| abstract |
An apparatus and method are provided for selectively applying an agent-containing liquid coating to extremely tiny skin piercing microprojections ( 10 ). The coating solution is applied to the skin piercing microprojections ( 10 ) using a coating technique which selectively coats only the skin piercing microprojections ( 10 ) and not the substrate ( 12 ) from which the microprojections ( 10 ) extend, and then dried. The coating method includes providing an agent-containing coating liquid and conveying the liquid to a liquid holding surface having a coating transfer region. The depth of the coating liquid at the coating transfer region is precisely controlled. The microprojections are then immersed to a predetermined level in the coating liquid. The liquid that coats the microprojections ( 10 ) is then dried to form a solid agent-containing coating on the microprojections ( 10 ). |