Transdermal drug delivery device

Claim 2

An iontophoretic device comprising in combination: an insulating member having an inner surface positionable adjacent skin of a recipient, a plurality of reservoirs in the insulating member and adapted to contain an ionic drug and terminating in a rim formed by said inner surface, an outer electrode in contact with the drug, an inner electrode on the inner surface and spaced from the rim to define a gap therebetween, field between generating means for energizing the electrodes to draw the drug recipientwise and outward from the rim.

Claim 3

The iontophoretic device in Claim 1 with the reservoir having a depth measured from the outer electrode to the inner surface, the gap of similar dimension to the depth.

Claim 4

The iontophoretic device of Claim 2 with the reservoir having a width of similar dimension to the depth.

Claim 5

An iontophoretic device comprising in combination: an insulating member having an inner surface positionable adjacent skin of recipient, a plurality of reservoirs in the insulating member and adapted to contain a drug and, terminating in a rim formed by said inner surface, an outer electrode in contact with the drug, the reservoir having a depth measured from the outer electrode to the inner surface; an inner electrode on the inner surface and spaced from the rim to define a gap therebetween; the gap of similar dimension to the depth, field generating means for energizing the electrodes to draw the drug recipientwise and outward from the rim, the insulating member a flat plate having an outer surface, the reservoir passing completely through the insulating member from the outer surface to the inner surface, the outer electrode adhered on the outer surface, the inner electrode adhered on the inner surface.

Claim 6

An iontophoretic device comprising in combination: an insulating member having an inner surface positionable adjacent skin of recipient, a plurality of reservoirs in the insulating member and adapted to contain a drug and, terminating in a rim formed by said inner surface, an outer electrode in contact with the drug, the reservoir having a depth measured from the outer electrode to the inner surface; an inner electrode on the inner surface and spaced from the rim to define a gap therebetween; the gap of similar dimension to the depth, field generating means for energizing the electrodes to draw the drug recipientwise and outward from the rim, the insulating member a flat plate having an outer surface, the reservoir passing completely through the insulating member from the outer surface to the inner surface, the outer electrode adhered on the outer surface, the inner electrode adhered on the inner surface.

Claim 7

The iontophoretic device of Claim 4 with the drug in a gel form.

Claim 8

The iontophoretic device of Claim 4 with the drug in a cellular absorbing material.

Claim 9

The iontophoretic device of Claim 4 with the field generating means comprising a power source operatively connected to the pulse generator and arranged to supply pulses of high frequency wave forms in a predetermined duty cycle for pulsing current through the drug to cause the drawing of the drug to be at reduced impedance and resistance.

Claim 10

The iotophoretic device of Claim 4 with the reservoir substantially cylindrical.

Claim 11

The iontophoretic device of Claim 4 with the reservoir substantially a right parallepiped.

Claim 12

The iontophoretic device of Claim 4 with the reservoir forked in its plan view, the inner electrode a complementary fork to the reservoir.

Claim 13

The iontophoretic device of Claim 10 with both the reservoir and the inner electrode snail like in plan view.

Claim 14

The iontophoretic device of Claim 11 with reservoirs concentric to plan view.

Claim 15

The iontophoretic device of Claim 12 with the reservoirs circular in plan view.

Claim 16

The iontophoretic device of claim 1 with the electrode comprising conductive metal sheets

Claim 17

The iontophoretic device of Claim 1 with the electrodes comprising a thin coating of silver on a substance.

Claim 18

The iontophoretic device of Claim 1 wherein the field generating means comprises a power source in form of a battery having a voltage of 3 to 9 volts.

Claim 19

The iontophoretic device of Claim 16 wherin the battery is selected to enable the recipient a minimum of 8 to 10 service hours at a current level of 5-10mA.

Claim 20

The further iontophoretic device of claim 16 wherein the field generating means includes a current control means in the form of a microprocessor placed in series with the pulse generator to enable an operator to program a therapeutic program.

Claim 21

The iontophoretic device of Claim 1 wherein the energizing means is mounted on a separate member connected to the electrodes quick connectors, each connected to either one of the electrodes.

Claim 22

The iontophoretic device as in claim 1 wherein a liquid solution of the drug is stored in a flexible container having a trough extended from it; and said container can be punctured by a yarn or other mechanism extended out of said device; and when said container is punctured said drug solution is absorbed in a capillary absorbing layer provided between said outer electrode and said insulating layer which then become the drug reservoir.