Iontophoretic drug delivery apparatus
First Claim
1. An iontophoretic agent delivery device comprising:
- a reservoir for containing the agent to be iontophoretically delivered, said reservoir being adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation with a body surface through which said agent is to be delivered;
an electronic circuit, electrically connected to said reservoir, said circuit having a plurality of electronic components, and including a source of electrical energy, and having a circuit output, said electronic circuit being capable of controlling the level of electric current applied by the device;
a polymeric adhesive means in direct electrical contact with said circuit output, said adhesive means being electronically conductive and comprising at least a portion of the electrical connection of the circuit to the reservoir, said adhesive means being capable of repeated bending, twisting or deforming so as to permit the reservoir to conform to the body surface to which the reservoir is adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation throughout the normal range of body surface movement and activity without breakage of the electrical connection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An iontophoretic delivery device (10) is provided. Device (10) has an electronic circuit (32) having electronic components such as batteries (30) mounted thereon. Device (10) also includes a pair of electrode assemblies (18, 19). The electronic circuit (32) is electrically connected to the electrode assemblies (18, 19) using an electrically conductive adhesive (34). The adhesive can also be used to electrically connect two or more electronic components within circuit (32) or to connect an electronic component to the electronic circuit (32). In one practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (44) functions as an electrode and electrically connects the circuit (32) to an agent-containing reservoir (24, 25). In a further practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (93) functions as an agent reservoir and contains the agent to be iontophoretically delivered.
141 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An iontophoretic agent delivery device comprising:
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a reservoir for containing the agent to be iontophoretically delivered, said reservoir being adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation with a body surface through which said agent is to be delivered;
an electronic circuit, electrically connected to said reservoir, said circuit having a plurality of electronic components, and including a source of electrical energy, and having a circuit output, said electronic circuit being capable of controlling the level of electric current applied by the device;
a polymeric adhesive means in direct electrical contact with said circuit output, said adhesive means being electronically conductive and comprising at least a portion of the electrical connection of the circuit to the reservoir, said adhesive means being capable of repeated bending, twisting or deforming so as to permit the reservoir to conform to the body surface to which the reservoir is adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation throughout the normal range of body surface movement and activity without breakage of the electrical connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
a first adhesive layer, overlying;
an electrically conductive web, mat or mesh.
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17. The device of claim 16, wherein the electrically conductive web, mat or mesh overlies a second adhesive layer.
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18. The device of claim 16 wherein the conductive web, mat or mesh is comprised of carbon fibers.
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19. The device of claim 1 wherein the adhesive means has a resistivity of less than about 1000 ohm-cm.
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20. The device of claim 1 wherein the conductive adhesive means comprises at least a portion of said reservoir.
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21. The device of claim 1 wherein the adhesive means contains a liquid retaining additive.
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22. The device of claim 21 wherein the additive comprises a hydrophilic polymer.
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14. The device of 12, wherein the conductive filler comprises metal particles or flakes.
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23. An iontophoretic agent delivery device comprising:
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a reservoir for containing the agent to be iontophoretically delivered, said reservoir being adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation with a body surface through which said agent is to be delivered;
an electronic circuit electrically connected to said reservoir, said circuit having a plurality of electronic components, and including a source of electrical energy, and two circuit outputs, said circuit being capable of controlling the level of electric current applied by the device, said circuit being capable of conforming to the contours of the body surface to which the reservoir is to be placed in agent transmitting relation;
an anode and a cathode, each of said anode and said cathode being directly electrically connected to one of said circuit outputs by an electrically conductive polymeric adhesive means which adheres to said circuit outputs and said electrodes, in at least a portion thereof, to connect said circuit outputs to said electrodes, said adhesive means being capable of repeated bending, twisting or deforming so as to permit the reservoir to conform to the body surface to which the reservoir is adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation throughout the normal range of body surface movement and activity without breakage of the electrical connection. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
a first adhesive layer, overlying;
an electrically conductive web, mat or mesh.
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27. The device of claim 26, wherein the electrically conductive web, mat or mesh overlies a second layer of adhesive.
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28. The device of claim 27 wherein the additive is hydrophilic.
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29. In an iontophoretic delivery device including a reservoir for containing the agent to be delivered and an electronic circuit having a plurality of electronic components, including a source of electrical energy, and having a circuit output, a method of coupling the circuit output to an electrode comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrode in electrical contact with the reservoir; and
electrically connecting the circuit output to the electrode by applying a sheet of an electrically conductive, polymeric adhesive to the circuit output and to the electrode the sheet being capable of repeated bending, twisting or deforming so as to permit the electrode to remain in contact with the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
a first adhesive layer, overlying;
an electrically conductive web, mat or mesh.
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41. The method of claim 40, wherein the electrically conductive web, mat or mesh overlies a second adhesive layer.
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42. The method of claim 40 wherein the conductive web, mat or mesh is comprised of carbon fibers.
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43. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrically conductive adhesive has a resistivity of less than about 1000 ohm-cm.
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44. An iontophoretic agent delivery device comprising:
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a reservoir for containing the agent to be iontophoretically delivered, said reservoir being adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation with a body surface through which said agent is to be delivered;
an electronic circuit having a plurality of electronic components including a source of electrical energy, and having a circuit output electrically connected to the reservoir, said electronic circuit being capable of controlling the level of electronic current applied by the device;
an electrically conductive polymeric adhesive, in the form of a sheet, adhering to and electrically connecting at least two of said electronic components said sheet being capable of repeated bending, twisting or deforming so as to permit the sheet to remain in contact with said electronic components.- View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
a first adhesive layer, overlying;
an electrically conductive web, mat or mesh.
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55. The device of claim 54, wherein the electrically conductive web, mat or mesh overlies a second adhesive layer.
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56. The device of claim 54 wherein the conductive web, mat or mesh is comprised of carbon fibers.
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57. The device of claim 44 wherein the electrically conductive adhesive has a resistivity of less than about 1000 ohm-cm.
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52. The device of 50, wherein the conductive filler comprises metal particles or flakes.
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58. In an iontophoretic delivery device for delivery of an agent through a body surface, the device being adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation with a body surface, said device also being capable of conforming to the contours of the body surface to which said device is to transmit agent throughout the normal range of body surface movement and activity, the device including a reservoir for containing the agent to be delivered and an electronic circuit having a plurality of electronic components, including a source of electrical energy, and having a circuit output, a method of coupling the circuit output to an electrode comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrode in electrical contact with the reservoir; and
electrically connecting the circuit output to the electrode by applying a sheet of an electrically conductive, polymeric adhesive to the circuit output and to the electrode, the sheet being capable of repeated bending, twisting or deforming so as to permit the device to conform to the body surface to which the device is adapted to be placed in agent transmitting relation throughout the normal range of body surface movement and activity without breakage of the electrical connection.
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Specification