Multicompartmentalized transdermal patches

Claim 2

In a transdermal or dermal patch for administering a controlled amount of a drug to skin or mucous membrane comprising, in sequence, A. a backing layer which is not permeable to said drug, B. a first membranous layer permeable to said drug, said first membranous layer and said backing layer being sealed together so as to define an enclosure for containing said drug, C. said drug contained within said enclosure, D. an adhesive layer on said first membranous layer, and E. a first removeable protective layer on said adhesive layer, the improvement which comprises subdividing said enclosure into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments containing therein a drug, drug concentration, or drug formulation which differs from that contained in at least one other of said compartments.

Claim 3

The patch of claim 1 wherein each compartment is no greater than 30 cm 2 in area.

Claim 4

The patch of claim 1 wherein the maximum distance from the center of gravity of a compartment and a boundary of said compartment is 2.70 cm.

Claim 5

The patch of claim 1 wherein the perimeter of a compartment is no greater than 4.04 times the square root of that compartment area.

Claim 6

In a transdermal or dermal patch for administering a controlled amount of a drug to skin or mucous membrane comprising, in sequence, A. a backing layer which is not permeable to said drug, B. a first membranous layer permeable to said drug, said first membranous layer and said backing layer being sealed together so as to define an enclosure for containing said drug, C. said drug contained within said enclosure, D. an adhesive layer on said first membranous layer, and E. a first removeable protective layer on said adhesive layer, the improvement which comprises subdividing said enclosure into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments containing therein a drug, drug concentration, or drug formulation which is the same as or differs from that contained in at least one other of said compartments wherein at least one compartment, but not all, is modified by having a nonpermeable membrane thereon in addition to or in place of said first membranous layer or has an occlusive adhesive in addition to or in place of said adhesive layer so as to prevent said drug within said modified compartment from passing therethrough.

Claim 7

In a transdermal or dermal patch for administering a controlled amount of a drug to skin or mucous membrane comprising, in sequence, A. a backing layer which is not permeable to said drug, B. a first membranous layer permeable to said drug, said first membranous layer and said backing layer being sealed together so as to define an enclosure for containing said drug, C. said drug contained within said enclosure, D. an adhesive layer on said first membranous layer, and E. a first removeable protective layer on said adhesive layer, the improvement which comprises subdividing said enclosure into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments containing therein a drug, drug concentration, or drug formulation which is the same as or differs from that contained in at least one other of said compartments wherein at least one compartment, but not all, is modified by having a nonpermeable membrane thereon in addition to or in place of said first membranous layer or has an occlusive adhesive in addition to or in place of said adhesive layer so as to prevent said drug within said modified compartment from passing therethrough.

Claim 8

In a transdermal or dermal patch for administering a controlled amount of a drug to skin or mucous membrane comprising, in sequence, A. a backing layer which is not permeable to said drug, B. a first membranous layer permeable to said drug, said first membranous layer and said backing layer being sealed together to as to define an enclosure for containing said drug, C. said drug contained within said enclosure, D. an adhesive layer on said first membranous layer, and E. a first removeable protective layer on said adhesive layer, the improvement which comprises subdividing said enclosure into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments containing therein a drug, drug concentration, or drug formulation which is the same as or differs from that contained in at least one other of said compartments wherein at least one compartment-compartment border comprises a non-burstable permeable membrane and a burstable, non-permeable membrane, said burstable membrane to be broken before, during, or after applying said patch to a patient.

Claim 9

In a transdermal or dermal patch for administering a controlled amount of a drug to skin or mucous membrane comprising, in sequence, A. a backing layer which is not permeable to said drug, B. a first membranous layer permeable to said drug, said first membranous layer and said backing layer being sealed together to as to define an enclosure for containing said drug, C. said drug contained within said enclosure, D. an adhesive layer on said first membranous layer, and E. a first removeable protective layer on said adhesive layer, the improvement which comprises subdividing said enclosure into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments containing therein a drug, drug concentration, or drug formulation which is the same as or differs from that contained in at least one other of said compartments wherein at least one compartment-compartment border comprises a non-burstable permeable membrane and a burstable, non-permeable membrane, said burstable membrane to be broken before, during, or after applying said patch to a patient.

Claim 10

In a transdermal or dermal patch for administering a controlled amount of a drug to skin or mucous membrane comprising, in sequence, A. a backing layer which is not permeable to said drug, B. a first membranous layer permeable to said drug said first membranous layer and said backing layer being sealed together to as to define an enclosure for containing said drug C. said drug contained within said enclosure, D. an adhesive layer on said first membranous layer, and E. a first removeable protective layer on said adhesive layer, the improvement which comprises subdividing said enclosure into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments contained therein a drug, drug concentration, or drug formulation which is the same as or differs from that contained in at least one other of said compartments wherein a portion of said backing layer is replaced with a second permeable membrane in contact with said active agent, an additional adhesive layer on said second permeable membrane remote from said active agent and a second removeable protective layer on said additional adhesive, such that upon removal of said first removable protective layer, said patch may be folded upon itself, exposed adhesive to exposed adhesive to result in a final patch having one compartment located on top of another.

Claim 11

In a transdermal or dermal patch for administering a controlled amount of a drug to skin or mucous membrane comprising, in sequence, A. a backing layer which is not permeable to said drug, B. a first membranous layer permeable to said drug said first membranous layer and said backing layer being sealed together to as to define an enclosure for containing said drug C. said drug contained within said enclosure, D. an adhesive layer on said first membranous layer, and E. a first removeable protective layer on said adhesive layer, the improvement which comprises subdividing said enclosure into at least two compartments, at least one of said compartments contained therein a drug, drug concentration, or drug formulation which is the same as or differs from that contained in at least one other of said compartments wherein a portion of said backing layer is replaced with a second permeable membrane in contact with said active agent, an additional adhesive layer on said second permeable membrane remote from said active agent and a second removeable protective layer on said additional adhesive, such that upon removal of said first removable protective layer, said patch may be folded upon itself, exposed adhesive to exposed adhesive to result in a final patch having one compartment located on top of another.

Claim 12

The patch of claim 1 wherein said drug is nitroglycerine or arecoline.

Claim 13

The patch of claim 1 wherein at least one compartment contains a drug formulation having a flux enhancer as a component thereof.

Claim 14

A method of administering a drug to a patient comprising removing said removeable layer from a patch of claim 1 to expose an adhesive layer and applying said patch absent said removeable layer, to said patient so that said adhesive layer contacts said patient.

Claim 15

The patch of claim 5 wherein said drug is nitroglycerine or arecoline.

Claim 16

The patch of claim 6 wherein said drug is nitroglycerine or arecoline.

Claim 17

The patch of claim 7 wherein said drug is nitroglycerine or arecoline.

Claim 18

The patch of claim 5 wherein at least one compartment contains a drug formulation having a flux enhancer as a component thereof.

Claim 19

the patch of claim 6 wherein at least one compartment contains a drug formulation having a flux enhancer as a component thereof.

Claim 20

The patch of claim 7 wherein at least one compartment contains a drug formulation having a flux enhancer as a component thereof.

Claim 21

A method of administering a drug to a patient comprising removing said removeable layer from a patch of claim 5 to expose an adhesive layer and applying said patch absent said removeable layer, to said patient so that said adhesive layer contacts said patient.

Claim 22

A method of administering a drug to a patient comprising removing said removeable layer from a patch of claim 6 to expose an adhesive layer and applying said patch absent said removeable layer, to said patient so that said adhesive layer contacts said patient.

Claim 23

A method of administering a drug to a patient comprising removing said second removeable layer from a patch of claim 7 to expose an adhesive layer and applying said patch absent said removeable layer, to said patient so that said adhesive layer contacts said patient.