Iontophoretic drug delivery systems
First Claim
1. An implantable electrotransport comprising:
- a first electrode comprising an electropositive material in operable communication with an ionic fluid;
a second electrode comprising an electronegative material in operable communication with said ionic fluid;
a bio-compatibile semipermeable membrane disposed adjacently under at least a portion of either said first electrode or said second electrode, said semipermeable membrane configured to be in fluid communication with said ionic fluid in an environment in which said electrotransport device is placed;
a compartment adapted for containing a beneficial agent therein, the compartment in operable communication with said first or second electrode, said semipermeable membrane configured to be in fluid communication with any beneficial agent contained in said compartment; and
a conductor, insulated from said ionic fluid, said conductor extending from said first electrode to said second electrode and providing an electrical interconnection therebetween;
wherein said electropositive material, said electronegative conductor and said ionic fluid complete a circuit capable of creating a current beneath a stratum corneum skin layer sufficient to transport said beneficial agent through said membrane without an additional power source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrotransport device is provided for the site specific delivery of drugs or other beneficial agents across or under a skin or tissue surface. In one embodiment, the electrotransport device is configured in whole, or in part, to be implanted under a subject'"'"'s stratum corneum, and uses an electrical current to facilitate drug or other beneficial agent delivery through a semipermeable membrane and into the tissue of the subject. In another embodiment, a device for intraocular delivery of drug or beneficial agent is disclosed which device is placed on the conjunctiva of a subject, wherein lacrimal fluid completes a circuit for delivering the drug or beneficial agent. Methods of using the devices of the present invention are also provided.
69 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An implantable electrotransport comprising:
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a first electrode comprising an electropositive material in operable communication with an ionic fluid; a second electrode comprising an electronegative material in operable communication with said ionic fluid; a bio-compatibile semipermeable membrane disposed adjacently under at least a portion of either said first electrode or said second electrode, said semipermeable membrane configured to be in fluid communication with said ionic fluid in an environment in which said electrotransport device is placed; a compartment adapted for containing a beneficial agent therein, the compartment in operable communication with said first or second electrode, said semipermeable membrane configured to be in fluid communication with any beneficial agent contained in said compartment; and a conductor, insulated from said ionic fluid, said conductor extending from said first electrode to said second electrode and providing an electrical interconnection therebetween; wherein said electropositive material, said electronegative conductor and said ionic fluid complete a circuit capable of creating a current beneath a stratum corneum skin layer sufficient to transport said beneficial agent through said membrane without an additional power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electrotransport device for delivering molecules of a beneficial agent to tissue of a subject upon implantation, said electrotransport device comprising:
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a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, each of said plurality of spaced apart electrodes adapted to be placed over a subject'"'"'s tissue surface; wherein at least one of said plurality of spaced apart electrodes comprises an electropositive or an electronegative material; at least one insulated conductor extending between two of said plurality of spaced apart electrodes; at least one reservoir disposed under an electrically conducting area of a first electrode of said plurality of spaced apart electrodes, said at least one reservoir adapted to accommodate the molecules of beneficial agent; and a bio-compatible ion exchange membrane configured to conduct a current disposed adjacently under said at least one reservoir, said ion exchange membrane adapted to be implanted under at least a portion of the tissue of a subject; wherein a subject'"'"'s stratum corneum tissue completes a circuit between said plurality of spaced apart electrodes upon implantation under the subject'"'"'s skin surface and enables delivery of molecules of the beneficial agent to the subject. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of electrically facilitating the transport of a beneficial agent to a body tissue of a subject, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of electrodes configured to conduct electrical current in relation to said body tissue, a first electrode comprising electropositive material and a second electrode comprising electronegative material, said first and second electrodes configured on a single housing; providing at least one beneficial agent reservoir disposed adjacently to an electrically conductive area of at least one said plurality of electrodes; including a beneficial agent in said beneficial agent reservoir, providing at least one semipermeable membrane in fluid communication with said at least one beneficial agent reservoir, said at least one semipermeable membrane configured to substantially inhibit passive diffusion of a beneficial agent therethrough in the absence of an electrical current applied at said at least one semipermeable membrane and said beneficial agent; implanting at least a portion of said at least one semipermeable membrane beneath a subject'"'"'s stratum corneum skin layer, wherein, responsive to said implanting, a circuit is completed between said plurality of electrodes capable of transmitting a voltage from said plurality of electrodes and said at least one semipermeable membrane to said body tissues beneath said stratum corneum skin layer, said voltage effecting transport of said beneficial agent through said at least one semipermeable membrane, said voltage facilitating transport of said beneficial agent through said body tissue, and delivering said beneficial agent to the subject'"'"'s body tissues. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An intraocular delivery device for delivering a beneficial agent to a subject'"'"'s eye using liquid present on the surface of the subject'"'"'s conjunctiva to complete a circuit between two complementary electrodes configured within said intraocular drug delivery device, said intraocular drug delivery device comprising:
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a membrane comprising a polymer, semipermeable to water, and further comprising first and second surfaces, said first surface being adapted to be placed on the subject'"'"'s conjunctiva to interact with any liquid present thereon, said second surface configured to contain a beneficial agent for delivery to the subject; a first electrode in fluid communication with said membrane and said beneficial agent, said first electrode comprising an electropositive or an electronegative material; and a second electrode comprising an electropositive or an electronegative material, said second electrode configured to be in fluid communication with the subject'"'"'s conjunctiva, but, except for conductive material connecting said first and second electrodes, electrically isolated from said first electrode, said first and second electrodes being selected, when configured together as a circuit, to form a battery, said first and second electrodes configured on a unitary housing; wherein, when said intraocular drug delivery device is placed on the subject'"'"'s conjunctiva, any electrically conductive liquid present thereon completes an ionic circuit between said first and second electrodes; wherein said electropositive or electronegative material of said first electrode is complementary to said second electronegative or electropositive material of said second electrode, respectively, such that when electrically connected with any electrically conductive liquid present on the subject'"'"'s conjunctiva, said battery is formed that drives the beneficial agent through said membrane for delivery to the subject'"'"'s conjunctiva upon completing an electronic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification