Method and System for Producing Microstructures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024058995-A1
Application number	US-202218271756-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2022
Priority date	Jan 12, 2021
Publication date	Feb 22, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing microstructures, the method including providing a planar mold element, which includes at least one mold opening for the microstructure to be produced, wherein the at least one mold opening has a first opening and a second opening; providing a first formulation at the second opening; generating a negative pressure in the mold opening; and taking up the first formulation through the second opening into the mold opening on account of the negative pressure in the mold opening. The invention further relates to a system for producing microstructures.

First claim

1 . A method for producing microstructures, in particular microarrays, the method comprising the following steps:
providing a planar mold element, which comprises at least one mold opening for the microstructure to be produced, the at least one mold opening having a first opening and a second opening which, in particular, is located opposite the first opening; providing a first formulation at the second opening, said formulation preferably containing an active ingredient; generating a negative pressure in the mold opening; and taking up the first formulation through the second opening into the mold opening on account of the negative pressure in the mold opening.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising the step of: expanding a volume of the mold opening to generate the negative pressure in the mold opening.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising by a further step prior to the step of generating the negative pressure in the mold opening in particular prior to the expansion of the volume of the mold opening: reducing the volume of the mold opening.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , comprising by a compression, in particular a pressing and/or bending, of the mold element to reduce the volume of the mold opening.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the compression of the mold element is performed using at least one roll, preferably two rolls arranged on either side of the mold element.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising a further step, preferably prior to the step of generating the negative pressure in the mold opening, particularly preferred prior to the expansion of the volume:
arranging an auxiliary element, in particular comprising an auxiliary film, on a side of the mold element having the first opening.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising a further step, preferably prior to the step of generating the negative pressure in the mold opening, particularly preferred prior to the compression of the mold element: closing the first opening of the mold opening, preferably by means of the auxiliary element.

8 . The method according to claim 6 , comprising a further step after the taking-up of the first formulation into the first mold opening:
removing, in particular pulling off the auxiliary element preferably from the mold element.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one mold opening is cylindrical or conical, preferably with a round, triangular or quadrangular, particularly preferred square cross section.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mold element comprises, in particular consists of a film.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mold element comprises is compressible, in particular elastically compressible.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising further steps after the taking-up of the first formulation:
providing a second formulation at the first opening, said second formulation preferably being free of an active ingredient; and taking up the second formulation into the mold opening through the first opening, the second formulation preferably bonding with the first formulation.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein providing the first formulation is performed using a first formulation element preferably designed as a film, the first formulation element comprising the first formulation; and/or
that providing the second formulation is performed using a second formulation element preferably designed as a film, the second formulation element comprising the second formulation.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising a further step: Demolding the first formulation, which has at least partially solidified to form a microstructure, and preferably the second formulation at the first opening of the mold opening.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein
the demolding is performed using a cover element preferably comprising a cover film, which cover element is in particular substance-bonded with the formulation; and/or the demolding is performed by removing, in particular pulling off the mold element.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising a further step: packaging the demolded microstructure using, in particular, a blister element preferably comprising a blister film.

17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed using a system.

18 . A system for producing microstructures, in particular for executing a method according to claim 1 , comprising
a compressible mold element comprising at least one mold opening for the microstructure to be produced, and a compression device preferably comprising at least one roll, the compression device being configured to compress the mold element.

19 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein the compression device comprises two opposite rolls, the rolls being arranged such that the mold element can be compressed between the rolls.

Assignees

• Lts Lohmann Therapie Systeme Ag

Inventors

• Kulik Michael
• Grünwald Olga
• Roos Philip
• Tissin Nikolaj

Classifications

• B29C2791/006

  Using vacuum · CPC title

• B29C39/42

  Casting under special conditions, e.g. vacuum · CPC title

• B29C39/24

  Feeding the material into the mould · CPC title

• B29C43/56 Primary

  Compression moulding under special conditions, e.g. vacuum · CPC title

• B29C43/46

  Rollers · CPC title