Transdermal perfusion of fluids
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in transdermal perfusion of fluids through the skin of the human or animal body, the apparatus comprising a housing attachable to the body and having a contact surface which in use is held in contact with a portion of skin, the housing defining a chamber and the contact surface defining an aperture communicating with the chamber, and fluid supply means operable during a perfusion phase of operation of the apparatus to supply fluid to the chamber wherein the apparatus further comprises de-epithelializing means for removing a portion of the skin'"'"'s epidermis from the skin'"'"'s underlying dermis, the de-epithelializing means being operable during a preparatory phase of operation of the apparatus to expose an area of dermis of the skin at a treatment site which is accessible via the aperture such that subsequently during the pension phase direct contact is made between fluid in the chamber and the dermis.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for removing a small area of epidermis from the skin to expose an intact area of dermis and subsequently deliver a liquid in contact with the exposed dermis. This method of delivery allows the rate of absorption of substances into the body to be enhanced by removal of the epidermis. A preferred embodiment removes the epidermis by forming a suction blister, the apparatus having a housing attached to the skin adhesively to define a chamber in which suction is applied. Suction is applied to the chamber without connection to an external source of suction by means of an evacuated cell separated from the chamber by a disruptable membrane. A tubular member is actuated to rupture the membrane, disrupt the blister and deliver liquid to the chamber in successive stages of operation of the apparatus.
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Citations
25 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for use in transdermal perfusion of fluids through the skin of the human or animal body, the apparatus comprising a housing attachable to the body and having a contact surface which in use is held in contact with a portion of skin, the housing defining a chamber and the contact surface defining an aperture communicating with the chamber, and fluid supply means operable during a perfusion phase of operation of the apparatus to supply fluid to the chamber wherein the apparatus further comprises de-epithelializing means for removing a portion of the skin'"'"'s epidermis from the skin'"'"'s underlying dermis, the de-epithelializing means being operable during a preparatory phase of operation of the apparatus to expose an area of dermis of the skin at a treatment site which is accessible via the aperture such that subsequently during the pension phase direct contact is made between fluid in the chamber and the dermis.
- 12. Apparatus for use in the formation of a suction blister on the skin of the human or animal body, the apparatus comprising a housing, means for attaching the housing to the body, the housing having a contact surface which in use is held in sealing contact with the skin, the housing defining a chamber and the contact surface defining an aperture communicating with the chamber, and the apparatus further comprising suction means operable to form a partial vacuum in the chamber and thereby form a suction blister at a treatment site which is accessible via the aperture, the housing being cooperable with the skin to form a closed airtight compartment of which the chamber constitutes at least a part, the chamber shape being such as to allow a suction blister to form in the chamber by delamination of the skin at the treatment site and by comprising sealing means operable between the contact surface and an annular portion of skin peripheral to the treatment site whereby the partial vacuum is maintainable by substantially preventing the ingress of air during a blister forming period.
- 19. A method of transdermal perfusion of fluids through the skin of the human or animal body, comprising the steps of attaching a housing to the body such that a contact surface of the housing is held in contact with a portion of skin, the housing defining a chamber and the contact surface defining an aperture communicating with the chamber, and operating a fluid supply means during a perfusion phase of operation to supply a quantity of fluid to the chamber, further comprising the step of de-epithelialization whereby a portion of the skin'"'"'s epidermis is removed from the skins'"'"'s underlying dermis during a preparatory phase of operation of the apparatus to expose an area of dermis of the skin at a treatment site which is accessible via the aperture such that subsequently during the perfusion phase direct contact is made between fluid in the chamber and the dermis.
- 22. A method of forming a suction blister on the skin of the human or animal body, comprising the steps of attaching a housing to the body such that a contact surface of the housing is held in sealing contact with the skin, the housing defining a chamber and the contact surface defining an aperture communicating with the chamber, operating suction means to form a partial vacuum in the chamber and thereby applying suction to an area of skin at a treatment site that is accessible via the aperture, and maintaining the partial vacuum during a blister forming period of about two to three hours until a portion of the skin'"'"'s epidermis becomes separated from the skin'"'"'s underlying dermis by the formation of a suction blister, wherein the housing cooperates with the skin to form a closed compartment of which the chamber constitutes at least a part and by including the step of applying sealing means between the contact surface and an annular area of the skin peripheral to the treatment site prior to operation of the suction means whereby the partial vacuum is subsequently maintained by substantially preventing the ingress of air during said blister forming period.
Specification