title: Development of a three-microneedle device for hypodermic drug delivery and clinical application.
abstract: There is a potential use for intradermic or hypodermic drug delivery in skin surgery or aesthetic surgery. Hypodermic delivery with the use of a noninvasive device can be a more useful, reliable, and effective administration route to obtain higher compliance. The authors developed a microneedle device composed of three fine needles (three-microneedle device). The tip of each needle was fabricated with a bevel angle to release a drug broadly into the tissue in a horizontal fashion. In this study, the authors investigated the usefulness of this newly developed three-microneedle device for hypodermic liquid injection, focusing on the optimum insertion depth and the diffusion of injected materials to the tissue. The authors also assessed the efficacy of and patient satisfaction with three-microneedle device injections of botulinum toxin type A for wrinkle reduction in patients with glabellar rhytides. The three-microneedle device yielded consistent results in hypodermal diffusion. On India ink diffusion test and ultrasonographic imaging, three-microneedle device injection showed a broad diffusion in horizontal extension, as compared with usual 31-gauge needle injection. The efficiency and satisfaction of the patients receiving botulinum toxin type A with the three-microneedle device were highly rated. Three-microneedle device delivery enables accurate and broad diffusion of injected substances, thus reducing the total dose and/or injection number of drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, IV.
authors: Hamamatsu, Japan From the Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine.
authors: Hidekazu
authors: H
authors: Fukamizu
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Fujiwara
authors: Taishi
authors: T
authors: Kim
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Matsushita
authors: Yoshiki
authors: Y
authors: Tokura
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000295:instrumentation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015595:Skin Aging
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A