MICROMECHANICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING DELIVERY OF COMPOUNDS THROUGH THE SKIN

摘要

This invention is an apparatus (60) for disrupting a layer of skin having a known thickness without substantially disrupting underlying dermis layers below the layer of skin in question. The apparatus (60) includes a cutter having a plurality of micro-protrusions (61) having a height less than or equal to the thickness of the layer of skin, and a stop for preventing the apparatus (60) from penetrating said layer of skin beyond a predetermined distance. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the micro-protrusions (61) comprise first and second groups of micro-protrusions (61) extending from a substrate, and the stop comprises a region of the substrate separating the first and second groups and recessed below the tops of the first and second groups of micro-protrusions (61). In one embodiment of the present invention, a means for moving the apparatus (60) relative to the layer of skin, is provided.