AGENT DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20080154179A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Transdermal Patents Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Transdermal Patents Company LLC
• Inventors: Swartz, Kenneth H., Hower, Robert, Cantor, Scott A., Cantor, Hal C.
• Application Number:
  US11/949,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154179A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0444 Membrane
• 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: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

An automated, controllable, and affixable pulsatile agent delivery system having an automated controller for controlling the delivery of drug to a patient, an agent delivery reservoir containing an agent operatively connected to the automated controller, a reservoir controller operatively connected to the automated controller and the reservoir for controlling the delivery of agent to a patient, and a feedback control operatively connected to the automated controller for providing feedback with regard to the drug requirements of the patient. A method of delivering an agent to a patient in need of the same by administering the above agent delivery system to a patient, determining an amount of agent needed for the patient, and affecting administration of the agent to the patient via the agent delivery system.

Claims

1. An agent delivery device comprising:

an agent delivery reservoir containing an agent to be administered to a patient;

an electrolyte that is mixed with the agent to form electrolyte-agent mixture that is contained in the reservoir and traps the agent until electric current is applied;

an agent delivery surface in communication with the electrolyte-agent mixture, the agent delivery surface adapted to contact the patient and deliver agent received from the reservoir to the patient; and

a controller in communication with the electrolyte-agent mixture, the controller providing a series of controlled pulses to the electrolyte-agent mixture, each pulse allowing the device to administer a portion of the agent the patient, the series of pulses providing a temporally varying concentration of agent in the patient.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte comprises an iontophoretic electrically conductive material.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the temporally varying concentration of agent includes a plurality alternating agent concentration maxima and minima, the maxima and minima differing by a predetermined amount.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the temporally varying concentration of agent is matched to the turnover of cell receptors for the agent.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the temporally varying concentration of agent is matched to the life-cycle of an invading bacteria or parasite

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the temporally varying concentration of agent is such that agent concentration maxima in the patient is increased over time.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein the temporally varying concentration of agent is such that agent concentration maxima in the patient is decreased over time.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein one or more intervals of the series of controlled pulse are varied over time via the controlling algorithm.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the amplitudes of the series of controlled pulses are varied via the controlling algorithm.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the duration or width of the series of controlled pulses are varied via the controlling algorithm.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a digital controller and a memory accessible to the digital controller.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein an algorithm for controlling the agent delivery is encoded in the memory, the algorithm being executable by the digital controller.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein further comprising a sensor system for determining the concentration of an agent in the patient.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein information from the sensor system is used to adjust the concentration of the agent or one more additional agents in the patient.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising an attachment section for attaching the device to the patient.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the attachment section comprises an adhesive surface.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional agent delivery surfaces.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the agent delivery reservoir further contains a delivery enhancer that aids in delivering the agent to the patient.

19. The agent delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the agent delivery reservoir further contains a skin healing agent to prevent irritation caused by the agent delivery system.

20. The agent delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the agent delivery reservoir contains layers of compounds.

21. The agent delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises poly(ethylene oxide).

22. An agent delivery device comprising:

an agent delivery reservoir containing an agent to be administered to a patient;

an electrolyte that is mixed with the agent to form an electrolyte-agent mixture that is contained in the reservoir and traps the agent until electric current is applied;

an agent delivery surface in communication with the electrolyte-agent mixture, the agent delivery surface adapted to contact the patient and deliver agent received from the reservoir to the patent; and

a controller in communication with the electrolyte-agent mixture, the controller providing a series of control pulses to the electrolyte-agent mixture, each pulse allowing the delivery system to administer a portion of the agent to the patient, the series of pulses providing a temporally increasing concentration maxima of the agent in the patient for a first predetermined time period.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the series of pulses provides a temporally decreasing concentration maxima of the agent in the patient for a second predetermined time period, the second predetermined time period occurring after the first time period.

24. The device of claim 22, further comprising an attachment section for attaching the device to the patient.