| abstract |
An expandable skin stretching device (100) includes skin engaging opposite ends (56, 57) that contact the skin (30) surface on opposite sides of an area of the skin surface having micropathways (31) therein. When the skin stretching device (100) is expanded the skin (30) between the opposite ends (56, 57) is placed under tension, i.e., stretched. The skin is placed under a tension of about 0.01 to about 10 megapascals, preferably about 0.05 to about 2 megapascals. The skin stretching can be uni-directional or multi-directional. Alternative embodiments of skin stretching devices (101, 102, 103, 104, 105) use suction or normal force to stretch the skin (30). Stretching the skin (30) helps keep the micropathways (31) open for enhanced agent (e.g., drug) delivery through the micropathways (31). The stretching also delays micropathway (31) closure. |