Dermal substance collection device

Claim 2

A dermal substance collection device for the immediate and continuous collection of a dermal substance from a dermal surface, comprising (a) a binding reservoir material for binding with said dermal substance to prevent back transfer loss of said dermal substance from said collection device to the dermal surface; (b) a liquid bridge transfer medium which allows the instantaneous and continuous transfer of said dermal substance from the dermal surface to said binding reservoir material, said binding reservoir material being maintained in a wet-state by said liquid bridge transfer medium; and (c) a cover means for occlusively containing said binding reservoir material and said liquid bridge transfer medium and for occlusively maintaining said liquid bridge transfer medium in continuous contact with the dermal surface upon application of said collection device to the dermal surface.

Claim 3

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 1 wherein said liquid bridge transfer medium is immobilized.

Claim 4

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 2 wherein said binding reservoir material is dispersed in said immobilized liquid bridge transfer medium.

Claim 5

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 2 wherein said binding reservoir is selected from the group consisting of activated charcoal, ion-exchange resin, immobilized antibody, silica, zeolite, and molecular sieve.

Claim 6

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 2 wherein said occlusive cover means is comprised of an outer adhesive layer and an inner metallic foil layer contiguous to said immobilized liquid bridge transfer medium.

Claim 7

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 5 wherein said occlusive cover means further comprises a transfer medium-surrounding closed-cell foam layer contiguous to said foil layer.

Claim 8

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 2 wherein said immobilized liquid bridge transfer medium comprises a protruding surface relative to the occlusive cover means and the dermal surface-interface to maintain positive pressure contact between said transfer medium and said dermal surface.

Claim 9

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 3 wherein said binding reservoir material is activated charcoal and said immobilized liquid bridge transfer medium is an aqueous gel.

Claim 10

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous gel comprises an osmotically active substance.

Claim 11

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous gel consists essentially of an osmotically active aqueous solution and an agarose gelling agent.

Claim 12

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 10 wherein said osmotically active aqueous solution contains sodium chloride present in an amount up to saturation of said aqueous gel.

Claim 13

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 11 wherein the amount of agarose is 0.5 to 30% by weight of the aqueous sodium chloride solution and the amount of activated charcoal is 0.5 to 30% by weight of the aqueous gel.

Claim 14

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 12 wherein the amount of agarose is about 3 weight % of the aqueous sodium chloride solution and the amount of activated charcoal is about 5 weight % of the aqueous gel.

Claim 15

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous gel comprises agarose gelling agent.

Claim 16

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous gel comprises a polyvinylalcohol polymer gelling agent.

Claim 17

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 8 wherein said aqueous gel comprises a penetraion enhancing agent.

Claim 18

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 16 wherein the penetraion enhancing agent is selected from the group consisting of n,n-diethyl-m-toluamide, 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, and dimethylsulfoxide.

Claim 19

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 1 having a circular shape and a substantially flat profile relative to the dermal surface upon adhesive application thereto.

Claim 20

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 1 having an immobilized liquid transfer medium approximately 1 mm to 7 cm in diameter and 1 mm to 0.5 cm in thickness.

Claim 21

A dermal substance collection device according to claim 1 having a strippable backing.

Claim 22

A flexible dermal substance collection device for the immediate and continuous collection of a dermal substance from a dermal surface, comprising means for occlusively containing in a cavity a composition, said means containing a composition consisting essentially of (a) a binding reservoir material for binding with said dermal substance to prevent back transfer loss of said dermal substance from said collection device to the dermal surface; and (b) a liquid bridge transfer medium for instantaneous and continuous liquid bridge transfer of said dermal substance from the dermal surface to said binding reservoir material, said binding reservoir material being maintained in a wet-state by said liquid bridge transfer medium, and said occlusive containment means occlusively maintaining a portion of said composition in stationary and continuous contact with the dermal surface upon adhesive application of said collection device thereto.

Claim 23

A flexible dermal substance collection device for the immediate and continuous collection of a dermal substance from a dermal surface, comprising means for occlusively containing in a cavity a composition, said means containing a composition consisting essentially of (a) a binding reservoir material for binding with said dermal substance to prevent back transfer loss of said dermal substance from said collection device to the dermal surface; and (b) a liquid bridge transfer medium for instantaneous and continuous liquid bridge transfer of said dermal substance from the dermal surface to said binding reservoir material, said binding reservoir material being maintained in a wet-state by said liquid bridge transfer medium, and said occlusive containment means occlusively maintaining a portion of said composition in stationary and continuous contact with the dermal surface upon adhesive application of said collection device thereto.