HANDHELD TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY AND ANALYTE EXTRACTION

• US 20100174224A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TransPharma Medical Ltd. (Syneron Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: TransPharma Medical Ltd. (Syneron Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sohn, Ze'ev
• Application Number:
  US12/721,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174224A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00208 actively driven, e.g. by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• 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 1/0424 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for facilitating delivery of a substance through skin of a subject. The apparatus includes a handle and a cartridge, removably coupled to the handle. The cartridge includes one or more electrodes and a patch comprising the substance, the electrodes adapted to be applied to a region of the skin, and the patch adapted to be applied to at least a portion of the region of the skin by removal of the electrodes therefrom.

Claims

1-124. -124. (canceled)

125. Apparatus for facilitating delivery of a substance through skin of a subject, comprising:

a handle; and

a cartridge, removably coupled to the handle, the cartridge comprising one or more electrodes and a patch comprising the substance, the electrodes adapted to be applied to a region of the skin, and the patch adapted to be applied to at least a portion of the region of the skin by removal of the electrodes therefrom.

126. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the electrodes are adapted, when a current is applied therethrough, to create at least one micro-channel in stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin.

127. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the substance includes a drug, and wherein the apparatus is adapted to facilitate delivery of the drug through the skin of the subject.

128. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein at least one of the electrodes is adapted to contact the skin to create a contact area therewith having a characteristic diameter of less than about 200 microns.

129. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the cartridge is adapted to comprise only a single dose of the substance.

130. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the cartridge comprises an electrical connector, adapted to electrically couple the cartridge to the handle.

131. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the electrodes are adapted, when a current is applied therethrough, to ablate stratum corneum of the skin.

132. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the patch comprises an adhesive strip on a skin-contact surface thereof, the adhesive adapted to adhere to the skin of the subject at a time when the one or more electrodes are applied to the region of the skin.

133. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the patch comprises:

a protective covering, which comprises a tab coupled to the cartridge; and

a pad comprising the substance, the pad adapted to be brought into contact with at least a portion of the skin when the tab is pulled.

134. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the cartridge comprises a coupling mechanism, adapted to lock the cartridge to the handle when the handle and cartridge are brought into contact with one another.

135. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the handle comprises a status indicator that is adapted to indicate to a user of the apparatus to remove the electrodes from the region of the skin, thereby applying the patch to the portion of the region.

136. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the handle comprises a coupling mechanism, adapted to lock the cartridge to the handle when the handle and cartridge are brought into contact with one another.

137. Apparatus according to claim 136, wherein the handle comprises a switch, and wherein the apparatus is adapted to allow coupling of the cartridge to the handle only when the switch is activated.

138. Apparatus according to claim 136, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one support, and wherein the handle is shaped to define a slot therein, adapted to receive and be coupled to the support.

139. Apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the cartridge is adapted so that a ratio of a total contact area of the electrodes with the skin to an area of the region of the skin is less than about 1:

20.

140. Apparatus according to claim 139, wherein the cartridge is adapted so that the ratio is less than about 1:

200.

141. Apparatus for facilitating delivery of a substance through skin of a subject, comprising a patch assembly having a first portion and a second portion adjacent to the first portion,

the first portion comprising a frame that surrounds an open portion of the patch assembly, such that a region of the skin is exposed through the open portion when the first portion is placed on the skin, and

the second portion comprising a pad comprising the substance, the pad being adapted to be brought into contact, through the open portion, with at least a portion of the region of the skin.

142. Apparatus according to claim 141, wherein the frame comprises an adhesive on a skin-contact surface thereof, the adhesive adapted to adhere to the skin of the subject.

143. Apparatus according to claim 141, wherein the second portion comprises a protective covering, which comprises a tab, and wherein the pad is adapted to be brought into contact with the portion of the skin when the tab is pulled.

144. Apparatus according to claim 141, wherein the first and second portions are adapted to articulate at respective edges coupling the portions.

145. A method for facilitating delivery of a substance contained in a patch through skin of a subject, comprising:

removably coupling, to a handle, a cartridge comprising a plurality of electrodes;

placing at least a portion of the cartridge over the skin so that at least a portion of the electrodes are applied to a region of the skin;

driving a current between two or more of the electrodes; and

applying the patch to at least a portion of the region of the skin by removing the electrodes from the region of the skin.

146. A method according to claim 145, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current so as to create at least one micro-channel in stratum corneum epidermidis of the skin.

147. A method according to claim 145, wherein the substance includes a drug, and wherein applying the patch comprises applying the patch so as to deliver the substance through the skin.

148. A method according to claim 145, wherein placing at least a portion of the cartridge over the skin comprises placing at least a portion of the cartridge over the skin so that at least one of the electrodes is brought in contact with the skin so as to create a contact area therewith having a characteristic diameter of less than about 100 microns.

149. A method according to claim 145, comprising electrically coupling the cartridge to the handle.

150. A method according to claim 145, wherein driving the current comprises driving a current configured to ablate stratum corneum of the skin.

151. A method according to claim 145, wherein removably coupling the cartridge to the handle comprises locking the cartridge to the handle.

152. A method according to claim 145, wherein removably coupling the cartridge to the handle comprises activating a switch that allows the cartridge to be coupled to the handle.

153. A method according to claim 145, wherein placing at least a portion of the cartridge over the skin comprises placing at least a portion of the cartridge over the skin so that a ratio of a total contact area of the electrodes with the skin to an area of the region of the skin covered by the cartridge is less than about 1:

20.

154. A method according to claim 153, wherein placing at least a portion of the cartridge over the skin comprises placing at least a portion of the cartridge over the skin so that the ratio is less than about 1:

200.