Methods of administering an active agent to a human barrier membrane with galvanic generated electricity

• US 20050004509A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sun, Ying, Liu, Jue-Chen, Wu, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

The present invention features a method of administering an active agent to a human barrier membrane by applying to the membrane a device including a housing having the barrier membrane contacting surface, a first conductive electrode, a second conductive electrode, and a carrier containing the active agent; wherein the first conductive electrode is in electric communication with the second conductive electrode, wherein the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode are in ionic communication with the carrier, and wherein the carrier is in communication with the barrier membrane through the barrier membrane contacting surface, wherein the difference of the standard potentials of the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode is at least 0.2 V and wherein the electrons that pass between the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode are generated as a result of such difference of the standard potentials.

Claims

1. A method of administering an active agent to a human barrier membrane, said method comprising applying to said membrane a device comprising:

a housing comprising said barrier membrane contacting surface;

a first conductive electrode;

a second conductive electrode; and

a carrier comprising an active agent;

wherein said first conductive electrode is in electric communication with said second conductive electrode,

wherein said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are in ionic communication with said carrier, and wherein said carrier is in communication with said barrier membrane through said barrier membrane contacting surface, wherein the difference of the standard potentials of said first conductive electrode and wherein the electrons that pass between said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are generated as a result of said difference of the standard potentials.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein said first conductive electrode is a perforated metal sheet.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein said second conductive electrode is affixed to said perforated metal sheet.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc.

5. A method of claim 2, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc.

6. A method of claim 3, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein said housing is a non-woven substrate.

8. A method of claim 6, wherein said housing is a non-woven substrate.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein carrier is added to said device by the user prior to application to said barrier membrane.

10. A method of claim 8, wherein carrier is added to said device by the user prior to application to said barrier membrane.

11. A method of administering an active agent to a human barrier membrane, said method comprises topically applying a composition to said barrier membrane, said composition comprising said active agent, a first conductive electrode in the form of a particulate and a second conductive electrode in the form of a particulate, wherein the difference of the standard potentials of said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode is at least 0.2 V.

12. A method of claim 11, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc and said second conductive electrode comprises silver.

13. A method of claim 11, wherein prior to application, said first conductive electrode is stored separately from said composition.

14. A method of claim 12, wherein prior to application, said first conductive electrode is stored separately from said composition.

15. A method of claim 11, wherein said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode on the same particulate.

16. A method of claim 12, wherein said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode on the same particulate.

17. A method of claim 11, wherein said particulates have an average particle size of from about 1 micrometer to about 2 centimeters.

18. A method of claim 12, wherein said particulates have an average particle size of from about 1 micrometer to about 2 centimeters.

19. A method of claim 14, wherein said particulates have an average particle size of from about 1 micrometer to about 2 centimeters.

20. A method of claim 16, wherein said particulates have an average particle size of from about 1 micrometer to about 2 centimeters.