   d) for lung delivery of the order of 100 μm in this case.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the projections are solid. 
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the projections are non-porous and non-hollow. 
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of at least some of the projections are coated with a bioactive material. 
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of at least some of the projections are coated with a non-liquid material. 
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 28 , wherein at least part of a targeting section of at least some of the projections are coated. 
     
     
         30 .- 45 . (canceled)