Active agent dispenser
First Claim
1. A dispenser for releasing an active agent into an environment of use comprising in combination:
- (a) at least onr non-depleted zone comprising a matrix material containing said agent at a concentration greater than the saturation concentration of the agent in said matrix material; and
(b) at least one depleted zone comprising a matrix material containing said agent at a concentration no greater than the saturation concentration of the agent in the matrix material, said depleted zone being disposed between a surface through which the agent is to be released to the environment and at least a substantial portion of said non-depleted zone with the interface between said depleted and non-depleted zones being disposed at a nonuniform distance from said releasing surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The release pattern of a dispersion type active agent dispenser can be improved by forming the device from a depleted zone containing the agent at a concentration no greater than the saturation and a non-depleted zone containing the agent dispersed in the matrix at a uniform concentration greater than saturation. The depleted zone is disposed between the surface through which the agent is to be dispensed and at least a substantial portion of the non-depleted zone with the interface therebetween disposed at a non-uniform distance from the releasing surface. Certain embodiments are particularly useful for the transdermal administration of drugs.
181 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A dispenser for releasing an active agent into an environment of use comprising in combination:
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(a) at least onr non-depleted zone comprising a matrix material containing said agent at a concentration greater than the saturation concentration of the agent in said matrix material; and (b) at least one depleted zone comprising a matrix material containing said agent at a concentration no greater than the saturation concentration of the agent in the matrix material, said depleted zone being disposed between a surface through which the agent is to be released to the environment and at least a substantial portion of said non-depleted zone with the interface between said depleted and non-depleted zones being disposed at a nonuniform distance from said releasing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A dispenser for releasing an active agent into an environment of use comprising, in combination:
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(a) at least one non-depleted zone comprising a matrix material containing said agent at a substantially uniform concentration greater than the saturation concentration of said agent in said matrix material; (b) at least one depleted zone comprising a matrix material containing said agent at a concentration no greater than the saturation concentration of said agent in said matrix, said depleted zone being disposed between the surface through which said agent is released to the environment and at least a substantial portion of said non-depleted zone, said depleted and non-depleted zones being configured such that the average concentration of said agent in said dispenser increases with the distance from the releasing surface while the actual concentration of said agent in the non-depleted zone remains constant.
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21. A method for manufacturing an active agent dispenser for releasing said agent to an environment of use through at least one releasing surface, said dispensing comprising an agent depleted zone and an agent non-depleted zone said agent depleted zone being disposed proximate said releasing surface;
- which method comprises;
(a) forming a dispersion of said active agent in a matrix material at a substantially constant concentration greater than the saturation concentration of said agent in said matrix; (b) forming an agent depleted matrix material which contains said agent at a concentration no greater than the saturation concentration of said agent in said matrix material; (c) bonding said non-depleted zone to said depleted zone to form a body having said depleted zone disposed proximate said releasing surface, and (d) configuring said depleted and non-depleted zones such that the average concentration of said agent in said dispenser increases with the distance from the releasing surface over a substantial portion of the thickness of the dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
- which method comprises;
Specification