Methods and devices for facilitated non-invasive oxygen monitoring

• US 5,402,777 A
• Filed: 06/03/1992
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson), Nellcor Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ollerdessen, Albert, Cormier, Michael J. N., Swedlow, David B., Yum, Su Il, Taskovich, Lina T., Warring, Jessica A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US07/893,480
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 128/632-633, 128/664-666, 128/637, 604/304, 604/307, 424/447-449
• US Class Current: 604/307
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02433 for infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a sensor system for use with a blood characteristic measurement device such as a pulse oximeter, on areas of the body having low normal cutaneous blood flow and for monitoring a blood characteristic such as oxygen saturation and pulse rate of patients, preferably over an extended period of time. The sensor system includes (a) a transdermal device containing a blood perfusion-enhancing agent that is administered in a controlled amount to the skin of a human patient and (b) a skin surface sensor.

Claims

1. A transdermal delivery device for facilitating the non-invasive monitoring of a characteristic of a patient'"'"'s blood vessels, wherein the device consists essentially of:

(a) a backing member that is substantially impermeable to a perfusion-enhancing agent;

(b) a first adhesive layer adjacent to the skin-distal surface of the backing member;

(c) perfusion agent reservoir means adjacent to the skin-proximal surface of the backing member; and

(d) means for maintaining said reservoir in perfusion agent transmitting relationship to the skin of the patient.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said maintaining means comprises a second adhesive layer.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is opaque.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is a vasodilator.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the vasodilator is selected from nicotinic acid and lower alkyl esters of nicotinic acid.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is methyl nicotinate.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprises an emitter window and a detector window.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is methyl nicotinate, and the device further comprises a second adhesive layer adjacent to the skin-proximal surface of the rate-controlling membrane, an emitter window and a detector window.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is a counterirritant.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device further comprises a rate controlling membrane adjacent to the skin proximal surface of said reservoir means.

11. A transdermal delivery device for delivering a perfusion-enhancing agent to a human at a substantially constant rate over an extended period of time to obtain a localized increase of the cutaneous blood flow, wherein the device consists essentially of:

(a) a backing member that is substantially impermeable to a perfusion-enhancing agent;

(b) a first adhesive layer adjacent to the skin-distal surface of the backing member;

(c) a perfusion agent reservoir means adjacent to the skin-proximal surface of the backing member; and

(d) means for maintaining said reservoir in perfusion agent transmitting relationship to the skin of the patient.

12. A device according to claim 11 which further comprises an emitter window and a detector window.

13. A device according to claim 11 wherein said maintaining means comprises a second adhesive layer.

14. A device according to claim 11 wherein the device is opaque.

15. A device according to claim 11 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is a vasodilator.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the vasodilator is selected from nicotinic acid and lower alkyl esters of nicotinic acid.

17. A device according to claim 11 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is methyl nicotinate.

18. A device according to claim 11 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is methyl nicotinate, and the device further comprises a second adhesive layer adjacent to the skin-proximal surface of the rate-controlling membrane, an emitter window and a detector window.

19. A device according to claim 11 wherein the perfusion-enhancing agent is a counterirritant.

20. A device according to claim 11 wherein the extended period of time is from 8 hours to 3 days.

21. A device according to claim 11 wherein said device further comprises a rate controlling membrane adjacent to the skin proximal surface of said reservoir means.