Applicator for drug delivery and microneedle patch used therefor

Abstract

Proposed is a microneedle patch including a body in which at least one opening is formed, and a microneedle body which is disposed in the opening and has at least one microneedle formed therein, wherein when an external force is applied in a first direction, the microneedle body moves in the first direction so as to administer a drug in the microneedle to a user’s skin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microneedle applicator comprising:
 a first drive mechanism configured to operate to pressurize a microneedle patch;   a second drive mechanism operatively connected with the first drive mechanism to change a posture of the first drive mechanism; and   a controller configured to transmit a driving signal to the first drive mechanism and second drive mechanism,   wherein the first drive mechanism comprises a first driving motor and a pressurizing part configured to pressurize at least one region of the microneedle patch by receiving power from the first driving motor,   the second drive mechanism comprises a second driving motor and a main gear connected with the first drive mechanism to rotate by receiving power from the second driving motor, and   the controller is configured to:
 actuates the second drive mechanism so that the pressurizing part moves from a first position to a second position of the microneedle patch, and 
 actuates the first drive mechanism so that the pressurizing part pressurizes the microneedle patch on the second position, and 
 wherein the pressurizing part executes translation movement by first displacement substantially vertically downward on a surface of the microneedle patch in response to an operation of the first driving motor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the second drive mechanism is actuated for the pressurizing part to return from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the controller actuates the second drive mechanism so that the pressurizing part returned to the first position moves to a third position and actuates the first drive mechanism so that the pressurizing part pressurizes the microneedle patch on the third position. 
     
     
         4 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 3 , wherein the controller actuates the second drive mechanism so that the pressurizing part returns from the third position to the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 1 , wherein when the second drive mechanism is actuated to allow the pressurizing part to move from the first position to the second position, the main gear rotates by second displacement along a first direction in response to an operation of the second driving motor. 
     
     
         6 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 5 , wherein when the second drive mechanism is actuated to allow the pressurizing part to return from the second position to the first position, the main gear rotates by the second displacement along a second direction, which is different from the first direction, in response to the operation of the second driving motor. 
     
     
         7 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 1 , wherein a direction of a motion of the pressurizing part and a direction of a rotation plane of the main gear are vertical. 
     
     
         8 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a touch sensor configured to be electrically connected to the controller and to generate an electrical signal reflecting a state of contact with an object,   wherein the controller is configured to transmits a driving signal to the first drive mechanism and second drive mechanism when a magnitude of the electrical signal generated by the touch sensor is greater than or equal to a threshold value.   
     
     
         9 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the second drive mechanism comprises a lower plate to protect the microneedle patch,
 wherein when the microneedle patch is mounted on the applicator, the lower plate is located on a lower part of the microneedle patch and rotates with the main gear and the pressurizing part.   
     
     
         10 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the lower plate comprises a pressurizing-opening part,
 wherein a position of the pressurizing-opening part correspond to a position of the pressurizing part, and when the first drive mechanism is actuated, at least a portion of the pressurized microneedle patch protrudes through the pressurizing-opening part.   
     
     
         11 . A microneedle applicator comprising:
 a patch delivery part configured to place a microneedle patch in a predetermined area;   a housing including an accommodating part defined as a space for accommodating the patch delivery part and at least one opening; and   a pressurizing part configured to apply a predetermined pressure to the microneedle patch,   wherein the pressurizing part moves between a first position and a second position, and   when the pressurizing part is at the second position, the pressurizing part comes into contact with the microneedle patch disposed in the predetermined area and applies the predetermined pressure to at least a portion of the microneedle patch, and   the microneedle patch to which the predetermined pressure is applied is delivered directly to the skin through the opening.   
     
     
         12 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a strip configured to secure the applicator to a user’s body.   
     
     
         13 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 11 , wherein the patch delivery part comprises a cartridge,
 wherein the cartridge contains a plurality of microneedles, and   the plurality of microneedles is configured to be used a predetermined number of times for injections.   
     
     
         14 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 11 , further comprising: a driving part, wherein the driving part provides a driving force to at least one of the patch delivery part and the pressurizing part. 
     
     
         15 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the driving part comprises at least one motor. 
     
     
         16 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 14 , wherein the microneedle patch includes a preset dose of drug stored in at least a portion thereof,
 wherein the applicator further comprises a controller,   wherein the controller controls at least one of the driving part, the patch delivery part, and the pressurizing part so that at least a portion of the microneedle patch in which the preset dose of drug stored can be injected into the user’s skin.   
     
     
         17 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls the pressurizing part to move between the first position and the second position and to apply the predetermined pressure to the microneedle patch at the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 11 , wherein at the second position, at least a portion of the microneedle patch pressurized by a predetermined displacement by the pressurizing part is exposed through the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 11 , wherein at the first position, the pressurizing part does not pressurize the microneedle patch and at least a portion of the microneedle patch is not exposed. 
     
     
         20 . The microneedle applicator of  claim 11 , wherein the applicator is a wearable watch.