Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for selectively applying an agent-containing liquid coating to extremely tiny skin piercing microprojections. The coating solution is applied to the skin piercing microprojections using a coating technique which selectively coats only predetermined portions the skin piercing microprojections. By the use of various photoresists and hydrophobic coatings, a defined and precise portion of the microprojections and/or the microprojection arrays can be coated with an agent formulation.

Abstract: A method for producing a device for piercing a body surface is disclosed. A sheet (200) is provided having opposite first and second faces. A plurality of microprojections (304) and openings (302) are formed through the first and second faces of the sheet (200). The first face of the sheet (200) is positioned adjacent a die (402) having a plurality of cavities (404) corresponding to the plurality of microprojections (304) of the sheet (200) in such a way that each of the microprojections (304) of the sheet (200) is positioned adjacent a corresponding cavity (404) of the die (402). An elastomeric material (410) is then forced against a second face of the sheet (200) and into the cavities (404) of the die (402) to deflect the microprojections (304) of the sheet (200) into the cavities (404) of the die (402).