Method and device for abrading skin

Abstract

A device includes a plurality of microneedles for abrading the stratum corneum of the skin to form a plurality of grooves in the tissue having a controlled depth and width. The microneedles have a length of about 5-250 microns and generally about 5-200 microns. The device is rubbed over the skin to prepare an abraded site after which a transdermal delivery or sampling device is applied to the abraded delivery site. The abrasion increases the permeability of the skin and the rate of delivery and extraction of a substance without pain or irritation to the patient.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for abrading the stratum corneum of the skin, said device comprising: 
 a support having a bottom face; and    a plurality of microneedles coupled to and extending substantially perpendicular from said bottom face, said microneedles having a length to penetrate the stratum corneum substantially without piercing the stratum corneum.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said microneedles are about 50 to about 250 microns in length, are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, and are substantially uniformly spaced apart.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said microneedles has a substantially frustoconical shape terminating at a blunt tip.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said microneedles has a plurality of side walls extending from said support and terminating at a blunt tip.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said blunt tip has a substantially flat face that is substantially parallel to said support.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said flat face of said tip joins each of said side walls along an abrading edge.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each of said side walls is joined to an adjacent side wall along an abrading edge.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said microneedles have a length to abrade the skin of a patient to a sufficient depth to enhance the permeability of skin for molecules without skin irritation.