Device for the iontophoretic delivery of a drug

• US 7,137,965 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encore Medical Asset Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Iomed, Inc. (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Fischer, Gregory A., Taylor, Malcolm E., Kolvek, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, LoAn H.
• Application Number:
  US10/054,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19, 604/48, 604/93.01, 604/410, 604/403, 604/408, 604/411, 604/415, 222/82, 222/83, 206/207, 220/265
• US Class Current: 604/93.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

An iontophoretic drug delivery device storage apparatus and a method of using that device is disclosed. The device comprises a fluid reservoir, an electrode assembly and a tray apparatus. The fluid reservoir is capable of retaining a medicament and has a sealed fluid chamber defined by at least one seal. The seal includes a weaker region and a pinch-like configuration associated with that region such that application of pressure to the fluid reservoir breaks the weaker region of the seal, releasing the retained medicament. The electrode assembly comprises an active electrode, at least two passive electrodes a medicament carrying region, and a moat region around the medicament carrying region so that once fluid is delivered from the fluid reservoir to the electrode assembly the fluid is substantially retained in the medicament carrying means.

Claims

1. A fluid reservoir for use with a drug delivery device, the fluid reservoir comprising:

a sealed fluid chamber including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cavity there between, the cavity being at least partially defined by at least one seal and capable of holding a fluid therein;

means for fracturing at least a portion of the at least one seal; and

,

means for controllably releasing the fluid from the cavity;

wherein the at least one seal comprises at least a first attachment region; and

,

a second attachment region, wherein the first attachment region being weaker than the second attachment region, and

a release reservoir adjacent the fluid reservoir having a means for directing released fluid to the release reservoir adjacent the fluid reservoir wherein the fluid direction means comprises at least one slit in the release reservoir.

2. The fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the top surface is deformable upon exertion of a force.

3. The fluid reservoir of claim 1 wherein the at least one seal comprising a pinch point.

4. The fluid reservoir of claim 1 wherein the first attachment region comprising a pinch point.

5. The fluid reservoir of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the top surface is deformable upon exertion of a force.

6. The fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir can be configured in numerous geometrical patterns, one of which is selected from the group consisting of circles, ovals, rectangles, and squares.