Drug delivery device including pump with floating microneedle assembly
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques, processes, devices or systems including a floating microneedle assembly decoupled from the device and protected by a pump housing. In one approach, a wearable drug delivery device may include a pump housing including a base attachable to a user, and a microneedle assembly coupled to a cannula. The microneedle assembly may be operable to deliver a liquid drug to the user, wherein the microneedle assembly comprises a carrier positioned proximate an opening of the base, and wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of microneedles operable to extend through the opening of the base to penetrate a skin of the user.
1 . A microneedle assembly of a wearable drug delivery device, the microneedle assembly comprising:
a carrier coupled to a cannula;
a microneedle housing surrounding the carrier and comprising a snap-fit tab operable to engage the carrier to maintain a position of the carrier relative to a user, wherein the microneedle housing and the carrier are decoupled from one another, wherein in a deployed configuration the microneedle housing constrains the carrier only in a direction away from the user and provides lateral clearance within a recess to reduce transfer of upward and lateral forces from the housing to the carrier; and
a plurality of microneedles extending from the carrier, the plurality of microneedles operable to:
receive a liquid drug from the cannula; and
penetrate a skin of the user to deliver the liquid drug to the user when the carrier is biased relative to the microneedle housing.
2 . The microneedle assembly of claim 1 , the carrier further comprising an internal chamber fluidly connected with the plurality of microneedles, wherein the cannula terminates within the internal chamber.
3 . The microneedle assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of microneedles includes a fluid conduit for delivering the liquid drug from the internal chamber to the user.
4 . The microneedle assembly of claim 2 , the carrier further comprising an inner side opposite an outer side, wherein the plurality of microneedles extends from the outer side.
5 . The microneedle assembly of claim 4 , further comprising an adhesive along the outer side of the carrier.
6 . The microneedle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid barrier coupled to the carrier.
7 . The wearable drug delivery device of claim 1 , the microneedle assembly further comprising a biasing device coupled to the carrier, the biasing device operable to move the carrier between a retraction position and an insertion position.