Active microneedles and microneedle arrays

Abstract

An active needle device for fluid injection or extraction includes at least one hollow elongated shaft defining at least one channel. The channel provides communication between at least one input port and at least one output port of the needle device. At least one active component such as a sensor or actuator is placed or integrated into the elongated shaft. The needle device can include a macroneedle, a microneedle, or an array of macroneedles or microneedles. The microneedles can be fabricated on a substrate which can remain attached to the microneedles or be subsequently removed. The active component can facilitate biochemical, optical, electrical, or physical measurements of a fluid injected or extracted by the needle device.

1 . An active needle device, comprising:
 a hollow non-silicon elongated shaft defining at a plurality of separated microchannels, said plurality of microchannels each having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said plurality of microchannels are parallel at said proximal end, and wherein said plurality of microchannels merge into a single distal microchannel within said hollow non-silicon elongated shaft at said distal end;   at least one input port at said proximal end of each of said plurality of microchannels and at least one output port at a distal end of said distal microchannel, said plurality of microchannels and said distal microchannel providing communication between said at least one input port and said at least one output port; and   at least one active component in each of said plurality of said parallel microchannels.   
   
   
       2 . The active needle device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a biosensor. 
   
   
       3 . The active needle device of  claim 2 , wherein said biosensor is a bioluminescence-based biosensor. 
   
   
       4 . The active needle device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one active component comprises an integrated circuit chip. 
   
   
       5 . The active needle device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one active component comprises an optical detector. 
   
   
       6 . The active needle device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one active component comprises a transducer component. 
   
   
       7 . The active needle device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one active component facilitates taking one or more measurements selected from a group consisting of biochemical measurements, optical measurements, electrical measurements, physical measurements, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The active needle device of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said plurality of microchannels within said hollow non-silicon elongated shaft are configured to receive different fluids and combine said different fluids in said distal microchannel. 
   
   
       9 . An active microneedle array device, comprising:
 a substrate having a substantially planar first surface and an edge adjacent said substantially planar first surface;   a plurality of hollow non-silicon microneedles positioned on said substantially planar first surface of said substrate, each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles having at least one microchannel therethrough providing communication between at least one input port at a proximal end of each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles and at least one output port at an opposite distal end of each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles, wherein said hollow non-silicon microneedles extend beyond said edge of said substrate and extend in a direction substantially parallel to said substantially planar first surface; and   at least one active component located in one or more of said hollow non-silicon microneedles.   
   
   
       10 . The microneedle array device of  claim 9 , wherein said hollow non-silicon microneedles comprise a two dimensional array. 
   
   
       11 . The microneedle array device of  claim 9 , wherein said hollow non-silicon microneedles comprise a three dimensional array. 
   
   
       12 . The microneedle array device of  claim 9 , wherein said hollow non-silicon microneedles are composed of a metal material selected from a group consisting of nickel, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, titanium, chromium, and alloys or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The microneedle array device of  claim 9 , further comprising a coupling channel member that provides fluid communication between said hollow non-silicon microneedles. 
   
   
       14 . The microneedle array device of  claim 9 , further comprising a pair of structural support members that mechanically interconnect said hollow non-silicon microneedles and that precisely control penetration depth of said hollow non-silicon microneedles. 
   
   
       15 . The microneedle array device of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one active component comprises a biosensor. 
   
   
       16 . The microneedle array device of  claim 15 , wherein said biosensor is a bioluminescence-based biosensor. 
   
   
       17 . The microneedle array device of  claim 9 , wherein said microchannels of each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles are first microchannels, and wherein each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles have at least one additional microchannel therein, said additional microchannels being substantially parallel to said first microchannels. 
   
   
       18 . An active microneedle array device, comprising:
 a plurality of hollow non-silicon microneedles each having at least one microchannel providing communication between at least one input port at a proximal end of each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles and at least one output port at a distal end of each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles;   a first structural support member interconnecting said hollow non-silicon microneedles adjacent said proximal end of said hollow non-silicon microneedles;   a second structural support member interconnecting said hollow non-silicon microneedles adjacent said distal end of said hollow non-silicon microneedles; and   at least one active component located in one or more of said microneedles.   
   
   
       19 . The microneedle array device of  claim 18 , wherein said hollow non-silicon microneedles consists of one of a two dimensional array or a three dimensional array. 
   
   
       20 . The microneedle array device of  claim 18 , further comprising a coupling channel member that provides fluid communication between said hollow non-silicon microneedles. 
   
   
       21 . The microneedle array device of  claim 18 , wherein said hollow non-silicon microneedles have a plurality of input ports and/or a plurality of output ports. 
   
   
       22 . The microneedle array device of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one active component comprises a biosensor. 
   
   
       23 . The microneedle array device of  claim 22 , wherein said biosensor is a bioluminescence-based biosensor. 
   
   
       24 . The microneedle array device of  claim 18 , wherein said microchannels of each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles are first microchannels, and wherein each of said hollow non-silicon microneedles has at least one additional microchannel therein, said additional microchannels being substantially parallel to said first microchannels. 
   
   
       25 . An active needle array device, comprising:
 a plurality of hollow non-silicon needles each having at least one channel that provides communication between at least one input port at a proximal end of each of said plurality of hollow non-silicon needles and at least one output port at an opposite distal end;   a coupling channel member that provides fluid communication between said plurality of hollow non-silicon needles, said coupling channel member being disposed between said at least one input port and said at least one output port of each of said plurality of hollow non-silicon needles; and   at least one active component located in said plurality of hollow non-silicon needles.   
   
   
       26 . The needle array device of  claim 25 , wherein said hollow non-silicon needles have a plurality of input ports. 
   
   
       27 . The needle array device of  claim 25 , wherein said hollow non-silicon needles have a plurality of output ports. 
   
   
       28 . The needle array device of  claim 25 , wherein said at least one active component comprises a bioluminescence-based biosensor. 
   
   
       29 . The needle array device of  claim 25 , wherein each of said hollow non-silicon needles has at least one additional channel therein. 
   
   
       30 . The needle array device of  claim 25 , wherein each of said hollow non-silicon needles is a macroneedle. 
   
   
       31 . The needle array device of  claim 25 , further comprising a reflective coating on an internal surface of at least one of said plurality of hollow non-silicon needles.