Drug delivery device

• US 4,592,753 A
• Filed: 11/28/1983
• Issued: 06/03/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aveva Drug Delivery Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Elan Corporation PLC (Perrigo Company PLC)
• Inventors: Panoz, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vinyard, Sherri E.
• Application Number:
  US06/555,577
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 604/304, 604/308, 604/312, 604/311, 604/132, 604/133, 604/134, 604/135, 604/137, 604/228, 604/214, 604/890, 604/891, 604/896, 604/897
• US Class Current: 424/449
• 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

Abstract

A device for transdermal administration of a drug comprises a reservoir containing the drug and a supporting strap, or band, which substantially surrounds a limb of the patient and holds the reservoir in position on a limb of the patient. The reservoir is generally non permeable to the drug, but has a membrane, or plate, of defined surface area through which said drug can pass. In use, this membrane or plate is held against the patient'"'"'s skin to allow the drug to be absorbed. The device further includes cooperating locking mechanisms for detachably securing the reservoir on the strap or band whereby the supply of drug can be replenished by removing the spent reservoir and inserting a fresh one containing a new supply of the drug.

Claims

1. A device for the transdermal administration of a drug to a patient, said device comprising a reservoir for the drug to be administered, said drug being associated in the reservoir with a pharmaceutically compatible ointment, cream or jelly-like carrier, said reservoir being largely impermeable to the drug and having a defined passage means through which the drug is supplied to the skin, said defined passage means comprising a drug permeable wall member, providing a face of the reservoir, said drug permeable wall member having a first surface forming part of the reservoir and a second, opposite, surface of a defined area for contacting the skin whereby the device positively conveys the drug in the direction of the skin at a predetermined rate, means for removably attaching the reservoir to a support member, said support member being engageable with a face of the reservoir remote from that face formed by said wall member, wherein the face of the reservoir remote from that face formed by said wall member comprises a plate movable in piston-like fashion towards said wall member, the device further including a spring acting against said movable plate to cause a constant egress of ointment, cream or jelly-like carrier from the reservoir to the skin through said wall member, said support member in use substantially surrounding and being readily detachable from that portion of the patient'"'"'s body to which the device is applied.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spring is a leaf spring having an end which acts against the movable plate.

3. A device for the transdermal administration of a drug to a patient comprising:

a reservoir for the drug;

said reservoir comprising side walls, a skin-contacting wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being movable towards said skin-contacting wall;

said side and bottom walls being drug impermeable;

said skin-contacting wall having passage means through which said drug can pass;

a support member in the form of a fastenable strap;

locking means for detachably mounting the reservoir on the support member;

spring means mounted on said support member and applying force to said movable wall to move it in the direction of the skin-contacting wall to cause said drug to be dispensed through said skin-contacting wall.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the skin-contacting wall is a microporous plate of aluminum foil.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the drug is an ointment containing 2% nitroglycerin.

6. A device according to claim 3, wherein the spring means is a leaf spring.