The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 25, 1997
Ned Allen Godshall, Albuquerque, NM (US);
R Rox Anderson, Lexington, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for mechanically disrupting a layer of skin having a known thickness without substantially disrupting underlying dermis layers below the layer of skin in question so as to facilitate the delivery of compounds across the disrupted layer. The apparatus includes a cutter having a plurality of microprotrusions having a height chosen with respect to the layer of skin that is to be disrupted and a stop for preventing the apparatus from penetrating the skin beyond a predetermined distance. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microprotrusions include blades that generate cuts in the layer of skin. The cuts are generated by moving the apparatus parallel to the surface of the skin either at the time of application, during the normal movements of the individual wearing the apparatus, or both. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the appropriate length of blade is determined for each individual and delivery site on that individual.