Exothermic topical delivery device

• US 6,890,553 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sun, Ying, Oakeson, Ralph W., Wang, Jonas C. T., Wisniewski, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): George, Konata M.
• Application Number:
  US09/612,357
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 424/449, 424/448, 424/447, 424/443, 424/402, 424/400, 602/41, 602/46
• US Class Current: 424/449
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/064 Moxaburners
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0276 with separate compartments connectable by rupturing a wall or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00902 containing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/034 Flameless

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exothermic device for topically delivering an active agent comprising a liquid reservoir comprising water, a heating element comprising an oxidizable material, an oxygen-permeable outer-layer, an active agent, and a water-impermeable layer, wherein upon the rupturing of the liquid reservoir, the water contacts the heating element and the oxygen to create and exothermic reaction.

Claims

1. An exothermic device for topically delivering an active agent, said device comprising:

(a) a plurality of liquid reservoirs, wherein said reservoirs are capsules comprising water;

(b) a heating element, said heating element comprising an oxidizable material and where said heating element is in communication with said liquid reservoir;

(c) an oxygen-permeable outer-layer, wherein said oxygen-permeable layer is in communication with said heating element, permits oxygen from the environment to contact said heating clement, and substantially inhibits the permeation of water from the heating element into the environment;

(d) an active agent; and

(e) a water-impermeable layer, wherein said water-impermeable layer separates said heating element and said active agent;

wherein upon the rupturing of said liquid reservoir, said water contacts said heating element and said oxygen to create an exothermic reaction.

2. A device of claim 1, wherein said liquid reservoir is contained between said oxygen-permeable layer and said water-impermeable layer.

3. A device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer comprising an adhesive for affixing said device to the skin of the user.

4. A device of claim 3, wherein said device further comprises a removable liner affixed to said adhesive layer.

5. A devise of claim 3, wherein said adhesive layer comprises said active agent.

6. A device of claim 1, wherein said liquid reservoir further comprises a salt, said salt selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, FeCl₃, FeCl₂, MgCl₂, AlCl₃, Na₂SO₄, K₂SO₄, Fe(SO₄)₃, FeSO₄, or MgSO₄.

7. A device of claim 1, wherein said heating element further comprises a salt, said salt selected from the group consisting of NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂, FeC1₃, FeCl₂, MgCl₂, AlCl₃, Na₂SO₄, K₂SO₄, Fe(SO₄)₃, FeSO₄, or MgSO₄.

8. A device of claim 1, wherein said oxidizable material comprises carbon and metal powder, said metal powder selected form the group consisting of iron, aluminum, magnesium, zinc, and a mixture thereof.

9. A device of claim 1, wherein said oxidizable material comprises carbon and an inorganic powder, said inorganic powder selected from the group consisting of ferrosoferric oxide, plumboblumbic oxide, trimanganese tetroxide, black copper oxide and manganese dioxide.

10. A device of claim 1, wherein said heating element is contained within a water-permeable membrane.

11. A device of claim 1, wherein said heating clement further comprises a polymer.

12. A device of claim 1, wherein said active agent is for the treatment of acne.

13. A device of claim 1, wherein said oxygen-permeable layer is an open-oell foam.

14. A device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a removable oxygen-impermeable cover sheet affixed to said oxygen-permeable layer.

15. A device of claim 1, wherein said exothermic reaction is between about 40°

C. and 42°

C.

16. A method of topically delivering an active agent to a mammal, said method comprising attaching the device of claim 1 to a barrier membrane of said mammal.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein said mammal is a human.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein said device is attached to the skin of said human.

19. A method of claim 17, wherein said device is attached a mucosal layer of said human.