Compact high mechanical energy storage and low trigger force actuator for the delivery of microprojection array patches (map)

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices and methods for providing a triggering mechanism which lowers the trigger force to activate the trigger mechanism to a comfortable range of while still preserving or increasing the speed at which the triggering mechanism accelerates or imparts velocity to a device attached to the triggering mechanism. The present invention further relates to improved applicators for administering microprojection arrays to skin and methods of administering microprojection arrays. In particular, the present invention relates to compact stable self-contained mechanical energy storage for delivery of a medical device such as a microprojection array.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for applying a microprojection array to the skin of a mammal comprising:
 a) pre-loading a dome with a loading force;   b) placing the pre-loaded dome within a device wherein the device comprises a housing having a collapsible trigger and a microprojection array to which is attached a spigot and   c) triggering the pre-loaded dome by contacting the collapsible trigger with a triggering force such that the dome is triggered and thereby contacts the spigot such that the microprojection array is   accelerating the microprojection array through a space between the device and the skin of a mammal thereby penetrating the skin of the mammal.   
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the ratio of the triggering force and loading force is from about 1:50 to about 1:5. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array attains a velocity of greater than about 15 m/s. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array attains a velocity of greater than about 25 m/s. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array attains a velocity of from about 15 to about 50 m/s. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array attains a velocity of from about 20 to about 26 m/s. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array has from about 1000 to 20000 microprojections. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array has from about 2000 to 10000 microprojections. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array has from about 3000 to 6000 microprojections. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the triggering force is from about 10 to about 100 newtons. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the triggering force is from about 10 to about 50 newtons. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the loading force is from about 100 to about 400 newtons. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the loading force is from about 150 to about 350 newtons. 
     
     
         45 - 120 . (canceled) 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array has a mass of less than 0.8 grams. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microprojection array has a mass of about 0.1 to 0.8 grams.