Iontophoresis apparatus and methods of producing same

• US 4,744,787 A
• Filed: 10/29/1984
• Issued: 05/17/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Phipps, Joseph B., Untereker, Darrel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kight, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morgan, Kriellion
• Application Number:
  US06/665,698
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 128/783, 128/798, 604/20
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0436 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0444 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir

Abstract

Improved iontophoresis drug delivery apparatus or device wherein one or more electrochemically active components are employed or "sacrificed" so as to minimize the hydrolysis of water during drug delivery. Efficiency of drug delivery is increased and pH changes in the device or adjacent the patient'"'"'s skin are minimized.

Claims

1. An improved electrode for an iontophoresis device, the electrode comprising:

a source of drug to be iontophoretically delivered;

support means for said drug source;

at least one electrochemically active component in electrical connection to said drug source which, during iontophoretic drug delivery, hydrolyzes water to a minimal extent;

wherein said electrically active component is a current distribution member; and

wherein the current distribution member comprises an intercalation compound and the balancing ion of the drug in the drug source is an alkali metal ion.

2. An improved electrode for an iontophoresis device, the electrode comprising:

a source of drug to be iontophoretically delivered;

support means for said drug source;

at least one electrochemically active component in electrical connection to said drug source which, during iontophoretic drug delivery, hydrolyzes water to a minimal extent;

wherein said electrochemically active component is a current distribution member; and

wherein the current distribution member comprises an amalgam selected from the group consisting of lead, mercury or mercury/cadmium amalgams and the balancing ion of the drug in the drug source is an alkali metal ion.

3. An iontophoresis device having an improved electrode, the electrode comprising:

a source of drug to be iontophoretically delivered;

support means for said drug source;

at least one electrochemically active component in electrical connection with said drug source which, during iontophoretic drug delivery, hydrolyzes water to a minimal extent;

wherein said electrochemically active component is a current distribution member; and

wherein the current distribution member comprises an intercalation compound and the balancing ion of the drug dispersed in the drug source is an alkali ion.

4. An iontophoresis device having an improved electrode, the electrode comprising:

a source of drug to be iontophoretically delivered;

support means for said drug source;

at least one electrochemically active component in electrical connection with said drug source which, during iontophoretic drug delivery, hydrolyzes water to a minimal extent;

wherein said electrochemically active component is a current distribution member; and

wherein the current distribution member comprises an amalgam selected from the group consisting of lead, mercury or mercury/cadmium amalgams, and the balancing ion of the drug in the drug source is an alkali metal ion.

5. An iontophoresis device having an improved electrode, the electrode comprising:

a source of drug to be iontophoretically delivered;

support means for said drug source;

at least one electrochemically active component in electrical connection with said drug source which, during iontophoretic drug delivery, hydrolyzes water to a minimal extent;

wherein said drug source is a gel having the drug to be delivered therein; and

wherein the electrochemically active component comprises silver and the drug dispersed in the drug source comprises propranolol hydrochloride.

6. A method for making an improved iontophoretic drug delivery device of the type comprising an anode, a cathode, a source of electrical energy in electrical connection with said anode and cathode at least one of said anode or said cathode having in electrical association therewith a reservoir containing therein a supply of at least one species which is to be iontophoretically delivered, the method comprising the steps of:

constructing at least one electrode of the device to include a component which is electrochemically active during iontophoretic drug delivery to produce first species which is capable of interacting with a second species intentionally employed in or generated during operation of the device to produce a product which is not sufficiently influenced by electrical fields to be iontophoretically introduced;

providing the aforementioned second species or a precursor thereto to the iontophoretic drug delivery device; and

wherein said anode includes a current distribution member comprising silver, and the medicament comprises propranolol present in the form of a chloride salt.

7. A method for making an improved iontophoretic drug delivery device of the type comprising an anode, a cathode, a source of electrical energy in electrical connection with said anode and cathode, at least one of said anode or said cathode having an electrical association therewith a reservoir containing therein a supply of at least one species which is to be iontophoretically delivered, the method comprising the steps of:

constructing at least one electrode of the device to include a component which is electrochemically active during iontophoretic drug delivery to produce a first species which is capable of interacting with a second species intentionally employed in or generated during operation of the device to produce a product which is not sufficiently influenced by electrical fields to be iontophoretically introduced;

providing the aforementioned second species or a precursor thereto to the iontophoretic drug delivery device; and

wherein the cathode is constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of lead, mercury or mercury/cadmium amalgams.

8. A method for making an improved iontophoretic drug delivery device of the type comprising an anode, a cathode, a source of electrical energy in electrical connection with said anode and cathode, at least one of said anode or said cathode having in electrical association therewith a reservoir containing therein a supply of at least one species which is to be iontophoretically delivered, the method comprising the steps of:

constructing at least one electrode of the device to include a component which is electrochemically active during iontophoretic drug delivery to produce a first species which is capable of interacting with a second species intentionally employed in or generated during operation of the device to produce a product which is not sufficiently influenced by electrical fields to be iontophoretically introduced;

providing the aforementioned second species or a precursor thereto to the iontophoretic drug delivery device; and

wherein the cathode is constructed from an intercalation compound selected from the group consisting of sodium tungstate, sodium vanadate (NaV₆ O₁₃) or graphite.