Abstract: An allergen-loadable microneedle cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge includes at least one substrate, a plurality of microneedles in a microneedle layout protruding from at least one substrate, and fillable allergen sites corresponding to the microneedle layout. The fillable allergen sites and microneedle layout are configured such that the microneedles can penetrate subject skin and deliver pharmacologically active doses of allergens in a minimally invasive process. A planar allergen filling system for loading the allergen-loadable microneedle cartridges is also disclosed. The system has a loading section with spaced-apart allergen loading sites that correspond to the microneedle layout of the microneedle cartridge. Filling wells having allergen deposition areas larger than the allergen loading sites transfer deposited allergen to the allergen loading sites through capillary channels.

Abstract: An allergen-loadable microneedle cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge includes at least one substrate, a plurality of microneedles in a microneedle layout protruding from at least one substrate, and fillable allergen sites corresponding to the microneedle layout. The fillable allergen sites and microneedle layout are configured such that the microneedles can penetrate subject skin and deliver pharmacologically active doses of allergens in a minimally invasive process. A planar allergen filling system for loading the allergen-loadable microneedle cartridges is also disclosed. The system has a loading section with spaced-apart allergen loading sites that correspond to the microneedle layout of the microneedle cartridge. Filling wells having allergen deposition areas larger than the allergen loading sites transfer deposited allergen to the allergen loading sites through capillary channels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making an apparatus for skin testing includes a housing with an opening which defines a field of view of a skin testing region, an image sensing apparatus, an illumination apparatus, a binding apparatus, and an image processing controller. The image sensing apparatus is positioned with respect to the housing to capture images in the field of view provided by the opening. The illumination apparatus is positioned within the housing to direct light towards a portion of the field of view provided by the opening. The binding apparatus detachably secures the housing over the skin testing region and maintains a fixed distance between the image sensing apparatus and the skin testing region. The controller is configured to analyze test samples sites in each of the captured images from the image sensing apparatus and provide a skin test result for each of the test sample sites.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making an apparatus for skin testing includes a housing with an opening which defines a field of view of a skin testing region, an image sensing apparatus, an illumination apparatus, a binding apparatus, and an image processing controller. The image sensing apparatus is positioned with respect to the housing to capture images in the field of view provided by the opening. The illumination apparatus is positioned within the housing to direct light towards a portion of the field of view provided by the opening. The binding apparatus detachably secures the housing over the skin testing region and maintains a fixed distance between the image sensing apparatus and the skin testing region. The controller is configured to analyze test samples sites in each of the captured images from the image sensing apparatus and provide a skin test result for each of the test sample sites.

Abstract: A method for monitoring at least one biomedical characteristic is disclosed. A first microneedle coated with one or more regions of a chemical sensing material is illuminated. One or more digital images are captured of the first microneedle, wherein at least one of the one or more digital images is captured after the first coated microneedle has been actuated to penetrate a subject's skin. Pixel information is spatially extracted from the captured one or more images to define one or more pixel sample areas corresponding to the one or more regions of a chemical sensing material. One or more spectral characteristics are determined for each of the one or more pixel sample areas. The at least one biomedical characteristic is determined for each of the one or more pixel sample areas based on the determined one or more spectral characteristics for each of the one or more pixel sample areas.

Abstract: A replaceable microneedle array for a biomedical monitor is disclosed. The microneedle array includes a plurality of moveable microneedles coated with at least one chemical sensing material coupled with a porous material. The microneedle array also includes a substrate defining wells to house the microneedles. The microneedle array further includes at least one restoring spring element coupled between each microneedle and the substrate such that each of the plurality of microneedles is held at least partially in an associated well.