Tissue Ablation by Shear Force for Sampling Biological Fluids and Delivering Active Agents

Abstract

A shear device for use in transporting a molecule through a mammal's mammalian barrier membrane of at least one layer of cells includes a sheet containing an opening(s) and a shear member(s). The sheet is configured for contacting the mammalian barrier membrane (e.g., human skin) and the shear member is configured for ablating a portion of the mammalian barrier membrane forced through the opening(s). This ablating is accomplished by movement of the shear member(s) over the sheet and the opening(s). The ablation of the portion of the mammalian barrier membrane is such that a driving force can be employed to transport the molecule therethrough.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A shear device for use in transporting a molecule through a mammal's mammalian barrier membrane of at least one layer of cells comprising:
 a sheet containing at least one opening, the sheet configured for contacting a mammalian barrier membrane; and   at least one shear member configured for ablating a portion of the mammalian barrier membrane forced through the at least one opening, the ablating accomplished by movement of the at least one shear member over the sheet and the at least one opening;   wherein the portion of the mammalian barrier membrane is ablated such that a driving force can be employed to transport the molecule therethrough.   
   
   
       25 . The shear device of claim  1 , wherein the shear member is a shear blade. 
   
   
       26 . The shear device of claim  1  further comprising a driving unit configured to move the at least one shear member over the sheet and at least one opening. 
   
   
       27 . The shear device of  claim 26 , wherein the driving unit is configured to be powered manually by a user of the shear device. 
   
   
       28 . The shear device of  claim 26 , wherein the driving unit includes an electric motor. 
   
   
       29 . The shear device of  claim 26 , wherein the shear device further comprises a sensor and wherein the shear device is configured for feedback from the sensor to control the driving unit. 
   
   
       30 . The shear device of  claim 29 , wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, conductivity sensors, impedance sensors, pH sensors and temperature sensors. 
   
   
       31 . The shear device of  claim 24 , wherein the sheet is configured to contact a mammalian barrier membrane selected from the group consisting of skin, buccal, vaginal, and rectal membranes. 
   
   
       32 . The shear device of  claim 24 , wherein the mammalian barrier membrane is human skin. 
   
   
       33 . The shear device of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one shear member is configured to move parallel to the sheet. 
   
   
       34 . The shear device of  claim 24 , wherein an area of the at least one opening is in the range from about 0.001 mm 2  to about 5 mm 2 . 
   
   
       35 . The shear device of  claim 24  further including a sensor and a control unit;
 wherein the sensor is configured for measuring at least one of an electrical resistance and an electrical impedance of the mammalian barrier membrane and for sending a control signal to the control unit; and   wherein the control unit is configured to deactivate the shear device based on the control signal.   
   
   
       36 . The shear device of  claim 24  further including a vacuum unit configured to force the portion of the mammalian barrier membrane forced through the at least one opening.