Multiple-Compartment Applicator

• US 20100047326A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareWear Corp.
• Original Assignee: Sonovia Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Abergel, R. Patrick, Castel, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/449
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/375 Ascorbic acid, i.e. vitamin C; Salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7023 Transdermal patches and similar drug-containing composite devices, e.g. cataplasms galenical aspects of iontophoretic devices A61K9/0009; microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; buccal patches A61K9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

A multiple-compartment ascorbic acid delivery unit is provided. The first compartment is impermeable to oxygen and ultraviolet light and contains a solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters. The second compartment is liquid impermeable and contains a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system. The first compartment is entirely enclosed within said second compartment or vice versa. An opening is formed in the inner compartment in order to combine the contents of the two compartments to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition prior to delivery to the patient.

Claims

1. A multiple-compartment ascorbic acid delivery unit comprising:

a first compartment containing a solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters, wherein said first compartment is impermeable to oxygen and ultraviolet light;

a second compartment containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system, wherein said second compartment is liquid impermeable;

wherein said first compartment is entirely enclosed within said second compartment or wherein said second compartment is entirely enclosed within said first compartment; and

wherein said first or second compartment has a means for combining said solid vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition.

2. The delivery unit of claim 1,

wherein said first compartment is an outer compartment containing a solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters, wherein said outer compartment is impermeable to oxygen and ultraviolet light;

and

wherein said second compartment is an inner compartment enclosed within said outer compartment, said inner compartment containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system, wherein said inner compartment is liquid impermeable.

and wherein said inner compartment has a means for combining said solid vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition.

3. The delivery unit of claim 2, wherein said means for combining comprises a breakable barrier integrally formed in said inner compartment, such that when said breakable barrier is broken said vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system are capable of being combined to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition.

4. The delivery unit of claim 2, wherein said means for combining comprises a declivity, score line, or frangible seal in said inner compartment.

5. The delivery unit of claim 4, further comprising a marking on said outer compartment for applying pressure to said outer compartment at a predetermined location in order to break said breakable barrier.

6. The delivery unit of claim 2, wherein said means for combining comprises said inner compartment being formed with sealed edges being capable of opening in response to a pressure exerted on a flexible wall of said outer compartment.

7. The delivery unit of claim 6, wherein a width of a portion of said sealed edges of said inner compartment may be less than a sealed width of the other edges.

8. The delivery unit of claim 2, wherein said outer compartment is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a deformable metal or polymer, aluminized or metallized polymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene, vinyl, and polyethylene terephthalate polyester film.

9. The delivery unit of claim 2, wherein said outer compartment further comprises a gated opening having an open position and a closed position, wherein when said gated opening is in said open position said ascorbic acid carrier composition can pass through said gated opening and when said gated opening is in said closed position said ascorbic acid carrier composition remains confined within said outer compartment.

10. The delivery unit of claim 2, further comprising an absorbent structure, said absorbent structure selected from the group consisting of a woven material, a nonwoven material, an open-cell foam, a semi-open-cell foam, felt, and hydrogel, collagen, and hydrocolloid laminates.

11. The delivery unit according of claim 10, wherein said absorbent structure is selected from the group consisting of a wipe, a patch, a pad, and a mask.

12. The delivery unit of claim 10, wherein said absorbent structure is enclosed within said outer compartment, and wherein said absorbent structure is coupled to said outer compartment.

13. The delivery unit of claim 10, wherein said absorbent structure is impregnated with said solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters.

14. The delivery unit of claim 10, wherein said absorbent structure is enclosed within said inner compartment, and wherein said absorbent structure is coupled to said inner compartment.

15. The delivery unit of claim 10, wherein said absorbent structure has an abrasive material on at least a portion of its surface or said abrasive material is impregnated within said absorbent structure.

16. The delivery unit of claim 2, wherein said outer compartment further comprises a means for exposing said ascorbic acid carrier system to the environment.

17. The delivery unit of claim 16, wherein said means for exposing said ascorbic acid carrier system comprises at least one tear notch, whereby said at least one tear notch allows a user to tear away a portion of said outer compartment.

18. The delivery unit of claim 16, wherein said means for exposing said ascorbic acid carrier system comprises a frangible seal formed in said outer compartment.

19. The delivery unit of claim 2, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system comprises water.

20. The delivery unit of claim 19, wherein said carrier system further comprises one or more organic solvents miscible with water.

21. The delivery unit of claim 19, wherein said carrier system further comprises one or more therapeutic agents, chelators, or pH regulators.

22. The delivery unit of claim 1, wherein said carrier system comprises one or more therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, growth factors, hormones, growth inhibitors, vitamins, exfoliators, skin toners, lubricants, hydrators, muscle relaxers, muscle toners, and skin protectors.

23. The delivery unit of claim 1, wherein said solid vitamin-containing composition comprises at least two solid antioxidants.

24. The delivery unit of claim 1,

wherein said first compartment is an inner compartment containing a solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters, wherein said inner compartment is impermeable to oxygen and ultraviolet light;

and

wherein said second compartment is an outer compartment enclosed within said inner compartment, said outer compartment containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system, wherein said outer compartment is liquid impermeable.

25. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said means for combining comprises a breakable barrier integrally formed in said inner compartment, such that when said breakable barrier is broken said vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system are capable of being combined to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition.

26. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said means for combining comprises a declivity, score line, or frangible seal in said inner compartment.

27. The delivery unit of claim 25, further comprising a marking on said outer compartment for applying pressure to said outer compartment at a predetermined location in order to break said breakable barrier.

28. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said means for combining comprises said inner compartment being formed with sealed edges being capable of opening in response to a pressure exerted on a flexible wall of said outer compartment.

29. The delivery unit of claim 28, wherein a width of a portion of said scaled edges of said inner compartment may be less than a sealed width of the other edges.

30. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said inner compartment is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a deformable metal or polymer, aluminized or metallized polymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene, vinyl, and polyethylene terephthalate polyester film.

31. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said outer compartment further comprises a gated opening having an open position and a closed position, wherein when said gated opening is in said open position said ascorbic acid carrier composition can pass through said gated opening and when said gated opening is in said closed position said ascorbic acid carrier composition remains confined within said outer compartment.

32. The delivery unit of claim 24, further comprising an absorbent structure, said absorbent structure selected from the group consisting of a woven material, a nonwoven material, an open-cell foam, a semi-open-cell foam, felt, and hydrogel, collagen, and hydrocolloid laminates.

33. The delivery unit according of claim 32, wherein said absorbent structure is selected from the group consisting of a wipe, a patch, a pad, and a mask.

34. The delivery unit of claim 32, wherein said absorbent structure is enclosed within said outer compartment, and wherein said absorbent structure is coupled to said outer compartment.

35. The delivery unit of claim 32, wherein said absorbent structure is impregnated with said solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters.

36. The delivery unit of claim 32, wherein said absorbent structure is enclosed within said inner compartment, and wherein said absorbent structure is coupled to said inner compartment.

37. The delivery unit of claim 32, wherein said absorbent structure has an abrasive material on at least a portion of its surface or said abrasive material is impregnated within said absorbent structure.

38. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said outer compartment further comprises a means for exposing said ascorbic acid carrier system to the environment.

39. The delivery unit of claim 38, wherein said means for exposing said ascorbic acid carrier system comprises al least one tear notch, whereby said at least one tear notch allows a user to tear away a portion of said outer compartment.

40. The delivery unit of claim 38, wherein said means for exposing said ascorbic acid carrier system comprises a frangible seal formed in said outer compartment.

41. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system comprises water.

42. The delivery unit of claim 41, wherein said carrier system further comprises one or more organic solvents miscible with water.

43. The delivery unit of claim 41, wherein said carrier system further comprises one or more therapeutic agents, chelators, or pH regulators.

44. The delivery unit of claim 41, wherein said carrier system comprises one or more therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, growth factors, hormones, growth inhibitors, vitamins, exfoliators, skin toners, lubricants, hydrators, muscle relaxers, muscle toners, and skin protectors.

45. The delivery unit of claim 24, wherein said solid vitamin-containing composition comprises at least two solid antioxidants.

46. A multiple compartment ascorbic acid delivery kit, said kit comprising the combination of:

a multiple-compartment unit comprising a first compartment containing a solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters, wherein said first compartment is impermeable to oxygen and ultraviolet light;

a second compartment containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system, wherein said second compartment is liquid impermeable;

wherein said first compartment is entirely enclosed within said second compartment or wherein said second compartment is entirely enclosed within said first compartment; and

wherein said first or second compartment has a breakable barrier for combining said solid vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition; and

a set of instructions for breaking said breakable barrier, mixing said solid vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system together to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition, and transferring said ascorbic acid carrier composition to an intended surface.

47. The multiple compartment ascorbic acid delivery kit of claim 46 further comprising an absorbent material, and wherein said set of instructions further comprise absorbing said ascorbic acid carrier composition with said absorbent material in order to transfer said ascorbic acid carrier composition to said intended surface.

48. The multiple compartment ascorbic acid delivery kit of claim 46 further comprising an abrasive material, and wherein said set of instructions further comprise abrading said intended surface with said abrasive material prior to or simultaneous with said transferring.

49. The multiple compartment ascorbic acid delivery kit of claim 46 further comprising one or more therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, growth factors, hormones, growth inhibitors, vitamins, exfoliators, skin toners, lubricants, hydrators, muscle relaxers, muscle toners, and skin protectors in said carrier system.

50. The multiple compartment ascorbic acid delivery unit of claim 46, wherein said solid vitamin-containing composition further comprises at least two solid antioxidants.

51. A method for delivering ascorbic acid to the skin of a subject in need thereof comprising the steps of:

providing a multiple-compartment unit, said unit comprising a first compartment containing a solid vitamin-containing composition comprising ascorbic acid or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters, wherein said first compartment is impermeable to oxygen and ultraviolet light;

a second compartment containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system, wherein said second compartment is liquid impermeable;

wherein said first compartment is entirely enclosed within said second compartment or wherein said second compartment is entirely enclosed within said first compartment; and

wherein said first or second compartment has a means for combining said solid vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system to form an ascorbic acid carrier composition;

combining said solid vitamin-containing composition and said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system together to form a ascorbic acid carrier composition; and

applying said ascorbic acid carrier composition to said skin.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of abrading said patient'"'"'s skin.

53. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of applying said ascorbic acid carrier composition to said skin using an absorbent material.

54. The method of claim 51 further comprising one or more therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, growth factors, hormones, growth inhibitors, vitamins, exfoliators, skin toners, lubricants, hydrators, muscle relaxers, muscle toners, and skin protectors in said carrier system.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein said solid vitamin-containing composition comprises at least two solid antioxidants.