Transdermal drug applicator and electrodes therefor

• US 5,931,804 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drug Delivery Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Drug Delivery Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Sibalis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/474,258
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20-21, 607/115, 607/149, 424/448-449
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir

Abstract

An improved transdermal drug applicator for application to a living body for the migration of at least one medicament through the skin into the blood stream embodying at least two electrode elements forming the applicator and with the electrodes separated from each other by insulating means. A reservoir means, in at least one of said electrode elements of said applicator, containing said medicament; and a circuit, including a power source, for supplying electric power to said electrodes and such reservoir means. Suitable cover means partially enclosed at least said reservoir means, and adhesive means affixes the applicator to the skin, so as to complete an electrical circuit through the skin when the applicator is affixed thereto, thus creating at least one physico/chemical mass transfer phenomenon which causes said medicament to migrate through the skin.

Claims

1. A conformable, flexible transdermal drug applicator for application to a living body for the migration of at least one medicament through the skin into the blood stream comprising:

at least two conformable, flexible electrode elements separated from each other,

reservoir means located in at least one of said electrode elements and containing at least one medicament, and partitioned by a semi-permeable membrane which forms a drug gradient across the reservoir means,

circuit means, including a power source, for supplying electric power to the at least two electrode elements and the reservoir means,

dam means comprising an impervious, non-conductive material disposed between the at least two reservoirs such that the dam means seal against the skin when the drug applicator is affixed to the skin to preclude electrical shorting across the at least two electrode elements, and

adhesive means for affixing said applicator to said skin, whereby an electrical circuit through the skin is formed when said applicator is affixed to said skin, thereby creating at least one physio/chemical mass transfer phenomenon which causes said medicament to migrate through the skin.

2. A transdermal drug applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the electrode elements contain reservoir means and each reservoir means contain a different medicament.