Abstract: Described are devices, methods and systems for applying energy and/or a liquefaction promoting medium to a tissue of interest to generate a liquefied tissue sample. The liquefied tissue sample may be removed from the tissue of interest. Also described are compositions of the liquefaction promoting medium that may facilitate liquefaction, preserve liquefied tissue constituents, and/or enable delivery of molecules into tissues. The sample may include tissue constituents to provide for rapid tissue sampling, tissue decontamination as well as detection of analytes. One or more drugs may be delivered through or into the tissue of interest. Determination of tissue composition in the liquefied tissue sample can be used, e.g., for diagnosis or prognosis of diseases, evaluating bioavailability of therapeutic agents in different tissues following administration, forensic detection of drugs-of-abuse, evaluating changes in the tissue microenvironment following exposure to a harmful agent, and the like.

Abstract: A microneedle array in accordance with one embodiment comprises at least a first microneedle and a second microneedle that are inclined with respect to a support face. A tip of the first microneedle points in a first direction, and a tip of the second microneedle points in a second direction different from the first direction. The first microneedle in contact with skin is stuck into the skin while being moved along a surface of the skin in the first direction. The second microneedle in contact with the skin is stuck into the skin while being moved along the surface of the skin in the second direction.

Abstract: An applicator comprising a transmission member, a housing guiding a reciprocation of the transmission member, and a cap covering the housing. The transmission member is provided with a stopper extending in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction thereof. An upper end of the housing is formed with a projection sliding the stopper. The inside of the cap is formed with a lead part. The stopper is slid by the lead part to an end part of the projection when the cap is pushed and thereafter disengages from the projection when the cap is further pushed, so that the transmission member transmits the biasing force of an elastic member to a microneedle. This enables the microneedle to be applied to skin.

Abstract: Described are devices, methods and systems for applying energy and/or a liquefaction promoting medium to a tissue of interest to generate a liquefied tissue sample. The liquefied tissue sample may be removed from the tissue of interest. Also described are compositions of the liquefaction promoting medium that may facilitate liquefaction, preserve liquefied tissue constituents, and/or enable delivery of molecules into tissues. The sample may include tissue constituents to provide for rapid tissue sampling, tissue decontamination as well as detection of analytes. One or more drugs may be delivered through or into the tissue of interest. Determination of tissue composition in the liquefied tissue sample can be used, e.g., for diagnosis or prognosis of diseases, evaluating bioavailability of therapeutic agents in different tissues following administration, forensic detection of drugs-of-abuse, evaluating changes in the tissue microenvironment following exposure to a harmful agent, and the like.

Abstract: An applicator includes a piston plate, a non-linear coil spring, a casing, a lock means and a release means. The casing includes a tubular main body part that houses therein the piston plate and the non-linear coil spring, and a cover part that is arranged on one end side of the main body part. The cover part and the piston plate sandwich the non-linear coil spring there between. The lock means locks the piston plate with the casing such that the piston plate is held at a retraction position thereof on the cover part side in a state where the cover part and the piston plate compress the non-linear coil spring. The release means releases a locked state where the piston plate is locked with the casing by the lock means and where the cover part and the piston plate compress the non-linear coil spring.

Abstract: A microneedle sheet according to an embodiment comprises a plurality of microneedles formed on a sheet substantially along a principal surface of the sheet. The sheet is bent to raise the microneedles from the principal surface, and the raised microneedles pierce a skin.

Abstract: A puncture device is a device for transferring an active ingredient into a body through a skin by piercing the skin with a microneedle. The puncture device comprises a tubular housing, a piston slidably arranged within the housing and having a main surface intersecting a sliding direction, and a nonlinear coil spring arranged within the housing and providing the piston with a biasing force. A plurality of microneedles are arranged on the main surface side.

Abstract: The current invention provides devices, methods and systems involving application of energy and/or a liquefaction promoting medium to a tissue of interest to generate a liquefied sample comprising tissue constituents so as to provide for rapid tissue sampling, tissue decontamination as well as qualitative and/or quantitative detection of analytes that may be part of tissue constituents (e.g., several types of biomolecules, drugs, and microbes). In addition, the current invention provides specific compositions of the said liquefaction promoting medium so as to facilitate liquefaction, preserve liquefied tissue constituents, and enable delivery of molecules into tissues.

Abstract: An active agent is effectively administered without giving fear to the user when the microneedles are applied. An applicator 10 includes a transmission member that transmits biasing force of a biasing member to a microneedle array including micro projections (microneedles) with a needle density of 500 needles/cm2 or more. The transmission member has a mass of 1.5 g or less, and the transmission member activated by the biasing force of the biasing member has a momentum of from 0.0083 (N·s) to 0.015 (N·s).

Abstract: An applicator comprises a transmission member, a housing guiding a reciprocation of the transmission member, and a cap covering the housing. The transmission member is provided with a stopper extending in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction thereof. An upper end of the housing is formed with a projection sliding the stopper. The inside of the cap is formed with a lead part. The stopper is slid by the lead part to an end part of the projection when the cap is pushed and thereafter disengages from the projection when the cap is further pushed, so that the transmission member transmits the biasing force of an elastic member to a microneedle. This enables the microneedle to be applied to a skin.

Abstract: Tissue solubilizing apparatuses are provided. The apparatuses may be useful to solubilize tissue, including skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue. The apparatuses may be further useful to preserve and recover analytes contained within the solubilized skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue.

Abstract: An applicator 10 for applying a microneedle to a skin includes a tubular housing 11, a piston 20 which transmits a biasing force of a spring 40 to the microneedle, fixation means (a claw receiving portion 16 and claw portions 22a) for fixing the piston 20 against the biasing force of the spring 40 in the housing 11, and a cap 30 provided near a first end of the housing 11. A projecting portion 31 for releasing the piston 20 fixed by the fixation means is provided at a surface of the cap 30 facing the piston 20. The cap 30 is provided to be freely movable in an extending direction of the housing 11 such that the projecting portion 31 can contact the fixation means when the piston 20 is fixed by the fixation means.

Abstract: Provided is a rotary encoder, including: a rotary scale, which has a predetermined pattern including continuous patterns and a rotational angle original point formed thereon with reference to a pattern center, has a polygonal outer shape, and has the rotational angle original point defined with reference to at least one side of sides of the polygonal outer shape; a hub, which includes projections for abutting the sides of the polygonal outer shape of the rotary scale and positioning the rotary scale; a rotating shaft, which is press-fitted into the hub and rotates coaxially with the pattern center of the rotary scale; and detecting units for irradiating the rotary scale with light and detecting the light reflected by the rotary scale.

Abstract: Tissue solubilizing compositions are provided. The compositions comprise 3-(decyl dimethyl ammonio) propane sulfonate and polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, such as tetraethylene glycol dodecyl ether. The compositions may be useful to solubilize tissue, including skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue. The compositions may be further useful to preserve and recover analytes contained within the solubilized skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue.

Abstract: Provided is a rotary encoder, including: a rotary scale, which has a predetermined pattern including continuous patterns and a rotational angle original point formed thereon with reference to a pattern center, has a polygonal outer shape, and has the rotational angle original point defined with reference to at least one side of sides of the polygonal outer shape; a hub, which includes projections for abutting the sides of the polygonal outer shape of the rotary scale and positioning the rotary scale; a rotating shaft, which is press-fitted into the hub and rotates coaxially with the pattern center of the rotary scale; and detecting units for irradiating the rotary scale with light and detecting the light reflected by the rotary scale.

Abstract: Tissue solubilizing compositions are provided. The compositions comprise 3-(decyl dimethyl ammonio) propane sulfonate and polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether, such as tetraethylene glycol dodecyl ether. The compositions may be useful to solubilize tissue, including skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue. The compositions may be further useful to preserve and recover analytes contained within the solubilized skin, mucosal membrane, and other tissue.