Fluid imbibing pump with self-regulating skin patch
First Claim
1. A medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent through an area of skin at a predetermined rate for an extended period of time comprising in combination:
- (a) a fluid impermeable, skin contacting member configured to enclose a predetermined area of skin within its periphery and to form a fluid receiving volume between said member and said area of skin, said predetermined area of skin being selected to be capable of absorbing said agent at a rate greater than said predetermined rate,(b) fluid imbibing pump means for delivering therapeutic agent onto said predetermined area of skin upon exposure to an actuating fluid external to said pump means, said pump means establishing said predetermined rate and comprising a housing;
(i) formed at least in part from actuating fluid permeable material,(ii) containing said therapeutic agent, and(iii) provided with outlet means for discharging said therapeutic agent and;
(c) means for maintaining said device on the skin for said extended period of time with said predetermined area of skin confined within said member;
whereby the rate at which said therapeutic agent is delivered to the predetermined area of skin will be lower than the rate at which said predetermined area of skin is capable of absorbing said agent throughout said extended period of time and the rate of delivery of said agent through the skin is maintained at said predetermined rate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device comprising a fluid imbibing, self-regulating, skin patch drug delivery system is disclosed which includes a fluid imbibing, preferably osmotic, pump comprising a reservoir for a drug or, drug formulation or other fluid to be dispensed to the skin, 10 at least one wall of the reservoir comprising a fluid permeable membrane which is permeable to an external activating fluid. The external fluid is imbibed through the membrane at a predetermined rate thereby causing the drug to be pumped through one or more passages provided in the reservoir structure and 15 into contact with the skin. The device includes an impermeable exterior wall member which covers and extends outwardly from the fluid imbibing pump terminating in an edge portion adapted to be secured, as by adhesion, to the skin. The exterior wall member, when attached to the skin surface, defines the area of skin which is available for distribution of the drug formulation pumped from the reservoir which is large enough, at the lowest anticipated skin permeation, to deliver the drug to the body at the rate at which it is discharged from the fluid imbibing pump in the preferred embodiments the fluid permeable membrane is a semipermeable membrane, impermeable to the drug or drug formulation.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent through an area of skin at a predetermined rate for an extended period of time comprising in combination:
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(a) a fluid impermeable, skin contacting member configured to enclose a predetermined area of skin within its periphery and to form a fluid receiving volume between said member and said area of skin, said predetermined area of skin being selected to be capable of absorbing said agent at a rate greater than said predetermined rate, (b) fluid imbibing pump means for delivering therapeutic agent onto said predetermined area of skin upon exposure to an actuating fluid external to said pump means, said pump means establishing said predetermined rate and comprising a housing; (i) formed at least in part from actuating fluid permeable material, (ii) containing said therapeutic agent, and (iii) provided with outlet means for discharging said therapeutic agent and; (c) means for maintaining said device on the skin for said extended period of time with said predetermined area of skin confined within said member; whereby the rate at which said therapeutic agent is delivered to the predetermined area of skin will be lower than the rate at which said predetermined area of skin is capable of absorbing said agent throughout said extended period of time and the rate of delivery of said agent through the skin is maintained at said predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification