Abstract:
The invention discloses a method of manufacturing a microneedle including the steps of forming an island etching mask having thickness distribution on a substrate, and processing the substrate into a needle by taking advantage of a difference in etching rates between the etching mask and the substrate. The invention enables to readily control a point angle and height of the manufactured needle.
Abstract:
An operation tool for a fluid injector includes a selective movement mechanism which moves the fluid injector between a first protruding position and a second protruding position in a housing of an outer cylinder. When the fluid injector is at the first protruding position, microneedles of a multi-microneedle device are protruded out to a first distance from the first open end. When the fluid injector is at the second protruding position to discharge a fluid via the microneedles, the microneedles are protruded out to a second distance from the first open end, which is shorter than the first distance. The selective movement mechanism includes a rotational-linear movement conversion mechanism which moves the fluid injector between the first and second protruding positions along a longitudinal center line of the outer cylinder based on a direction and an amount of rotation of the outer cylinder relative to the fluid injector.
Abstract:
A microneedle including a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, at least one piercing projection projecting from the first surface of the substrate and being surrounded by an outer peripheral region of the substrate when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first surface, and surface-defining structures positioned in the outer peripheral region and including three or more surface-defining structures each having a surface-defining section which is one of a surface-defining projection and a surface-defining recess. The surface-defining projection protrudes from the first surface and has a tip which serves as the surface-defining section, the surface-defining recess is recessed from the first surface and has a bottom serving as the surface-defining section, and the piercing projection has a tip that extends beyond a plane including the surface-defining sections of three surface-defining structures among the surface-defining structures.