Iontophoretic drug delivery apparatus

• US 5,466,217 A
• Filed: 04/04/1994
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Plue, Richard W., Haak, Ronald P., Myers, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/222,122
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs

Abstract

An iontophoretic agent delivery device having a simplified structure and ease of manufacture. The device utilizes an electrical pathway comprising a source of electrical energy and an output means. The electrical pathway is disposed upon one of the two sides of a flexible, non-conductive substrate (e.g., a film). The output means of the pathway are connected directly or indirectly, e.g., by means of an electrically conductive adhesive tape, to the remaining components of the device such as current distribution members, lead wires, or electrodes. In this arrangement, the circuit is inverted from that of conventional devices. Economical, reel-to-reel methods of manufacturing a one-sided iontophoretic circuit apparatus of the invention are disclosed.

Claims

1. A flexible, electrically-powered iontophoresis apparatus for delivery of an agent through a body surface comprising:

a flexible, non-conductive substrate having opposing major surfaces, one of the major surfaces being oriented to face the body surface, the other surface being oriented to face away from the body surface;

a substantially planar, conductive, electronic pathway disposed on the major surface of the substrate facing the body surface, the electronic pathway including an input means and an output means which are electronically connected, the output means being electrically connected to an electrode means and the input means being electronically connected to a source of electrical energy;

whereby electrical and physical connection is achieved between the conductive pathway and the electrode in the absence of conductive pathway stress due to folding of the pathway.

2. An iontophoresis apparatus according to claim 1 which further includes a protective film having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the non-conductive substrate being disposed on the interior surface of the film.