Passive transdermal device with controlled drug delivery
First Claim
1. A transdermal device for the controlled administration of a drug to the skin, which comprises a reservoir for the drug, an electric circuit comprising an electrode system of at least two electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is permeable to the drug, which electrode system has means for electrolytically transporting the drug in a controlled manner within the device by a potential difference applied to the electrodes, the drug passing through the at least one drug permeable electrode of the electrode system, wherein the electrodes are disposed internally of the device such that the skin does not form a part of the electric circuit, means for securing the device in contact with the external skin of a patient, the drug being actively transported from the reservoir in the direction of the skin for transport therethrough, by energising the electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transdermal device for the controlled administration of a drug to the skin comprises a reservoir (12) for the drug and an electric circuit which includes an electrode system (13, 14) which is operable to actively transport the drug in a controlled manner from the reservoir (12) towards the skin for transport therethrough, the skin not being part of the electric circuit, and the drug passing through an electrode (13) of said electrode system (13, 14) during the active transport to the skin. The electrode (13) is disposed between the reservoir (12) for the drug and an optional transit chamber (15). The electrode (13) can be permeable to the drug or the electrode can function as a gate, being permeable to the drug in the open condition and less permeable to the drug in the closed condition. The operation of the gate can be determined by the composition or the structure of the electrode (13). The device achieves drug delivery rates comparable to those achieved with iontophoretic devices.
139 Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A transdermal device for the controlled administration of a drug to the skin, which comprises a reservoir for the drug, an electric circuit comprising an electrode system of at least two electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is permeable to the drug, which electrode system has means for electrolytically transporting the drug in a controlled manner within the device by a potential difference applied to the electrodes, the drug passing through the at least one drug permeable electrode of the electrode system, wherein the electrodes are disposed internally of the device such that the skin does not form a part of the electric circuit, means for securing the device in contact with the external skin of a patient, the drug being actively transported from the reservoir in the direction of the skin for transport therethrough, by energising the electrodes.
- 18. A transdermal device for the controlled administration of a drug to the skin, which comprises a reservoir formed of a shaped mass of a material in which the drug is distributed for storage, a transit chamber adapted for contact with the skin, and an electric circuit comprising an electrode system of at least two electrodes, which electrode system is operable to actively transport the drug electrolytically in a controlled manner within the device, the drug passing through an electrode of the electrode system, which electrode is permeable to the drug and is disposed between the reservoir for the drug and the transit chamber therefor, the electrodes being disposed internally of the device such that the skin does not form part of the electric circuit and such that the drug is electrolytically transported from the reservoir in the direction of the skin for transport therethrough, by energising the electrodes.
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40. A method for the controlled passive transdermal delivery of at least one drug to a subject, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a transdermal device to the skin of the subject, wherein the transdermal device comprises; i) the at least one drug; ii) a reservoir for storing the at least one drug; and iii) an electric circuit comprising an electrode system of at least two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are disposed internally in the device such that the skin does not form part of the electric circuit and wherein the drug is actively transported from the reservoir in the direction of the skin when the electric circuit is energised; (b) providing a voltage potential across the electric circuit electrodes causing electrolytic transport of the at least one drug in a controlled manner within the device between the electrodes to provide controlled delivery of the at least one drug to the skin of the subject; and (c) delivering the at least one drug to the subject via controlled passive transdermal delivery.
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41. A method for the controlled passive transdermal delivery of at least one drug to a subject, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a transdermal device to the skin of the subject, wherein the transdermal device comprises; i) the at least one drug; ii) a reservoir for storing the at least one drug; iii) an electric circuit comprising an electrode system of at least two electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is permeable to the at least one drug, wherein the electrodes are disposed internally in the device such that the skin does not form part of the electric circuit and wherein the drug is actively transported from the reservoir in the direction of the skin and through the at least one electrode permeable to the at least one drug when the electric circuit is energised; iv) a transit chamber adapted for contact with the skin, wherein the electrode permeable to the at least one drug is disposed between the reservoir for the drug and the transit chamber; (b) providing a voltage potential across the electric circuit electrodes causing the electrolytic transport of the at least one drug in a controlled manner within the device between the electrodes and from the reservoir through the electrode permeable to the at least one drug to the transit chamber to allow for the controlled delivery of the at least one drug to the skin of the subject from the transit chamber; and (c) delivering the at least one drug to the subject via controlled passive transdermal delivery.
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Specification