Multi-stage microporation device

1 . A thermal treatment device for forming a micropore in a barrier, comprising:

at least one micro-heater having a base end and at least one post defined therein, the post including an interior volume for housing an ablation material therein;

a power supply component operatively associated with the at least one micro-heater, the power supply component being configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate the ablation material such that the ablation material expands in response to the energy to mechanically puncture the epidermis to create a micropore in the tissue having a first depth; and

means, operatively associated with the micro-heater, for enlarging the micropore to a second depth.

2 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the enlarging means includes at least one of a chemical reaction and energy treatment which at least one of enlarges the depth of the micropore to the second depth and ablates tissue surrounding the micropore to stimulate a tissue response.

3 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the enlarging means includes further heating the ablation material to expand the ablation material in a second stage to further puncture the micropore to the second depth.

4 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the ablation material includes ethanol.

5 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one post includes a plurality of different materials each having a different thermal conductivity which activates the ablation material at different stages to increase the micropore depth at correspondingly different stages.

6 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the ablation material includes ethanol and wherein the micro-heater includes an insulator material which prevents excessive heating of the surrounding tissue during activation of the ablation material.

7 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 6 , wherein the insulator material prevents the barrier from reaching about one hundred degrees Centigrade.

8 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the first depth is about ten microns to about thirty microns, and wherein the second depth is greater than about thirty microns.

9 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier is skin, and wherein first depth is in a range of about ten microns to about thirty microns, and wherein the second depth is sufficient to extend beyond thirty microns into the viable epidermis.

10 . A thermal treatment device for forming a micropore in a barrier, comprising:

at least one micro-heater having a base end and at least one post defined therein, the post including an interior volume for housing an ablation material therein; and

a power supply component operatively associated with the at least one micro-heater, the power supply component being configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate the ablation material such that the ablation material expands in response to the energy to mechanically puncture the epidermis of the tissue to create a micropore having a first depth;

wherein the creation of the micropore disrupts-at least one cell of the epidermis of the tissue surrounding the micropore, the disruption stimulating an immune response from the tissue.

11 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 10 , wherein the creation of the micropore disrupts at least one cell of the epidermis of the tissue surrounding the micropore by displacing proteins found within the cell.

12 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 11 , wherein the proteins are heat shock proteins.

13 . The thermal treatment device of claim 10 , wherein the ablation material includes ethanol.

14 . The thermal treatment device according to claim 10 , wherein the micro-heater disrupts at least one cell of the epidermis of the tissue surrounding the micropore by imparting thermal energy into the micropore, the disruption forming an immune response.

15 . A thermal treatment device for forming a micropore in a barrier, comprising:

at least one micro-heater having a base end and at least one post defined therein, the post including an interior volume for housing a plurality of ablation materials therein;

a power supply component operatively associated with the at least one micro-heater, the power supply component being configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate a first ablation material such that the first ablation material expands in response to the energy to mechanically puncture the epidermis to create a micropore having a first depth;

means, operatively associated with the micro-heater, for supplying energy to another of the plurality of ablation materials to enlarge the micropore to at least one additional depth.

16 . The thermal member according to claim 15 wherein the enlarging means includes at least one of a chemical reaction and energy treatment which at least one of enlarges the depth of the micropore to the second depth and ablates tissue surrounding the micropore to stimulate a tissue response.

17 . The thermal member according to claim 15 wherein the enlarging means includes heating at least a second of the plurality of ablation materials to expand the at least a second ablation material to further puncture the micropore.

18 . The thermal member according to claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ablation materials includes ethanol.

19 . A method for forming a micropore in a barrier, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one micro-heater housing an ablation material disposed therein having a volume, the micro-heater adapted to connect to a power supply component configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate the ablation material;

activating the micro-heater to transfer thermal energy to the ablation material;

heating the ablation material to a predetermined temperature sufficient to rapidly increase the volume of the ablation material such that the ablation material mechanically punctures a barrier to form a micropore in tissue; and

activating at least one of the micro-heater and ablation material to implement a subsequent disruptive event, the subsequent disruptive event increasing the depth of the micropore through the barrier.

20 . A method for forming a micropore in a barrier, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one micro-heater housing an ablation material disposed therein having a volume, the micro-heater adapted to connect to a power supply component configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate the ablation material;

activating the micro-heater to transfer thermal energy to the ablation material;

heating the ablation material to a predetermined temperature sufficient to rapidly increase the volume of the ablation material, such that the ablation material mechanically punctures a barrier to form a micropore in tissue; and

activating at least one of the micro-heater and ablation material to implement a subsequent disruptive event, the subsequent disruptive event stimulating an immune response in the tissue surrounding the micropore.

21 . A method for forming a micropore in a barrier, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one micro-heater housing an ablation material disposed therein having a volume, the micro-heater adapted to connect to a power supply component configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate the ablation material;

activating the micro-heater to transfer energy to the ablation material;

heating the ablation material to a predetermined temperature sufficient to rapidly increase the volume of the ablation material to form a micropore in tissue;

introducing at least one anti-healing agent into the micropore to maintain the diffusivity of the tissue; and

activating at least one of the micro-heater and ablation material to implement a subsequent disruptive event.

22 . A method according to claim 21 wherein after the second activating step, the method further includes the step of introducing at least one anti-healing agent into the micropore to maintain the diffusivity of the tissue.

23 . A method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one anti-healing agent may be at least one of sodium chloride, calcium-based salts, anti-coagulating agents such as heparin, EDTA, citric acid, citrate salts, anti-inflammatory substances such as hydrocortisone and combination thereof.

24 . A method for forming a micropore in a barrier, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one micro-heater housing an ablation material disposed therein having a volume, the micro-heater adapted to connect to a power supply component configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate the ablation material;

activating the micro-heater to transfer energy to the ablation material;

heating the ablation material to a predetermined temperature sufficient to rapidly increase the volume of the ablation material to form a micropore in tissue;

activating at least one of the micro-heater and ablation material to implement a subsequent disruptive event; and

introducing at least one anti-healing agent into the micropore to maintain the diffusivity of the tissue.

25 . A method according to claim 24 wherein the at least one anti-healing agent may be at least one of sodium chloride, calcium-based salts, anti-coagulating agents such as heparin, EDTA, citric acid, citrate salts, anti-inflammatory substances such as hydrocortisone and combination thereof.

26 . A method for forming a micropore in a barrier, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one micro-heater housing an ablation material disposed therein having a volume, the micro-heater adapted to connect to a power supply component configured to supply energy to the micro-heater to activate the ablation material;

activating the micro-heater to transfer energy to the ablation material;

heating the ablation material to a predetermined temperature sufficient to rapidly increase the volume of the ablation material to form a micropore in tissue;

re-activating at least one of the micro-heater and ablation material to implement subsequent disruptive events to maintain the diffusivity of the tissue.