(54) MICRONEEDLES AND MICRONEEDLE
FABRICATION
(75) Inventors: Yuan Xu, Singapore (SG); Mei Ma
Chen, Singapore (SG); Zhongli Li,
Singapore (SG); Chee Yen Lim,
Singapore (SG); Pei Ying Joyce Tan,
Singapore (SG)
(73) Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Centres (SG)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 451 days.
(21) Appl.No.: 10/505,035
(22) PCT Filed: Nov. 10, 2003
(86) PCT No.: PCT/SG03/00260
§ 371 (c)(1),
(2), (4) Date: Aug. 17, 2004
(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO2005/044364 PCT Pub. Date: May 19, 2005
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2006/0202385 Al Sep. 14, 2006
(51) Int. CI.
B29C 33/42 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 264/219; 219/69.13
(58) Field of Classification Search 264/129,
264/130,219,338; 219/69.12 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,658,515 A 8/1997 Leeetal.
A master mould is made by wire cutting a plate in two or more directions to provide a base with an array of master mould needles protruding therefrom. The size and shape of the master mould needles can readily be varied by varying the angles of upward and downward cuts in the two or more directions. The master mould is used to make a secondary mould by hot embossing a secondary mould plate onto the master mould. This forms through-holes in the secondary mould. The secondary mould is plated with a layer of metal, which forms a microneedle array.
31 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
