On-demand iontophoretic system

• US 5,427,585 A
• Filed: 03/29/1993
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David S. Bettinger
• Original Assignee: David S. Bettinger
• Inventors: Bettinger, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rafa, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/038,285
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 607/149, 607/151, 607/152
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir

Abstract

A transdermal medication system wherein said medication is selectively dispensed on-demand from multiple reservoirs within a disposable patch so as to vary the drug choice and the drug concentration, and thereby the regimen and release rate. In a preferred embodiment electric resistance heating activates multiple heat-shrink polymer reservoirs into an absorbent layer for transdermal passage. An embodiment of the invention dispenses a heated moisturizing fluid to facilitate transdermal transfer. In another embodiment, depletion indication is provided.

Claims

1. An iontophoretic medication patch of the type comprising a source of electrical power connected to an agent reservoir containing an agent to be transdermally delivered and an absorbent layer positioned between the agent reservoir and a skin contacting surface of the patch through which said agent is delivered, the improvement comprising wherein said absorbent layer contains an electric heating element with means for connection to a power source, and a source of moisturizing liquid within said absorbent layer, whereby when current is applied to said heating element, said patch pretreats the skin under said patch for iontophoretic delivery of agent.