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. 16, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 07, 2001
James C. Weaver, Sudbury, MA (US);
R. Rox Anderson, Lexington, MA (US);
Terry O Herndon, Carlisle, MA (US);
T. R. Gowrishankar, Tewksbury, MA (US);
Elizabeth A. Gift, North Reading, MA (US);
Salvador Gonzalez, Boston, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and devices used for the formation of microconduits in a tissue. The term “microconduit” refers to a small opening, channel, or hole into, or through, a tissue, that allows transfer of materials by liquid flow, and by electrophoresis, the microconduit being formed upon impact of a plurality of accelerated microparticles with the surface of the tissue. A method is described for forming at least one microconduit in tissue including the steps of: accelerating a plurality of microparticles to a velocity that causes the microparticles to penetrate a region of tissue surface upon impingement of the microparticles on the tissue surface; and directing the microparticle towards the region of tissue surface, thereby causing the microparticles to penetrate the tissue and form a microconduit in the tissue. According to an embodiment, microparticles are accelerated by being hit with a moving, solid surface. In another embodiment, microparticles are accelerated by a flowing gas or liquid. Also described are methods and devices for using microconduits to deliver therapeutic molecules and ions into tissue, or for extraction of chemical analytes out of tissue. Also described is a method of nail piercing to accommodate jewelry.