Activity controlled electrotransport drug delivery device

• US 5,213,568 A
• Filed: 03/18/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Phipps, Joseph B., Lattin, Gary A., McNichols, Larry A., Padmanabhan, Rama, Sorenson, Paul D., Grace, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/671,267
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/21, 128/419 R, 128/803, 128/782
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

The electrotransport drug delivery device includes a patient activity sensor which is used to selectively deliver drugs based upon a measured physical activity of the patient.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the iontophoretic delivery of drugs to a patient comprising:

a first reservoir containing a charged ionic substance for delivery to said patient;

a first electrode coupled to said first reservoir;

a second reservoir containing a charged ionic substance proximate said first reservoir;

a second electrode coupled to said second reservoir;

current generator means for supplying current to said first and second electrodes in response to a control signal;

activity sensor means for monitoring the general level of physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said general level of physical activity;

control means coupled to said activity sensor means and to said current generator means, said control means responsive to said activity signal for generating a control signal for controlling said current generator means as a function of said activity signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said current generator means operates at a preset minimum current level in the presence of the general level of physical activity of said patient below a predetermined minimum.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said current generator means operates at a preset maximum current level in the presence of the general level of physical activity of said patient above a predetermined minimum.

4. Unitary iontophoretic drug delivery apparatus for transdermal delivery of a material to a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

a conformal carrier, including a reservoir means for storing gelled ionic substances;

a flexible circuit package containing bodily motion monitoring circuitry and current delivery circuitry, coupled to said reservoir means for supplying current to said reservoir means;

whereby the level of physical activity of said patient activates said bodily motion monitoring circuitry, controlling the delivery of said ionic substance as a function of the gross physical motion of said patient.

5. An iontophoretic drug delivery system for delivering two drugs to a patient comprising:

a first cationic drug reservoir;

a second anionic drug reservoir;

current generator means coupled to said first and second reservoirs for supplying current to said reservoirs in response to a control signal;

activity sensor means for monitoring the general level of physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said general level of physical activity;

control means coupled to said activity sensor means and to said current generator means, said control means responsive to said activity signal for generating a control signal for controlling said current generator means as a function of said activity signal.

6. An iontophoretic drug delivery system for delivering two drugs to a patient comprising:

a first cationic drug reservoir;

a second cationic drug reservoir;

current generator means coupled to said first and second reservoirs for supplying current to said first and second reservoirs in a first polarity in response to a first control signal and for supplying current to said first and second reservoirs in a second polarity in response to a second control signal;

activity sensor means for monitoring the general level of physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said general level of physical activity;

control means coupled to said activity sensor means and to said current generator means, said control means responsive to said activity signal for generating a first control signal in the presence of low level of bodily motion and for generating a second control signal in the presence of higher level of bodily motion above a predetermined threshold.

7. An iontophoretic drug delivery system for delivering two drugs to a patient comprising:

a first anionic drug reservoir;

a second anionic drug reservoir;

current generator means coupled to said first and second reservoirs for supplying current to said reservoirs in a first polarity in response to a first control signal and for supplying current to said reservoirs in a second polarity in response to a second control signal;

activity sensor means for monitoring the general level of physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said general level of physical activity;

control means coupled to said activity sensor means and to said current generator means responsive to said activity signal for generating a first control signal in the presence of low level physical activity and for generating a second control signal in the presence of higher level physical activity above a predetermined threshold.

8. Apparatus for the transdermal electrotransport of drugs to a patient comprising:

a first reservoir containing a charged ionic substance for delivery to said patient;

a second reservoir containing a charged ionic substance proximate said first reservoir;

current generator means coupled to said first and second reservoirs for supplying current to said first and second reservoirs in response to a control signal;

piezoelectric activity sensor means for monitoring the general level of physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said general level of physical activity;

control means coupled to said piezoelectric activity sensor means and to said current generator means responsive to said activity signal for generating a control signal for controlling said current generator means as a function of said activity signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said current generator means operates at a preset minimum current level in the presence of patient physical activity below a predetermined minimum.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said current generator means operates at a preset maximum current level in the presence of patient physical activity above a predetermined minimum.

11. Unitary electrotransport drug delivery apparatus for transdermal delivery of a material to a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

a conformal carrier, including a reservoir means for storing gelled ionic substances;

a flexible circuit package containing general level of physical activity monitoring circuitry adapted for application to said patient, and current delivery circuitry, coupled to said reservoir means for supplying current to said reservoir means;

whereby the general level of physical activity of said patient activates said general level of physical activity monitoring circuitry.

12. An electrotransport drug delivery system for delivering two drugs to a patient comprising:

a first cationic drug reservoir;

a second anionic drug reservoir;

current generator means coupled to said first and second reservoirs for supplying current to said reservoirs in response to a control signal;

piezoelectric activity sensor means for monitoring the general level of physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said general level of physical activity;

control means coupled to said piezoelectric activity sensor means and to said current generator means responsive to said activity signal for generating a control signal for controlling said current generator means as a function of said activity signal.

13. An electrotransport drug delivery system for delivering two drugs to a patient comprising:

a first cationic drug reservoir;

a second cationic drug reservoir;

current generator means coupled to said first and second reservoirs for supplying current to said reservoirs in a first polarity in response to a first control signal and for supplying current to said reservoirs in a second polarity in response to a second control signal;

piezoelectric activity sensor means for monitoring the physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said activity;

control means coupled to said piezoelectric activity sensor means and to said current generator means responsive to said activity signal for generating a first control signal in the presence of low activity and for generating a second control signal in the presence of higher activity above a predetermined threshold.

14. An electrotransport drug delivery system for delivering two drugs to a patient comprising:

a first anionic drug reservoir;

a second anionic drug reservoir;

current generator means coupled to said first and second reservoirs for supplying current to said reservoirs in a first polarity in response to a first control signal and for supplying current to said reservoirs in a second polarity in response to a second control signal;

piezoelectric activity sensor means for monitoring the physical activity of said patient and for generating an activity signal indicative of said activity;

control means coupled to said piezoelectric activity sensor means and to said current generator means responsive to said activity signal for generating a first control signal in the presence of low activity and for generating a second control signal in the presence of higher activity above a predetermined threshold.