Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery apparatus includes a housing for being fastened to a user, a microneedle assembly for being engaged against the skin of the user, a first force provider for providing a first force for forcing the microneedle assembly outwardly from the housing and against the skin, a reservoir movably carried by the housing for containing the fluid and for being in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly, and a second force provider for providing a second force for causing at least some of the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the microneedle assembly after the reservoir has moved into fluid communication with the microneedle assembly.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery apparatus includes a receptacle having a housing and a microneedle assembly mounted to the housing. The apparatus includes a reservoir for being mounted to the receptacle. The reservoir has an interior for containing fluid for being supplied to the microneedle assembly. The apparatus is adapted so that, when the apparatus is assembled, the reservoir is configured to move relative to the microneedle assembly along a path from an outer position to an inner position. The reservoir is closer to the microneedle assembly in the inner position than in the outer position. In the outer position, the reservoir is out of fluid communication with the microneedle assembly, and in the inner position, the reservoir is in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly. The apparatus also includes a plurality of connector parts spaced apart from one another along the path.

Abstract: A uniformity control membrane can be securely engaged against an upstream side of a microneedle array and configured so that resistance to flow through the uniformity control membrane is substantially greater than the resistance to flow through the microneedle array. These differences in flow resistance can facilitate uniform administration of a liquid formulation into the patient's skin across a broad area and at a relatively low pressure, such as by way of capillary action. The administration of the liquid formulation into the patient's skin across the broad area can result from the liquid formulation being administered by way of at least a majority of the microneedles of the microneedle array.

Abstract: A uniformity control membrane can be securely engaged against an upstream side of a microneedle array and configured so that resistance to flow through the uniformity control membrane is substantially greater than the resistance to flow through the microneedle array. These differences in flow resistance can facilitate uniform administration of a liquid formulation into the patient's skin across a broad area and at a relatively low pressure, such as by way of capillary action. The administration of the liquid formulation into the patient's skin across the broad area can result from the liquid formulation being administered by way of at least a majority of the microneedles of the microneedle array.

Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: A receptacle, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a housing for being fastened to the user, a force provider that is elastic, at least one deformable component, and a microneedle assembly movably mounted to the housing for moving inwardly and outwardly relative to the housing. The force provider may be positioned between the housing and the microneedle assembly for forcing the microneedle assembly outwardly relative to the housing and against the skin of the user. The at least one deformable component may be connected between the microneedle assembly and the housing for both allowing relative movement between the microneedle assembly and the housing, and at least partially restricting the microneedle assembly from falling away from the housing.

Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: A controller, which may be used in a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, includes a housing, a pushing mechanism mounted for moving relative to the housing, a force provider positioned between the housing and the pushing mechanism for moving the pushing mechanism relative to the housing, and a latching mechanism for selectively restricting and allowing relative movement between the housing and the pushing mechanism. The pushing mechanism may be configured for pushing against a reservoir of the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The latching mechanism may include flexible arms extending between the opposite ends of the latching mechanism, and the latching mechanism may be configured so that the arms release the pushing mechanism in response to the opposite ends being forced toward one another.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery apparatus includes a receptacle having a housing and a microneedle assembly mounted to the housing. The apparatus includes a reservoir for being mounted to the receptacle. The reservoir has an interior for containing fluid for being supplied to the microneedle assembly. The apparatus is adapted so that, when the apparatus is assembled, the reservoir is configured to move relative to the microneedle assembly along a path from an outer position to an inner position. The reservoir is closer to the microneedle assembly in the inner position than in the outer position. In the outer position, the reservoir is out of fluid communication with the microneedle assembly, and in the inner position, the reservoir is in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly. The apparatus also includes a plurality of connector parts spaced apart from one another along the path.

Abstract: A uniformity control membrane can be securely engaged against an upstream side of a microneedle array and configured so that resistance to flow through the uniformity control membrane is substantially greater than the resistance to flow through the microneedle array. These differences in flow resistance can facilitate uniform administration of a liquid formulation into the patient's skin across a broad area and at a relatively low pressure, such as by way of capillary action. The administration of the liquid formulation into the patient's skin across the broad area can result from the liquid formulation being administered by way of at least a majority of the microneedles of the microneedle array.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery apparatus includes a housing for being fastened to a user, a microneedle assembly for being engaged against the skin of the user, a first force provider for providing a first force for forcing the microneedle assembly outwardly from the housing and against the skin, a reservoir movably carried by the housing for containing the fluid and for being in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly, and a second force provider for providing a second force for causing at least some of the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the microneedle assembly after the reservoir has moved into fluid communication with the microneedle assembly.

Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: The configuration of an elongate aperture in a membrane draped over a microneedle assembly may be controlled by controlling the manner in which the aperture is formed and/or by controlling the manner in which the membrane is draped. At least a portion of the membrane may be spaced apart from a microneedle so that a gap is defined between the membrane and the microneedle. The gap may be configured for at least partially controlling the formation of the elongate aperture. The shape of the gap may optionally be at least partially defined by a pleat in the membrane. Any pleats may be aligned in a predetermined manner. The elongate aperture may be formed by a piercing member that is passed through a hole in the microneedle assembly prior to piercing the membrane. The piercing member may be a laser beam.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery apparatus includes a housing for being fastened to a user, a microneedle assembly for being engaged against the skin of the user, a first force provider for providing a first force for forcing the microneedle assembly outwardly from the housing and against the skin, a reservoir movably carried by the housing for containing the fluid and for being in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly, and a second force provider for providing a second force for causing at least some of the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the microneedle assembly after the reservoir has moved into fluid communication with the microneedle assembly.

Abstract: A receptacle, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a housing for being fastened to the user, a force provider that is elastic, at least one deformable component, and a microneedle assembly movably mounted to the housing for moving inwardly and outwardly relative to the housing. The force provider may be positioned between the housing and the microneedle assembly for forcing the microneedle assembly outwardly relative to the housing and against the skin of the user. The at least one deformable component may be connected between the microneedle assembly and the housing for both allowing relative movement between the microneedle assembly and the housing, and at least partially restricting the microneedle assembly from falling away from the housing.

Abstract: A controller, which may be used in a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, includes a housing, a pushing mechanism mounted for moving relative to the housing, a force provider positioned between the housing and the pushing mechanism for moving the pushing mechanism relative to the housing, and a latching mechanism for selectively restricting and allowing relative movement between the housing and the pushing mechanism. The pushing mechanism may be configured for pushing against a reservoir of the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The latching mechanism may include flexible arms extending between the opposite ends of the latching mechanism, and the latching mechanism may be configured so that the arms release the pushing mechanism in response to the opposite ends being forced toward one another.

Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: The configuration of an elongate aperture in a membrane draped over a microneedle assembly may be controlled by controlling the manner in which the aperture is formed and/or by controlling the manner in which the membrane is draped. At least a portion of the membrane may be spaced apart from a microneedle so that a gap is defined between the membrane and the microneedle. The gap may be configured for at least partially controlling the formation of the elongate aperture. The shape of the gap may optionally be at least partially defined by a pleat in the membrane. Any pleats may be aligned in a predetermined manner. The elongate aperture may be formed by a piercing member that is passed through a hole in the microneedle assembly prior to piercing the membrane. The piercing member may be a laser beam.

Abstract: An absorbent article that contains a substrate applied with an activated carbon coating is provided. The activated carbon coating is formed from a mixture of a polymeric material and an activation agent. The mixture is activated by heating to a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 250° C. As a result of the present invention, it has been discovered that a substrate can be formed that is absorbent and also capable of performing other functions, such as serving as an odor control agent.