Cell for electrically controlled transdermal drug delivery

• US 4,731,049 A
• Filed: 01/30/1987
• Issued: 03/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ionics Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Ionics Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Parsi, Edgardo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US07/009,301
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/42, 128/803
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0444 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir

Abstract

A cell for electrically controlled drug delivery into and through the skin consisting of a source of current, an electrode, and a drug reservoir in which a drug is bound by an ion exchange medium or an immobilized ligand affinity medium. An additional ion reservoir may be interposed between the electrode and the drug reservoir and semi-permeable membranes are employed as barriers between the various components of the device as required.

Claims

1. A cell for the electrically controlled delivery of a drug into and through the skin of a subject patient comprising in combination:

a. a drug reservoir containing therein a drug bound to an immobilized ligand affinity medium or an ion-exchange medium;

b. an electrode communicating with said reservoir; and

c. a source of current connected between said electrode and said skin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a semi-permeable membrane interposed between said drug reservoir and the skin.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a layer of hydrophilic medium interposed between said membrane and said skin.

4. A cell for use in the electrically controlled delivery of a drug into the skin of a subject patient comprising in combination:

a. a drug reservoir containing therein a drug bound to an immobilized ligand affinity medium or an ion-exchange medium;

b. a first semi-permeable barrier interposed between said drug reservoir and said skin;

c. an ion reservoir positioned adjacent to said drug reservoir;

d. a second semi-permeable barrier interposed between said drug reservoir and said ion reservoir;

e. an electrode communicating with said ion reservoir; and

f. a source of current connected between said electrode and said skin.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said electrode comprises an anode and said ion reservoir comprises a cation reservoir.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a hydrophilic reservoir interposed between said first semi-permeable barrier and said skin.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said drug reservoir contains a drug bound on an ion exchange resin.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said drug reservoir contains a drug bound on an immobilized ligand affinity medium.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 further including an additional cell for grounding said cell containing said drug reservoir comprising in combination:

a. a second ion reservoir;

b. a second hydrophilic medium interposed between said skin and said second ion reservoir;

c. a semi-permeable barrier interposed between said second ion reservoir and said second hydrophilic medium; and

d. a second electrode of opposite polarity to said drug reservoir electrode connected to said current source and communicating with said second ion reservoir.