KR101785287B1 - Microneedle electrode patch and fabrication method of the microneedle electrode patch - Google Patents

Abstract

In the microneedle electrode patch of the present invention and the method of manufacturing the same, the microneedle electrode patch of the present invention includes a patch layer having a plurality of microneedles formed on one surface thereof, A through electrode disposed on one side of the patch layer and electrically connected to the conductive penetration unit and disposed on an opposite surface of the patch layer to one side of the patch electrode; And a metal layer which is in contact with the conductive penetrating portion and connected to electrically communicate with the electrode portion through the conductive penetrating portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a micro needle electrode patch,

The present invention relates to a micro needle electrode patch and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a micro needle electrode patch including a through electrode and a manufacturing method thereof.

The medical electrode is generally a device for sensing a human body signal or stimulating a human body, and may be a converter for converting a biological signal into an electrical signal. Such a medical electrode can be broadly divided into a non-invasive electrode and an invasive electrode. The non-invasive electrode is an electrode capable of measuring an extracorporeal bio-signal by adhering it to the skin without penetrating the electrode, because the adhesive is formed on the electrode surface together with the sponge carrying the electrolyte solution or the electrolyte solution. An invasive electrode is an electrode that invades a needle skin, and a needle-shaped electrode penetrates the skin to measure a biological signal in the body. The invasive electrode has an advantage of measuring a more precise living body signal as compared with a non-invasive electrode.

However, in the case of an invasive electrode, it is possible to measure the biological signal more precisely than the non-invasive electrode, but the convenience is poor and the patient has to suffer pain. In addition, when electrical stimulation is added using a conventional abdominal electrode, if the area of contact with the skin is small, the resistance is reduced and the patient suffered a severe pain. Therefore, there is a need to develop an invasive electrode capable of efficiently measuring a biological signal or adding electrical stimulation while generating a low level of pain.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a micro needle electrode patch capable of efficiently measuring a biological signal or adding electrical stimulation to a low level of pain and tissue damage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the micro needle electrode patch.

A microneedle electrode patch for an object of the present invention includes a patch layer having a plurality of microneedles formed on one surface thereof, a conductive penetrating portion disposed on the one surface of the patch layer through the patch layer and disposed with the microneedles, And a conductive layer formed on one side of the patch layer and in contact with the micro needle and the conductive penetration part, And a metal layer connected to the electrode portion through the penetrating portion so as to be in electrical communication with the electrode portion.

In one embodiment, the micro needle electrode patch may be for bioelectrical potential measurement or bioelectrical stimulation.

At this time, the living body potential may include at least one of ECG, Electrocardiogram, EMG, Electroencephalogram (EEG), and Electrogenogram (ENG).

In one embodiment, the conductive penetration may be needle-shaped.

At this time, the protruding height of the conductive penetrating portion penetrating through the patch layer may be less than the protruding height of the micro needle at one side of the patch layer.

In one embodiment, the metal layer is formed on one side of the patch layer, and may cover the entirety of a plurality of micro needles formed on one side of the patch layer and a conductive penetration surface through the patch layer.

At this time, the metal layer may be formed of at least one of gold, silver, platinum, and titanium.

In one embodiment, the patch layer may be formed of a polymeric compound.

In one embodiment, the penetrating electrode may be formed of a metal containing at least one of gold, silver, platinum, and titanium.

In one embodiment, the penetrating electrode further includes a flat portion formed between the conductive penetrating portion and the electrode portion, and the flat portion can contact the opposite surface of the patch layer where the electrode portion is disposed.

At this time, the area of the flat portion may be wider than the through hole area of the patch layer through the conductive penetrating portion.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a penetrating electrode including a conductive penetrating portion and an electrode portion connected to the conductive penetrating portion into a patch layer having a plurality of micro- And forming a metal layer on one side of the patch layer having the electrode inserted thereon so as to contact the micro needle and the conductive penetration portion.

In one embodiment, the step of inserting the penetrating electrode may include inserting the penetrating electrode toward the one surface from the opposite surface of the patch layer, the penetrating electrode penetrating the patch layer, And the electrode portion of the penetrating electrode may be disposed on the opposite surface of the one surface.

In one embodiment, the method of fabricating the microneedle electrode patch further comprises forming a patch layer having a plurality of microneedles formed on one side thereof before inserting the penetrating electrode, And a polymer compound is added to a mold including an engraved pattern having the same shape as that of the mold.

The step of inserting the penetrating electrode may include inserting the penetrating electrode in a state where the patch layer is not cured, curing the uncured patch layer into which the penetrating electrode is inserted, And removing the inserted patch layer from the mold.

According to the microneedle electrode patch of the present invention and the manufacturing method thereof, it is possible to provide a microneedle electrode patch with improved limitations of the irrigation type electrode and the non-invasive type electrode. The microneedle electrode patch of the present invention includes a plurality of microneedles, which can cause a low level of pain and tissue damage due to the minimal invasion through the stratum corneum of the skin with a wider contact area. In addition, the micro needle electrode patch of the present invention can precisely and efficiently measure biological signals or add electrical stimulation and can be used easily.

1 is a view for explaining a micro needle electrode patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view for explaining a method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic view illustrating a method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is capable of various modifications and various forms, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the term "comprises" or "having ", etc. is intended to specify that there is a feature, step, operation, element, part or combination thereof described in the specification, , &Quot; an ", " an ", " an "

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the contextual meaning of the related art and are to be interpreted as either ideal or overly formal in the sense of the present application Do not.

1 is a view for explaining a micro needle electrode patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, the micro needle electrode patch 100 of the present invention includes a patch layer 110, a penetrating electrode 120 penetrating the patch layer 110, and a patch layer (not shown) through which the penetrating electrode 120 penetrates 110). ≪ / RTI >

The patch layer 110 includes a plurality of micro needles 112 formed on one side 114 thereof. The micro needles are in the form of micro-sized needles, and the micro needles 112 may be regularly arranged at regular intervals on one side 114 of the patch layer. Alternatively, the micro needles 112 may be arranged at irregular intervals. The spacing between the micro needles 112 may vary.

When the micro needle electrode patch 100 is applied to the skin, the patch layer side 114 on which a plurality of micro needles 112 are formed can be a surface that is substantially in contact with the skin, and the micro needles 112 can invade the skin have. When the micro needles 112 are infiltrated into the skin, micro-sized micro needles 112 may pass through the skin layer, resulting in very low levels of pain and tissue damage. In addition, the inventive microneedle electrode patch 100 comprising a plurality of microneedles 112 may cause less pain than an electrode composed of a single microneedle. Specifically, when the plurality of micro needles 112 are in contact with the skin, the contact area is widened as compared with the case where the single needle contacts, thereby increasing the surface resistance. Therefore, when the same voltage is applied, a small current can be flowed, and therefore lower levels of pain can be generated.

In addition, the patch layer 110 of the micro needle electrode patch 100 of the present invention may be formed of a material capable of exhibiting flexibility, so that the patch layer 110 is brought into close contact with the irregular surface of the skin The shape can be flexibly deformed and attached to the skin.

For example, the patch layer 110 may be formed of a biocompatible polymer compound, and examples of the polymer compound include polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polymethylmethaarylate (PMMA), polymethylacrylate Polyethylacrylate, polyethylmethacrylate, polyhexyl methacrylate, polybutenes, and the like can be given as examples.

The penetrating electrode 120 is an electrode penetrating the patch layer 110 and includes a conductive penetration portion 122 disposed on one side 114 of the patch layer through the patch layer 110 and with the micro needles 112, And an electrode portion 124 connected in electrical communication with the conductive penetration portion 122 and disposed on the opposite surface 116 of the patch layer one surface 114 opposite. In this case, the conductivity may mean the electrical conductivity (conductivity), that is, the conductivity of electricity, and the electrical connection may be physically connected so as to electrically communicate with each other.

The conductive perforations 122 may be needle-shaped and may, for example, be in the form of micro-needles having substantially the same shape as the micro needle 112 of the patch layer 110. The perforated conductive perforations 122 may have a degree of protrusion through the patch layer 110 that is equal to a degree of protrusion of the micro needle 112 of the patch layer 110. Alternatively, it may be lower than the projected degree of the micro needle 112. That is, the protrusion height may be the same or lower. The protrusion height may mean the distance from one side 114 of the patch layer to the tip of the micro needle 112 and the penetrating conductive penetration 122.

The penetrating electrode 120 may further include a flat portion 126 formed between the conductive penetrating portion 122 and the electrode portion 124 and the flat portion 126 may include a patch layer As shown in FIG. The area of the flat portion 126 may be wider than the penetration area of the conductive penetration portion 122 and the penetration area may mean the area of the lower end portion of the conductive penetration portion 122 connected to the flat portion 126. That is, it may mean the through hole area of the patch layer 110 through which the conductive penetrating portion 122 penetrates.

Although the electrode portion 124 is shown as a sphere in FIG. 1, it may be in the form of various types of electrodes generally used. Although the electrode unit 124 and the flat part 126 have been described above, the electrode unit 124 may include the flat part 126. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the electrode unit 124 may be connected to a device capable of converting or displaying a biological signal measured and transferred by the micro needle electrode patch 100.

The conductive penetrating portion 122, the flat portion 126 and the electrode portion 124 of the penetrating electrode 120 may be integrated and may be formed of a metal including at least one of gold, silver, platinum, and titanium . In addition, the electrode unit 124 of the penetrating electrode 120 may be connected to a signal conversion / display device, and may be constituted by a bio-signal measuring device or a bioelectrical stimulating device.

The metal layer 130 is formed on one side 114 of the patch layer and is in contact with the micro needles 112 and the conductive penetrating portion 122 and electrically communicates with the electrode portion 124 through the conductive penetrating portion 122. [ . The metal layer 130 may be formed of a biocompatible metal such as gold, silver, platinum, titanium, or the like. In one example, the metal layer 130 is formed on one side 114 of the patch layer and may cover a portion or the entire surface of the conductive penetrations 122 and the micro-needles 112. Since the metal layer 130 covers the patch layer one surface 114, the micro needle 112 formed on the patch layer one surface 114 and the conductive penetration portion 122 penetrating the patch layer one surface 114, And through electrical communication with the patch layer 110, the conductive perforations 122 and the micro needles 112, it is possible to measure / deliver bio-signals with excellent efficiency or to add electrical stimulation.

The micro needle electrode patch 100 of the present invention may be an electrode patch for bio-signal measurement or a bioelectrical stimulation that can be used in various fields such as a medical environment. Biological signals can mean electrical activity such as peculiar voltage or current generated by the activities of various organs in the living body. The bio-signal may be bioelectrical (biopotential), and the bio-potential may be an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyogram (EMG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), an electroenceogram (ENG) or the like.

When the noninvasive electrode is applied to the skin, the skin becomes a barrier of the measurement of the living body signal, and it is difficult to measure the living body signal accurately. However, when applied to the skin, the micro needle electrode patch 100 of the present invention passes through only the stratum corneum of the skin through the micro needles 112 including the metal layer 130 and the conductive penetration portion 122, So that the biological signal can be measured / transmitted with high sensitivity or electric stimulation can be added. In addition, since only the stratum corneum of the skin is minimally invaded, very low level of skin damage and pain can be caused, thereby preventing secondary infection due to skin damage. In addition, since the micro needle electrode patch 100 of the present invention includes a plurality of micro needles as described above, it can generate less pain than an electrode composed of a single micro needle. Accordingly, the micro needle electrode patch 100 according to the present invention minimizes pain and can precisely measure / transmit bio-signals with low level of pain or electrically stimulate a living body.

In general, the micro needle electrode patch 100 of the present invention can minimize damage and pain of the skin tissue, can measure a biological signal with high sensitivity and can add electrical stimulation, and can be used in various fields such as medical electrodes .

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining a method of manufacturing a through type electrode patch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 (a) is a schematic view for explaining the process of forming the patch layer 110, and FIG. 3 (b) is a schematic view for explaining the process of inserting the penetrating electrode 120. (c) is a schematic view for explaining the process of forming the patch layer 110 in which the penetrating electrode 120 is inserted, and (d) is a schematic view for explaining a process of metal coating the patch layer 114 .

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 (a) to 3 (d), in order to fabricate the micro needle electrode patch 100, a conductive penetration portion 122 is formed in the patch layer 110 having a plurality of micro- And the electrode portion 124 connected to the conductive penetration portion 122 (Step S210).

The penetrating electrode 120 is formed by inserting the penetrating electrode 120 toward the one surface 114 from the opposite surface 116 of one side of the patch layer so that the conductive penetrating portion 122 penetrates the patch layer 110, The electrode portion 124 of the penetrating electrode 122 may be disposed on the opposite surface 116. In this case,

The patch layer 110 may further include a step of preparing a patch layer 110 having a plurality of micro needles 112 formed on one surface thereof before inserting the penetrating electrode 120, A polymer compound may be added to a mold including an engraved pattern having the same shape as that of the mold 112.

At this time, the penetrating electrode 120 can be inserted while the patch layer 110 is uncured. The uncured state may mean a state that is not completely cured, and a state that is partially cured. For example, in the case of inserting the penetrating electrode 120 in the uncured state, the step of curing the patch layer 110 in which the penetrating electrode 120 is inserted and the step of curing the micropattern layer And removing the mold from the mold.

The patch layer 110 and the penetrating electrode 120 are substantially the same as those described above with reference to FIG. 1, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 (d), on one surface 114 of the patch layer having the penetrating electrode 120 inserted thereon, the metal layer 112 is formed in contact with the micro needle 112 and the conductive penetrating portion 122, (Step S220).

Since the metal layer 130 is substantially the same as that described with reference to FIG. 1, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described.

The metal layer 130 may cover the patch layer one side 114 including the conductive penetrations 122 and the micro needles 112 or may otherwise cover a portion. The metal layer 130 may be formed by depositing a metal material. For example, silver may be sputtered to form on the patch layer side 114, including the micro-needles 112 and the conductive penetrations 122. The formed metal layer 130 is in contact with the conductive penetrating portion 122 and can transmit bioelectric potential information through the electrode portion 124 electrically connected to the conductive penetrating portion 122 in an electrically conductive manner, have.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. It can be understood that it is possible.

100: Micro needle electrode patch
110: patch layer
112: Micro needle
114: one side of the patch layer
116: opposite side of the patch layer
120: penetrating electrode
122: conductive penetration
124:
126:
130: metal layer

Claims (15)

A patch layer formed of a polymer compound and having flexibility, the patch layer having a plurality of micro-needles formed on one surface thereof;
A microneedle type conductive penetrating part which is disposed on the one side of the patch layer through the patch layer and which is disposed together with the micro needles and an electrode part which is connected to the conductive penetrating part so as to be electrically communicated and disposed on the opposite surface of the patch layer A penetrating electrode; And
And a metal layer formed on one side of the patch layer and contacting the microneedles and the conductive penetrating portion and connected to electrically communicate with the electrode portion through the conductive penetrating portion.
Micro needle electrode patch.
The method according to claim 1,
Which is characterized in that it is for bioelectronic potential measurement or bioelectrical stimulation.
Micro needle electrode patch.
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the living body potential includes at least one of an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electromyogram (EMG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), and an electrogram (ENG)
Micro needle electrode patch.
delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the protruding height of the conductive penetrating portion penetrating through the patch layer is not more than the protruding height of the micro needle at one side of the patch layer.
Micro needle electrode patch.
The method according to claim 1,
The metal layer is formed on one side of the patch layer,
And a plurality of micro needles formed on one side of the patch layer and a surface of a conductive penetration portion penetrating the patch layer.
Micro needle electrode patch.
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the metal layer is formed of at least one of gold, silver, platinum, and titanium.
Micro needle electrode patch.
delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the penetrating electrode is formed of a metal containing at least one of gold, silver, platinum, and titanium.
Micro needle electrode patch.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the penetrating electrode further includes a flat portion formed between the conductive penetrating portion and the electrode portion,
Wherein the flat portion is in contact with an opposite surface of the patch layer on which the electrode portion is disposed.
Micro needle electrode patch.
11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein an area of the flat portion is larger than a through hole area of the patch layer through the conductive penetrating portion.
Micro needle electrode patch.
Inserting a penetrating electrode including a microneedle type conductive penetrating portion and an electrode portion connected to the conductive penetrating portion into a patch layer formed of a polymer compound and having a plurality of micro-needles on one side having flexibility; And
And forming a metal layer on one side of the patch layer having the penetrating electrode inserted therein so as to contact the micro needle and the conductive penetrating portion.
Method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch.
13. The method of claim 12,
The step of inserting the penetrating electrode
The penetrating electrode is inserted toward the one surface from the opposite surface of the patch layer so that the conductive penetrating portion penetrates the patch layer and is disposed on one side of the patch layer together with the micro needles, Characterized in that the electrode portion is disposed on the opposite side of the one surface.
Method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch.
13. The method of claim 12,
Before the penetrating electrode is inserted,
Further comprising forming a patch layer having a plurality of micro-needles formed on the one surface,
Wherein the patch layer is formed by adding a polymer compound to a mold including an engraved pattern having the same shape as the microneedles.
Method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch.
15. The method of claim 14,
The step of inserting the penetrating electrode
The penetrating electrode is inserted in the uncured state of the patch layer,
Curing the uncured patch layer into which the penetrating electrode is inserted; And
Further comprising the step of removing the patch layer having the cured through-hole electrode inserted thereinto from the mold,
Method of manufacturing a micro needle electrode patch.

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