Apparatus and method for in vivo delivery of therapeutic agents

• US 6,490,482 B2
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Mori, Kenji, Sato, Shuji, Nozawa, Iwao
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US09/186,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20-22, 604/501, 435/173.6, 601/1-2, 601/15, 601/17, 607/1-3
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/042 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0424 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0444 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

Electroporation electrodes are laminated to a permeable membrane to form an electrode membrane. Such an electrode membrane is useful for a continuous controlled delivery of a therapeutic agent through the skin or mucosa, when placed in direct contact with the skin or mucosa and by application of electric field pulses at specified intervals. An electrode membrane can be assembled such that it incorporates an iontophoretic electrode in the same device. This device can be jointly utilized for electroporation and iontophoretic drug delivery through the skin and mucosal membrane.

Claims

1. A device for administering a therapeutic agent, comprising:

an electrode cup, including an electrode and a rim; and

an electrode membrane attached to the rim of the electrode cup, including a permeable membrane and a pair of electrodes imprinted into the permeable membrane.

2. The device of claim 1 where the electrode in the electrode cup is connected to an iontophoretic generator.

3. The device of claim 1 where the electrodes in the electrode membrane are connected to an electroporation generator.

4. A method of in vivo administration of a therapeutic agent comprising:

a) contacting to a site of administration a device which includes an electrode cup comprising a therapeutic agent, an electrode and a rim, and an electrode membrane attached to the rim of the electrode cup which comprises a permeable membrane and a pair of electrodes imprinted into the permeable membrane, whereby the electrode membrane contacts the site of administration; and

b) applying electric signal to the electrodes.