SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR POWERING AND/OR CONTROLLING DEVICES, FOR INSTANCE TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY DEVICES

• US 20080154178A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TTI Ellebeau, Inc. (Ease Asset Management Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Transcutaneous Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Carter, Darrick, Seitz, Forrest, Thorne, James, Hoyt, Joshua K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0444 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/216 adapted for button or coin cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for powering and/or controlling electrically powered devices. A power supply system is operable to provide a voltage across at the active and the counter electrode assemblies of a transdermal delivery device. The system includes a power source and a magnetic coupling element.

Claims

1. A portable power supply system to provide power to an electrically powered device, the portable power supply system comprising:

a power source; and

a first magnetic coupling element coupled to the power source and that is magnetically-releasably attachable to the electrically powered device such that the power source is operable to provide electrical power to power the electrically powered device in response to the portable power supply system being magnetically coupled to the electrically powered device by the first magnetic coupling element.

2. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the first magnetic coupling element takes the form of at least one ferrous metal element.

3. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the first magnetic coupling element takes the form of at least one permanent magnet.

4. The portable power supply system of claim 3 wherein the at least one permanent magnet is at least one of a high-energy flexible magnet, a neodymium magnet, a ceramic magnet, a samarium cobalt magnet, or an alnico magnet.

5. The portable power supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control circuit electrically coupled to receive a current from the power source.

6. The portable power supply system of claim 5 wherein the control circuit is configured to automatically close in response to the portable power supply system being releasably attached to the electrically powered device.

7. The portable power supply system of claim 5 wherein the control circuit is operable to detect a power source polarity and provide a charge of a proper polarity to respective ones of a positive electrical contact and a negative electrical contact of the electrically powered device, in response to the portable power supply system being releasably attached to the electrically powered device.

8. The portable power supply system of claim 5 wherein the control circuit takes the form of a programmable control circuit operable to provide at least a first current profile.

9. The portable power supply system of claim 5 wherein the control circuit takes the form of a printed circuit on a substrate having at least a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the first side having at least two electrical paths for proving electrical communication between the power source adjacent to the first side and at least two conductive paths on the second side, the at least two conductive paths on the second side configured to provide electrical communication between the portable power supply system and the respective positive and negative electrical contacts of the electrically powered device.

10. The portable power supply system of claim 9 wherein the at least two conductive paths take the form of at least two conductive traces forming a generally concentric geometric pattern.

11. The portable power supply system of claim 1 further comprising:

a first electrical contact electrically coupleable to a first pole of the power source; and

a second electrical contact electrically coupleable to a second pole of the power source, where the first and the second electrical contacts are positioned to make electrical contact with a set of contacts on the electrically powered device in response to the portable power supply system being magnetically coupled to the electrically powered device via the first magnetic coupling element.

12. The portable power supply system of claim 11 wherein the first electrical contact is concentrically aligned with respect to the second electrical contact.

13. The portable power supply system of claim 12 wherein the first electrical contact is at least a portion of a circular conductive trace and the second electrical contact is at least a portion of a circular conductive trace.

14. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the first magnetic coupling element is electrically conductive and electrically coupled to a first pole of the power source.

15. The portable power supply system of claim 14, further comprising:

a second magnetic coupling element physically coupled to the power source, wherein the second magnetic coupling element is electrically conductive and electrically coupled to a second pole of the power source.

16. The portable power supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second magnetic coupling element physically coupled to the power source, the second magnetic coupling element configured to releasably retain the portable power supply system in a correct electrical polarity with respect to the electrically powered device.

17. The portable power supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second magnetic coupling element physically coupled to the power source, the second magnetic coupling element having a magnetic polarity opposite a magnetic polarity of the first magnetic coupling element.

18. The portable power supply system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one inductor electrically coupled to the power source and operable to inductively transfer power from the power source to the electrically powered device in response to the portable power supply system being magnetically coupled to the electrically powered device by the first magnetic coupling element.

19. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises at least one of a chemical battery cell, an ultra-capacitor, or a fuel.

20. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises at least one of a primary cell or a secondary cell.

21. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises at least one of a button cell, a coin cell, an alkaline cell, a lithium cell, a lithium ion cell, a zinc air cell, or a nickel metal hydride cell.

22. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises at least one of a printed battery, an energy cell laminate, a thin-film battery, or a power paper.

23. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the portable power supply system has a largest dimension of less than about 25 mm, and a smallest dimension of less than about 10 mm.

24. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the portable power supply system has an aspect ratio ranging from about 2:

1 to about 13;

1.

25. The portable power supply system of claim 1 wherein the electrically powered device is an iontophoretic delivery device.

26. A transdermal delivery device, comprising:

a substrate;

a counter electrode assembly carried by the substrate, the counter electrode assembly including at least one counter electrode element;

an active electrode assembly carried by the substrate, the active electrode assembly including at least one active agent reservoir and at least one active electrode element operable to provide an electromotive force to drive an active agent from the at least one active agent reservoir to a biological interface of a subject;

a power supply;

at least a first magnetic interconnect element that magnetically-releasably couples the power supply to the substrate; and

a control circuit electrically coupled to provide a voltage across the counter and the active electrode elements from a power source carried by the power supply during at least a portion of a period when the power supply is magnetically-releasably coupled to the substrate.

27. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the control circuit includes a switch selectively operable to control a supply of current to at least one of the counter and the active electrode elements from the power source when the power supply is magnetically-releasably attached to the substrate.

28. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the control circuit provides the voltage across the counter and the active electrode elements in response to the power supply being magnetically-releasably coupled to the substrate.

29. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the first magnetic interconnect element releasably attaches the power supply to a negative electrical contact and a positive electrical contact carried by the substrate in a correct electrical polarity.

30. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the first magnetic interconnect element is electrically coupled to one pole of the power supply and forms an electrical contact.

31. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the first magnetic interconnect element comprises at least a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace in the form of at least a first and a second geometric shape, and the negative and the positive electrical contacts on the transdermal delivery device comprise at least a third conductive trace and a fourth conductive trace, respectively, in the form of at least a third and a fourth geometric shape.

32. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26, further comprising:

a positive electrical contact carried on an exterior of the power supply;

a negative electrical contact carried on the exterior of the power supply;

a positive electrical contact carried on an exterior of the substrate; and

a negative electrical contact carried on an exterior of the substrate;

wherein the positive and the negative electrical contacts of the power supply are positioned with respect to one another such that the positive electrical contact of the power supply cannot contact the negative electrical contact of the substrate if the negative electrical contact of the power supply is in contact with the positive electrical contact of the substrate and such that the negative electrical contact of the power supply cannot contact the positive electrical contact of the substrate if the positive electrical contact of the power supply is in contact with the negative electrical contact of the substrate.

33. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26, further comprising:

a first electrical contact of the power supply;

a second electrical contact of the power supply, the second electrical contact concentrically positioned with respect to the first electrical contact.

34. The transdermal delivery device of claim 33 wherein the first electrical contact is annular.

35. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26, further comprising:

a positive electrical contact carried on an exterior of the power supply;

a negative electrical contact carried on the exterior of the power supply;

a positive electrical contact carried on an exterior of the substrate;

an alignment structure carried by the power supply; and

an alignment structure carried by the substrate;

wherein the alignment structure carried by the power supply physically engages the alignment structure carried by the substrate such that the positive electrical contact of the power supply cannot contact the negative electrical contact of the substrate if the negative electrical contact of the power supply is in contact with the positive electrical contact of the substrate and such that the negative electrical contact of the power supply cannot contact the positive electrical contact of the substrate if the positive electrical contact of the power supply is in contact with the negative electrical contact of the substrate.

36. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the control circuit takes the form of a programmable control circuit operable to provide at least a first active agent delivery profile.

37. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the control circuit takes the form of a programmable control circuit operable to provide at least one active agent delivery profile associated with a control delivery or a sustain delivery of the active agent.

38. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the power source is operable to provide a current ranging from about 10 mA·

min to about 80 mA·

min for a period ranging from about 1 min to about 24 hrs.

39. The transdermal delivery device of claim 26 wherein the substrate forms a housing.

40. An encapsulated battery assembly for powering a transdermal delivery device, the encapsulated battery assembly comprising:

a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface defining an isolated space;

a power source received in the isolated space of the housing;

means for transferring power to at least one electrode of the transdermal delivery device from the power source when the encapsulated battery assembly is releasably coupled to the transdermal delivery device; and

a control circuit received in the isolated space of the housing and operable to control a voltage and a current of the power delivered to the at least one electrode assembly of the transdermal delivery device.

41. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40 wherein the means for transferring power includes at least two electrical paths on the exterior surface of the housing to provide electrical communication between the power source and the at least one electrode of the transdermal delivery device when the encapsulated battery assembly is releasably coupled to the transdermal delivery device.

42. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40 wherein the means for transferring power includes an inverter to provide an alternating current and at least one primary winding coupled to receive the alternating current and positioned to induce a current flow in a secondary winding of the transdermal delivery device when the encapsulated battery assembly is releasably coupled to the transdermal delivery device.

43. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40, further comprising:

a magnetic coupler in the form of a permanent magnet to releasably-magnetically couple the encapsulated battery assembly to the transdermal delivery device.

44. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40, further comprising:

a magnetic coupler in the form of a ferrous metal element to magnetically couple the encapsulated battery assembly to the transdermal delivery device.

45. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40 wherein the circuit comprises a programmable circuit.

46. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40 wherein the circuit comprises an inductively programmable circuit.

47. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40 wherein the circuit comprises an integrated circuit.

48. The encapsulated battery assembly of claim 40 wherein the circuit is operable to vary a current provided to the transdermal delivery device according to a delivery profile associated with an active agent.

49. An iontophoretic drug delivery system for providing transdermal delivery of one or more active agents to a biological interface of a subject, comprising:

a counter electrode assembly;

an active electrode assembly including at least one active agent reservoir, the active electrode assembly operable to provide an electromotive force to drive at least some of the at least one active agent from the at least one active reservoir to the biological interface;

a flexible circuit electrically coupled to the counter and active electrode assemblies, the flexible circuit operable to control an electromotive force supplied to the active electrode assembly; and

a printed power source electrically coupled to the flexible circuit, the printed power source operable to supply an electromotive force to the active electrode assembly.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the flexible circuit comprises a printed electronic circuit.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the flexible circuit comprises a thin-film integrated circuit.

52. The system of claim 49 wherein the flexible circuit is less than about 7000 μ

m thick and a portion of the flexible circuit is flexible about at least one bend axis.

53. The system of claim 49 wherein the printed power source comprises at least one printed battery.

54. The system of claim 49 wherein the printed power source comprises at least one energy cell laminate.

55. The system of claim 49 wherein the flexible circuit is operable to manage a duty cycle associated with delivering a therapeutically effective amount of the one or more active agents, over a predetermined period.

56. The system of claim 49 wherein the flexible circuit is operable to control a voltage and current for a time interval, supplied to the active electrode assembly, for substantially providing sustained-delivery or controlled-delivery of the one or more active agents.

57. The system of claim 49, further comprising:

a switch for selectively controlling the flow of current to the flexible circuit, the switch comprising at least one of a dome switch, a membrane switch, a tactile switch, a single-use dome switch, a single-use membrane switch, or a single-use tactile switch.

58. A detachable controller for a transdermal drug delivery device, comprising:

a substrate including a control circuit;

a power source electrically coupleable to the control circuit; and

one or more coupling elements for physically coupling the detachable controller to the transdermal drug delivery device.

59. The detachable controller of claim 58 wherein the substrate is a bendable substrate.

60. The detachable controller of claim 58 wherein the power source comprises at least one of a printed battery, an energy cell laminate, a thin-film battery, or a printed paper.

61. The detachable controller of claim 58 wherein the power source comprises an ultra-thin flexible power source.

62. The detachable controller of claim 61 wherein the power source is less than 1000 μ

m thick and flexible about at least one bend axis.

63. The detachable controller of claim 58, further comprising:

an electromagnetic coupler to magnetically couple the detachable controller to the transdermal drug delivery device.

64. The detachable controller of claim 58 wherein the electromagnetic coupler is configured to magnetically couple the detachable controller to a negative electrical contact and a positive electrical contact on the transdermal delivery device in a correct electrical polarity.

65. The detachable controller of claim 58 wherein the detachable controller comprises at least a first and a second conductive trace electrically coupled to corresponding negative and positive current elements of the detachable controller, the at least first and the second conductive traces corresponding to respective at least third and a fourth conductive traces located on the transdermal delivery device, such that when the detachable controller is magnetically coupled to the transdermal delivery device, the first and the second conductive traces are in electrical communication with the third and the fourth conductive traces in a correct polarity.

66. The detachable controller of claim 58, further comprising:

an auto-close circuit configured to automatically complete the control circuit after physically coupling the detachable controller to the transdermal drug delivery device.

67. The detachable controller of claim 58 wherein the detachable controller is normally in an ON state before a load is placed across a negative electrical contact and a positive electrical contact on the transdermal delivery device.

68. A transdermal delivery device, comprising:

a counter electrode assembly including at least one counter electrode element;

an active electrode assembly including at least one active agent reservoir and at least one active electrode element operable to provide an electromotive force to drive an active agent from the at least one active agent reservoir to a biological interface of a subject;

a control circuit electrically coupled to the counter and the active electrode elements operable to provide a voltage across when electrically coupled to a power supply and configured to send and receive a wireless communication; and

a controller configured to communicate at least one instruction via wireless communication to the control circuit.

69. The transdermal delivery device of claim 68 wherein the at least one instruction includes at least one of an encrypted data stream, an activation code, an authorization instruction, an authentication data stream, a prescription dosing instruction, and a dose administration instruction according to a prescribed regimen.

70. The transdermal delivery device of claim 68 wherein the wireless communication takes the form of an optical connection, an ultraviolet connection, an infrared connection, a BLUETOOTH®

connection, an Internet connection, or a network connection.

71. The transdermal delivery device of claim 68 wherein the controller is configured to be in an ON state before a load is placed across the counter electrode assembly and the active electrode assembly.